Prep@UGA Expo

PREP@UGA is a National Institutes of Health-funded, year-long research and professional development program that provides an avenue for post-baccalaureate students to join the UGA life science research community.

If you are a student with a strong interest in pursuing a PhD in the life sciences and you want to gain more or different research experience and get support through the PhD application process, then PREP@UGA is the program for you!

As a Scholar, you can choose to do research in a variety of life science disciplines, including Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Cellular Biology, Ecology, Environmental Health, Genetics, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacy, and Population Health. This experience will prepare you for graduate training and a successful career in science. We are committed to helping you to prepare an application that will be competitive for top PhD programs across the US.

PREP@UGA offers:

  • A one-year long intensive research training experience
  • A competitive stipend with access to health insurance
  • Access to tuition-free course work and other formal instruction as part of an individualized development program
  • A research mentor and a mentoring team to provide a supportive and proactive training experience
  • Integrative activities that provide opportunities to interact and learn with graduate students, preparing scholars for graduate school
  • Ample opportunities to hone oral, written, and graphic communication and presentation skills
  • Funding to attend and present research at least one national or international scientific conference

Eligibility

To be eligible for PREP@UGA, applicants should satisfy the following requirements:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or national or permanent resident of the US
  • Have a baccalaureate degree in a biomedically relevant science field from an accredited college or university awarded no more than 36 months prior to applying to PREP;
  • Must not be currently enrolled in a graduate program;
  • Baccalaureate degree must be in a relevant life sciences discipline; and
  • Intend to apply to a leading life science / biomedical science PhD program during the PREP training period.

Application

The Application process opens mid-December. We will be accepting applications for the 2025-2026 program year! The program will start July 15, 2025.

Dr. Kimberly Klonowski, Co-Director will join the discussion at 11:15 AM.