The PREP program at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology is a one-year, full-time, immersive postbac research experience at the interface of chemistry and biology. The program is intended for bachelor’s degree recipients who graduated within the last two years and are interested in increasing their laboratory skills and scientific knowledge, in preparation for application to high-caliber, research-oriented Ph.D. programs.
Program Goals
Participants in the program will:
- Build strong wet-lab skills;
- Master and develop new technologies in our state-of-the-art labs;
- Be part of a team addressing pressing biomedical questions;
- Design experiments and evaluate technique applications;
- Develop data analysis and interpretation skills;
- Contribute data toward lab publications;
- Present their work and practice their scientific communications skills;
- Know when to apply research-related ethics and standards.
Program Details
Participants join a laboratory based on their faculty and research interests. The research experiences and supplemental classroom curricula focus on improving the depth and understanding of scientific knowledge and enhancing critical thinking and communication skills. PREP students work alongside faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, spending 75% of their time on laboratory work and research-related activities, and 25% on professional development, including journal clubs, research seminars, and doctoral fellowship application workshops. In addition, participants complete an individual development plan with their faculty mentors to identify additional learning goals and opportunities, such as graduate-level classes. All participants submit a proposal to the National Science Foundation, with the support of their faculty mentor.
PREP Lab Project Examples
A sampling of the many research opportunities at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for participants in our year-long postbac research program, PREP.
PREP Contact
Rosie Albarran Zeckler
- Mailing Address:
-
120 SCRIPPS WAY
JUPITER FL 33458