Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)

Our Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) accepts applications from mid-November through mid-February each year. Program activities start in June/July. Hopkins PREP is funded through several sources, including the NIH, the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative at Johns Hopkins, and individual research mentors.

Apply Here

PREP Provides:

  • Research experience: Scholars conduct hypothesis-driven research in their Mentor’s lab, with day-to-day guidance by an experienced PhD student or postdoc. Scholars participate fully in weekly lab meetings, attend weekly research seminars in their department, attend a vibrant PhD program retreat and a national conference of their choice.
  • Community: Scholars come together each month for two-hour ‘chalk-talk’ events to present and discuss their research with Peer-Mentors (PhD students, postdocs) and faculty.
  • Project (‘mini-thesis’) meetings: Scholars gain confidence by organizing, preparing for, and convening three one-hour ‘mini-thesis’ meetings with two subject-expert faculty, plus their research mentor and the PREP Director. Scholars benefit both scientifically and professionally by building strong working relationships with multiple faculty members at Johns Hopkins who are experts in their field of interest.
  • Professional training and custom mentoring: Scholars participate in workshops designed to improve their scientific writing skills, and understand ethics in science, and can choose from many other workshops including communication and improvisation. Each Scholar charts an individual development plan with the PREP Director, with custom mentoring both formal (monthly one-hour meetings) and informally as needed.
  • Preparation for MCAT exam, graduate school applications and interviews.
  • Annual salary of $34,000 plus health, retirement, tuition and other benefits

Who Should Apply:

  • US Citizens or Permanent Residents with a keen interest in entering a PhD or MD/PhD program from populations under-represented in the Biomedical Sciences.
  • College seniors or recent graduates with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science— including but not limited to biochemistry, bioinformatics, biology, biomedical engineering, biophysics, chemistry, cell biology, computational sciences, genetics, mathematics, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, tissue engineering, virology and related fields.

We consider a variety of factors that demonstrate scientific potential and motivation for PhD careers. Applicants should have strong grades in science and math (GPA 3.3 or better)— or a strong upward trajectory in science/math grades. Exceptions may be made for students with research experience.

The Complete Application

To apply to PREP, you will need:

  1. Two letters of recommendation (preferably science faculty from undergrad or summer research experiences)
  2. Transcripts for each undergraduate institution attended (transcripts can be unofficial)
  3. Current CV or resume
  4. Personal Statement
    Your statement can be up to 2 pages, single-spaced, and please use 11-point font. Please tell us about
    • yourself (e.g., you; your family/growing up; pathway-guiding and/or formative experiences);
    • your previous research experience(s), how they turned out, and what you learned from each;
    • your motivation for pursuing an advanced degree(s) and what your ‘dream career’ might look like in about 15 years;
    • what you personally hope to gain to be more competitive for entry and success in graduate school.

Please contact [email protected] with any additional questions. 

Learn more 

Meet Our Staff

Dr. Katherine Wilson, (she/her) - PREP Director

Professor of Cell Biology (School of Medicine)
Professor of Biomedical Engineering (Whiting School of Engineering)
725 N. Wolfe Street - WBSB G10
Baltimore MD 21205
[email protected]
Dr. Katherine Wilson

Kristina Nance, (she/her) - PREP Manager

Assistant Director, Graduate Student Experience and Diversity
Office of Graduate Biomedical Education
1830 E. Monument St, Office 619
Baltimore MD 21205
[email protected]
Kristina Nance

Dr. Jennifer Kavran - Associate Director, Peer-Mentor Workshops

Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
615 Wolfe Street-Office 3116
Baltimore MD 21205
[email protected]
Dr. Jennifer Kavran

Katie Labor - PREP Experience Coordinator

Graduate Student Life Coordinator
1830 E. Monument Street-Suite 620
Baltimore MD 21205
[email protected]
Katie Labor

2022 and 2023 PREP Scholars

2023 Scholars

Brianna Bullock

  • BS (Psychology) 2023
  • Delaware State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Kellie Tamashiro
Brianna Bullock

Janiya Cherry

  • BS (Psychology) 2023
  • Prairie View A&M University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Andrea Young
Janiya Cherry

Chloe Gilkesson

  • BS (Neuroscience) 2023
  • Agnes Scott College
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Christopher Ross
Chloe Gilkesson

Magdiel Jaroszewski

  • BS (Biology) 2023
  • St. Mary’s University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Cindy Moss
Magdiel Jaroszweski

Danielle Grace Jones

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2023
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Challice Bonifant
Danielle Grace Jones

Sophia Keil

  • BM (Flute Performance) 2023
  • Oberlin College
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Marina Bedny
Sophia Kiel

Bria Massey

  • BS (Computer Science) 2020
  • North Carolina A&T State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Hadi Kharrazi
Bria Massey

