PREP: Addressing Health Disparities
A UNIQUE EMPHASIS At Albany Medical College: "PREP: Addressing Health Disparities"!
(Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program)
Albany, New York
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The need to understand diseases that disproportionately affect medically underserved populations in this country has created a large demand for scientists who will commit to a research career to address these diseases. Thus, Albany Medical College (AMC) Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP: Addressing Health Disparities) is a post-baccalaureate program designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who go on to graduate school to earn the Ph.D. or the M.D./Ph.D. and do research on diseases that disproportionately affect minorities and the medically under-served.
Through employment as Research Apprentices, participants will acquire stronger research skills and will improve the competitiveness necessary for the successful pursuit of a doctoral degree. Research Apprentices will be engaged actively in meaningful, authentic, mentored research, working alongside their mentors who are faculty members in the interdisciplinary research Centers (Departments) of the Graduate Studies Program at Albany Medical College (AMC). AMC's Centers are organized around research activities that address health disparities: the Center for Cardiovascular Science emphasizes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, trauma and shock; the Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research addresses many of the cancers that affect minorities; the Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience studies drugs of abuse, stroke, development of the nervous system and other areas; the Center for Immunology and Microbial Diseases addresses immunity, cell growth, oncogenesis, HIV, and several other areas of health disparities. Apprentices will spend more than 75% of their time in the laboratory, doing research and learning how their mentor thinks, and will also participate in a variety of Enrichment Activities focusing on health disparities, all designed to enhance the skills needed to be competitive and successful in graduate education.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Albany Medical College intends to recruit students from medically under-served populations and from groups which continue to be underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Nationally, individuals who have been found to be underrepresented in biomedical or behavioral research include, but are not limited to, United States citizens who are African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
Applicants to PREP: Addressing Health Disparities must meet the following requirements:
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident
- Successfully graduated with a baccalaureate degree (B.S. or B.A.) in a biomedically relevant science from an accredited U.S. college or university less than 36 months prior to the date of submission of the application
- Have a commitment to pursuing a Ph.D. degree in the biomedical sciences
All individuals selected as scholars must intend to apply, within two years, for Graduate education that will eventually lead to the research doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent).
ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE'S PREP SCHOLAR BENEFITS
Salary: Research Apprentices receive a competitive salary of $21,000 and health insurance for the duration of the apprenticeship (up to two years) to work under the guidance of an AMC faculty mentor. At the end of the apprenticeship, participants will be recruited to the AMC Graduate Studies Program (and no doubt, to others as well).
Tuition Remission: All tuition for AMC Research Apprentices will be paid in full. GRE preparation courses are included for those who want them.
Travel: Research travel funds are available to present work at scientific meetings each year.
PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT
Like all aspects of PREP: Addressing Health Disparities, the duration of the apprenticeship is highly individualized for each participant, and may range from 1 semester to 2 years.
HOW TO APPLY
Individuals interested in being considered for PREP: Addressing Health Disparities should send a completed application packet (i.e., application form, all undergraduate transcripts, personal statement, "challenge" essay, and a letter of recommendation from an undergraduate instructor), which can be obtained by e-mail request.
Application Fee: No application fee is required.
Application Deadline: Since each applicant's program will be specific and individualized, the application can be made at any time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you would like more information, do not hesitate to contact the PREP Admissions Coordinator, (518) 262-0974, or e-mail prep@mail.amc.edu with questions or concerns at any time.
