Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

For those who aspire to forge a path in the world of biomedicine, the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai provides unwavering support and guidance to post-baccalaureate students with a passion for research. The goal of the program, as defined by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is to develop a diverse pool of well-trained post-baccalaureates who will transition into and complete rigorous, research-focused doctoral degree programs in biomedical fields. Our Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program is the longest running in the country, providing a launching pad for students pursuing their PhD, MD-PhD degree, or career in biomedicine since 2001.

You will be embraced by a community that values your unique scholarly skills and research interests. Through individualized mentoring, coursework, and the development of strong laboratory research skills, you will unlock your full potential as a researcher. You will spend one or two years fully immersed in the program, dedicating roughly 75 percent of your time to the laboratory.

PREP is more than just a program—it is a supportive learning environment that cultivates success. With seminars and works-in-progress sessions, you will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with your peers and further your knowledge.

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Meet the Chairs

Kirk Campbell, MD

Professor, Nephrology and Pharmacological Sciences, Vice Chair of Medicine, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Kirk Campbell, MD, leads an NIH-funded research program focused on developing new therapeutic interventions for proteinuric kidney diseases.

Jamilia Sly, PhD

Associate Director, PREP; Assistant Professor, Population Health Science and Policy

Jamilia Sly, PhD, focuses research on understanding how clinical and community-based interventions can reduce and eliminate disparities in cancer mortality.

Bryan Tricoche

My experience in PREP has been immensely rewarding and supportive. When I was applying to graduate school, PREP did not hesitate to assist me with writing my personal statements and crafting an excellent application, to which I got accepted to three out of the six schools I applied to and chose to stay at Mount Sinai.

Bryan Tricoche

Frank Fonseca

My time as a PREP Scholar prepared me to transition from being an analytical chemist to a molecular biologist. With the training from Arvin Dar, PhD, and Ernesto Guccione, PhD, I developed numerous technical skills that helped me when applying to PhD programs. Most importantly, I contributed to my first publication in Nature Cancer.

Kasopefoluwa (Sope) Oguntuyo

As a PREP Scholar, I sought out more full-time research experiences and gained so much more, which helped me become a competitive MD-PhD applicant. This included invaluable research experiences, mentorship from my research adviser, close friendships, and many other experiences all while living in New York City!

DeAnalisa Jones

I am confident that I would not be in an MD-PhD program today if it wasn’t for PREP at Mount Sinai. The program offered me educational resources and mentoring that I didn’t have access to for most of my life.

Jailene Paredes

Mount Sinai PREP was a game-changer for me. I deepened my knowledge and love for virology by doing full-time research alongside world-renowned researchers and experienced mentors. Gaining acceptance to eight MD-PhD programs and choosing to matriculate at UPenn for my physician-scientist training would NOT have been possible without my PREP experience!