Delaney Medcalf

  • BS (Biology) 2023
  • University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Jennifer Pluznick
Delaney Medcaif

Aaron Patterson

  • BS (Biology and Psychology) 2023
  • Howard University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Susan Courtney
Aaron Patterson

Elisa Rouse

  • BA (Chemistry) 2023
  • University of Missouri at Kansas City
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Petros Karakousis
Elisa Rouse

Ohel Soto

  • BA (Molecular and Cellular Biology) 2023
  • University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Jennifer Kavran
Ohel Soto

Samuel Vazquez

  • BS (Biological Sciences) 2023
  • North Dakota State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2023, Mentor: Bindu Paul
Samuel Vazquez

2022 Scholars

Reina Ambrocio

  • BS (Biology) 2022
  • Emory University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Anastasia Kralli
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Reina Ambrocio

Evan Carlyle

  • BS (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) 2022
  • University of Maryland at Baltimore County
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Takashi Tsukamoto
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Evan Carlyle

Jordan Johnson

  • BS (Psychology) 2022
  • SUNY Buffalo
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Arnold Bakker
  • 2023: PhD Student, Cornell University, and 2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Jordan Johnson

Lauryn Martin

  • BS (Biology) 2022
  • Alcorn State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Laura Wood
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Lauryn Martin

Alicia Mercado

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2022
  • Mount St. Mary’s University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Dionna Williams
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Alicia Mercado

Joan Sobo

  • BS (Biology) 2021
  • Bowie State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Karen Reddy
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Joan Sobo

Taylor Southward

  • BS (Biology) 2022
  • Howard University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Jessica Queen
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Taylor Southward

Tiera Thomas

Tiera Thomas

Makenzie Wilkinson

  • BA (Neuroscience) 2020
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Gül Dolen
  • 2023: PhD Student, University of California at Berkeley
Makenzie Wilkinson

Lauren Williams

  • BA (Cognitive Science) 2022
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Kishore Kuchibhotla
  • 2023: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins University
Lauren Williams

Saron Yoseph

  • BS (Chemical Engineering) 2022
  • Howard University
  • Hopkins PREP 2022, Mentor: Netz Arroyo
  • 2023: continuing PREP research
Saron Yoseph

PREP Alumni 2015-2021

2021 Alumni

Bella Cabrera Brito

  • BS (BioMolecular Engineering) 2021
    Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Joshua Modell
  • 2022: Staff Scientist, Thermo Fisher Inc (Rockville IL)
Bella Cabrera Brito

Ariana Campbell

  • BA (Biology) 2019
    University of North Texas
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Sabra Klein.
  • 2022: PhD student, U Pennsylvania (Cell & Mol. Biology)
Ariana Campbell

Eddie Campos

  • BS (Chemistry) 2020
    Linderwood University
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Daniele Gilkes
  • 2023: MD/PhD Student, Washington University at St. Louis
Eddie Campos

Jarisa Escalante

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2021
    SUNY College at Potsdam
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Robert Ivkov
Jarisa Escalante

Adler Guerrero Zuniga

  • BS (Biology) 2021
    New York University
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Eneda Toska
  • 2022: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (BCMB)
Adler Guerrero Zuniga

Kris Malebranche

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2020
    Mississippi State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Jeff Rubens
  • 2023: DPT Student, George Washington University
Kris Malebranche

Samer Mathkour

  • BS (Microbiology, Immunology, & Mol. Genetics) 2021
    University of California: Los Angeles
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Elsa Anagnostou
  • 2022: PhD student, U Texas Southwestern (Immunology)
Samer Mathkour

Patricia Mensah

  • BS (Chemical Engineering) 2021
    Howard University
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Jennifer Elisseeff
  • 2023: MD/PhD Student, Louisiana State University, and 2023 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Patricia Mensah

Justin Nwafor

  • BA (Chemistry) 2021
    Connecticut College
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Sandra Gabelli & Mario Bianchet
  • 2023: MD/PhD Student, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Justin Nwafor

Isiaha Price

  • BA (Biology & Psychology) 2021
    Amherst College
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Justus Kebschull
  • 2022: PhD student, Harvard (Systems, Synthetic & Quant. Biol.)
Isiaha Price

Tatiana Prioleau

  • BS (Biology) 2021
    College of William and Mary
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Eneda Toska
  • 2022: PhD student, Duke (Molecular Cancer Biology)
Tatiana Prioleau

Jeremy Young

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2021
    Hampton University
  • Hopkins PREP 2021, mentor: Nathan Archer
  • 2023: PhD Student, Johns Hopkins University
Jeremy Young

2020 Alumni

Kaleem Coleman

  • BS (Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, & Molecular Biology) 2018, Towson University
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Barbara Slusher
  • 2022: Masters student, George Washington University
Kaleem Coleman

