The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program, Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP), is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on: 1) Courses for Skills Development and 2) Research Experiences.

PREP will provide support to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to biomedical research education and mentoring that will keep pace with the rapid evolution of the research enterprise. The proposed research education programs will incorporate extensive research experiences and well-designed courses for skills development to prepare recent baccalaureates from diverse backgrounds to transition into and complete rigorous, research-focused biomedical doctoral degree programs.

Program activities should build upon the strengths and assets of PREP participants and should not reflect deficit-models (i.e., those that focus primarily on remediation of perceived weaknesses) of career development.

Each program should provide high-quality research education experiences that equip participants with the technical (e.g., appropriate methods, technologies, and quantitative/computational approaches), operational (e.g., independent knowledge acquisition, rigorous experimental design, and interpretation of data) and professional (e.g., management, leadership, communication, and teamwork) skills required for careers in the biomedical research workforce. Funded programs are expected to promote inclusive research environments (i.e., institutional and departmental environments where researchers from all backgrounds are and feel integrated into and supported by the biomedical research community).

NSF Full Proposal Deadline: 01/31/2025

Link to FOA Here: NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

PI Eligibility:  Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as a Principal Investigator (PI) are invited to work with their organizations to develop an application. Individuals from underrepresented groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply.  

Institutional Limit: Only one (1) application per institution is allowed.

Application Information:  All UD limited submission white papers must use this template found on the Research Office limited submission webpage. Applications not adhering to this requirement will be returned without review.

Merit Review Criteria: Summaries will be reviewed based on the criteria detailed in the solicitation.