<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>We are writing to make you and your students aware of the Virginia Commonwealth University Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (VCU PREP). We hope you will identify senior students at your college or university who may be interested in participating in this research training program. Please feel free to forward this message to students who are interested in attending graduate school to pursue research careers in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The attached flyer can also be provided to your students. VCU PREP is funded by the National Institutes of Health, and provides scholars with a salary of $29,120 for July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>VCU PREP aims to increase the number of underrepresented PhD students in the US (for example, African Americans, Latinx/Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, students with disabilities, etc.). Students participate in a year-long intensive mentored research experience in an area of biomedical research of their choice, and receive coaching and preparation to apply to PhD programs. Eighty-five percent of trainees immediately enter a graduate program upon completing VCU PREP. Additional program information is included on the VCU Center on Health Disparities website at<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/healthdisparities.vcu.edu/__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!njwBA4dQug4wYYDzLtgvywX5hJ5MMfS8hFXQX3V5fGSREcmNYX0yUxkr6pJ-0nVobpherM6nUdmbRxEz1HHe0o84$"><span style='color:#954F72'>https://healthdisparities.vcu.edu/</span></a>. The on-line application is also available there, under the Research & Training tab under<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/healthdisparities.vcu.edu/researchtraining/post-baccalaureate-programs/prep/__;!!K-Hz7m0Vt54!njwBA4dQug4wYYDzLtgvywX5hJ5MMfS8hFXQX3V5fGSREcmNYX0yUxkr6pJ-0nVobpherM6nUdmbRxEz1J646YMk$"><span style='color:#954F72'>Post-Baccalaureate Programs</span></a>.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>VCU PREP candidates must be US citizens, US permanent residents, or US nationals to be eligible for the program. Candidates must have earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent at the time of enrollment (July 1, 2022), and no more than 36 months prior to their selection for participation. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is generally expected for VCU PREP scholars.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>The application should include: undergraduate transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation from teachers or research mentors, and a personal statement demonstrating a commitment to a career in biomedical research. The supplementary materials (letters and transcripts) should be sent by email to<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="mailto:cohdtraining@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>cohdtraining@vcuhealth.org</span></a>. Unofficial transcripts may be used for the application, but to be admitted to the program, official transcripts are required.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>The deadline to receive complete applications, including transcripts and letters of reference, is<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><b>March 15, 2023</b>. If you have questions about the application process, please contact Mrs. Khiana Nelson at<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="mailto:cohdtraining@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>cohdtraining@vcuhealth.org</span></a>. If you have questions about research in the biomedical sciences at VCU, please contact one of the VCU PREP Co-Directors, Dr. Joyce Lloyd<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><a href="mailto:joyce.lloyd@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>joyce.lloyd@vcuhealth.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>or Dr. Rita Shiang <a href="mailto:rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Sincerely,</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Drs. Lloyd and Shiang</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Joyce A. Lloyd PhD</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Professor and Vice Chair of Education and Faculty Affairs</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Department of Human and Molecular Genetics</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Co-Director, VCU PREP post baccalaureate research program</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Virginia Commonwealth University</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Richmond, Virginia 23298-0035</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'><a href="mailto:joyce.lloyd@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>joyce.lloyd@vcuhealth.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Rita Shiang, PhD</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Associate Professor</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Department of Human and Molecular Genetics</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Co-Director, VCU PREP post baccalaureate research program</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Virginia Commonwealth University</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'>Richmond, Virginia 23298-005</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'><a href="mailto:rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org"><span style='color:#954F72'>rita.shiang@vcuhealth.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#44546A'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Khiana Nelson</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Research Education & Training Coordinator</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Center on Health Disparities, School of Medicine</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Virginia Commonwealth University</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>P.O. Box 98501</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Richmond, VA 23219</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#7030A0'>Phone: (804)827-0719/ Fax: (804)628-9961</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></body></html>