Milan Dower

  • BE (Biomedical Engineering) 2020,
    University of Miami
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Jeff Gray
  • 2021: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (Biomedical Engineering)
Milan Dower

Tawnjerae Joe

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2020,
    Fort Lewis College
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor Barbara Slusher
  • 2022: PhD student, Northern Arizona U (Interdisciplinary Health); mentor: Naomi R. Lee
Tawnjerae Joe

Ashley Melendez

  • BS (Biology) 2019,
    University of Puerto Rico: Mayaguez
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Karen Reddy
  • 2022: PhD student, U Pennsylvania (Cell & Molecular Biology)
Ashley Melendez

Asha Murrell

  • BS (Health Science) 2020, 
    Spelman College
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Dionna Williams 
  • 2021: Science Teacher
Asha Murrell

Victor Quiroz

  • BE (Biomedical Engineering) 2020,
    Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Joshua Doloff.
  • 2021: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (Biomedical Engineering); mentor: Joshua Doloff
Victor Quiroz

Alex Rendon-Jonguitud

  • BS (Biology) 2020,
    University of South Carolina: Beaufort
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor Katherine Wilson
  • 2022: Medical student, Medical University of South Carolina
Alex Rendon Jonguitud

Nuri Smith

  • BS (Biology and Experimental Psychology) 2020,
    University of South Carolina: Upstate
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Keri Martinowich
  • 2022: PhD student, Emory (Genetics & Mol. Biology)
Nuri Smith

Hannah Tsingine

  • BS (Biology) 2020,
    Fort Lewis College
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Richard Roden
  • 2022: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (Immunology)
    Awarded Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative Graduate Fellowship
Hannah Tsingine

Marcus Williams

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2020,
    Fort Lewis College
  • Hopkins PREP 2020, mentor: Deok-Ho Kim
  • 2022: MD/PhD student, UC San Francisco
Marcus Williams

2019 Alumni

Aitana Azurmendi

  • BE (Earth & Atmospheric Sciences) 2019,
    Cornell University (New York)
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Sandra Gabelli
  • 2022: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (Cellular & Molec. Medicine)
Aitana Azurmendi

Dezmond Cole

  • BS (Biology) 2019,
    University of Montevallo (Alabama)
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Brendan Cormack
  • 2021: PhD student, Johns Hopkins (BCMB). Mentor: Erin Goley
Dezmond Cole

Sergio L. Crespo

  • BS (Chemistry) 2019, New Jersey City University
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Jungsan Sohn
  • Current: Molecular Biosciences PhD student
    Rutgers University; mentor: Annika Barber
Sergio L. Crespo

Hannah Navarrete

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2019, University of California Riverside
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Erika Matunis
  • Current: Biomedical Sciences PhD student
    University of Michigan; mentor: James Bardwell
Hannah Navarrete

Kyndall Nicholas

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2019, Hampton University (Virginia)
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Keri Martinowich
  • Current: Neuroscience PhD student
    University of Pennsylvania; mentor: Kacy Cullen
Kyndall Nicholas

Jareb J. Pérez

  • BS (Medical Microbiology) 2019, University of Puerto Rico, Arecibo
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Dionna Williams 
  • Current: PhD student (Molecular Pathology & Immunology), Vanderbilt School of Medicine; mentor: Ruben Martinez-Barricarte
Jareb J. Pérez

Alexa Perez-Torres

  • BS (Biology) 2019, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Loyal Goff
  • Current: MCO PhD student
    Harvard University
Alexa Perez-Torres

Yishak Woldestsadik

  • BS (Cell & Molecular Biology) 2019, Towson University (Maryland)
  • Hopkins PREP 2019, mentor: Sabra Klein
  • Current: Biomedical Sciences PhD student
    Tufts University; mentor: Andrew Camilli
Yishak Woldestsadik

2018 Alumni

Melissa E. Fajardo

  • BS (Biological Science) 2016,
    Florida International University
  • Hopkins PREP 2018, mentor: Nicholas Maragakis
  • Current: Neuroscience PhD student,
    Northwestern University (Chicago); mentor: CJ Heckman
Melissa E. Fajardo

Kelly A. Fogelson

  • BS (Neuroscience) 2017,
    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Hopkins PREP 2018, mentor: Kishore Kuchibhotla
  • PhD 2022 (Biomed. Sciences) UC San Diego, with Amir Zarrinpar
  • Current: Consultant (Associate), McKinsey & Company (Minneapolis)
Kelly A. Fogelson

Gabriella Muwanga

  • BS (Biomedical Sci) 2018, Makerere University (Uganda)
  • Johns Hopkins PREP 2018, mentor: Michael Caterina
  • Current: Neuroscience PhD student, Stanford University; mentors: Vivianne Tawfik & Raag Airan
Gabriella Muwanga

Diego R. Ramos Ortiz

  • BS (Chemistry) 2018, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
  • Johns Hopkins PREP 2018, mentor: James M. Berger
  • Current: Biophysics PhD student
    UC Berkeley; mentor: Andreas Martin
Diego R. Ramos Ortiz

Jordan Wilson

  • BS (Genetics & Genomics) 2018,
    UC, Davis
  • Hopkins PREP 2018, mentor: Patrick Cahan
  • Current: XDBio PhD student
    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Jordan Wilson
 

2017 Alumni

Caitlin Corona-Long

Caitlin Corona-Long

Cera Hassinan

Cera Hassinan

Ambar Jimenez

  • BS (Biology) 2016,
    SUNY, Plattsburgh
  • Hopkins PREP 2017, mentor: Rangaramanujam Kannan
  • Current: Pharmacology PhD student,
    University of Pennsylvania
Ambar Jimenez

Cyrianne S. Keutcha

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2017,
    Georgia State University
  • Hopkins PREP 2017, mentor: Sean Prigge
    National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
  • Current: PhD student,
    Harvard SPH, mentor: Manoj Duraisingh
Cyrianne S. Keutcha

Alejandra Patino

  • BS (Neural Science) 2017,
    New York University
  • Hopkins PREP 2017, mentors: Gül Dölen and Loyal Goff
  • Current: MD/PhD student, Duke School of Medicine; mentor: Joshua Snyder
Alejandra Patino
 

2016 Alumni

Lauren Askew

  • BS (Biology) 2016,
    University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Hopkins PREP 2016, mentor: Janice Clements
  • Current: MD/PhD student
    Emory University (North Carolina)
Lauren Askew

Chelsy R. Eddings

  • BA (Molecular & Cellular Biology; Neurobiology) 2016,
    University of California, Berkeley
  • Hopkins PREP 2016, mentor: Christopher Ross 
  • Current: BCMB PhD student
    Johns Hopkins, mentor: Shigeki Watanabe 
Chelsy R. Eddings

Elizabeth Henderson

  • BA (Biophysics) 2013,
    Hunter College (New York)
  • Hopkins PREP 2016, mentor: Robert Ivkov
Elizabeth Henderson

Adriana Landeros

  • BS (Molecular Cell Developmental Biology) 2016,
    UC, Santa Cruz
  • Hopkins PREP 2016, mentor: Tamara O’Connor
    National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
  • Current: Microbiology PhD student, Northwestern
Adriana Landeros

Arena Manning

  • BA (Neuroscience) 2016, Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY)
  • Hopkins PREP 2016, mentor: Barbara Slusher 
  • Current: Neuroscience PhD student,
    University of Washington (Seattle), mentor: Franck Kalume
Arena Manning
 

2015 Alumni

Jesús Acevedo-Cintrón

  • BS (Cell & Molecular Biology) 2015,
    University of Puerto Rico
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Ted Dawson
  • Current: MD/PhD student
    Washington University (St Louis, MO) 
Jesús Acevedo-Cintrón

Christopher Anderson

Christopher Anderson

James D. Barnett

  • BS (Biomedical Sciences) 2012,
    Auburn University (Alabama)
    US Fulbright Scholar (Spain) 2013-2014
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Robert Ivkov
  • Current: CMM PhD student 
    Johns Hopkins, mentor: Zaver Bhujwalla
James D. Barnett

Alyssa Florwick

  • BS (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) 2015,
    UMBC, mentor: Michael Summers 
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Katherine Wilson
  • MS 2021 (Biochemistry), Duke University, with Michael Boyce
  • Current: Technical Information Specialist, USDA (Raleigh NC)
Alyssa Florwick

Jean Garcia-Diaz

  • BS (Microbiology) 2015, 
    Turabo University (Puerto Rico)
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Erika Matunis
  • Current: CMM PhD student
    Johns Hopkins, mentor: Ryan Riddle
Jean Garcia-Diaz

Elsie Gonzalez-Hurtado

  • BS (Biochemistry) 2015, University of California, Riverside
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Michael Wolfgang
  • Current: MD/PhD student at
    Yale University, mentor: Vishwa Deep Dixit
Elsie Gonzalez-Hurtado

Kevin Justus

  • BA (Psychology) 2014, University of Central Florida
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentors: Susan Courtney and Veit Stuphorn
  • MS (Neuroscience) 2020, Wake Forest University
Kevin Justus

Ismael Munoz

  • BS (Bioengineering) 2015, University of California, San Diego
  • Hopkins PREP 2015, mentor: Daniela Drummond-Barbosa
  • PhD 2022 (Bioengineering), UC San Diego
  • Current: Systems Engineer, National Resilience, Inc (San Diego)
Ismael Munoz