Goals of the Program
The Health Sciences Diversity Research (HSDR) Scholars Program provides opportunities for individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree and are committed to a career in biomedical, health-related research. The goal of this two-year post-baccalaureate program is to provide research-centered experience to underrepresented minority (URM) students and prepare them for graduate and/or medical school, as well as promote diversity in STEM fields. In addition to research experience, this two-year post-bac, program will provide scholars with carefully designed mentoring to help prepare them for future careers in biomedical research and/or medicine.
Support
The HSDR program will pay up to the maximum salary of the School of Medicine graduate students, currently $30,855 per year to fellowship recipients. Health insurance will also be provided. Scholarships are awarded for up to two years, based upon satisfactory performance during the first year. We anticipate supporting 2-3 fellows per year. Support will be provided by the office of the Senior Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, academic departments and individual principal investigators, who are selected by the fellows from a roster of faculty mentors in any of the schools of health sciences.
Qualifications
To be eligible for the program, scholars must have Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited 4-year undergraduate institution. Although a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is desirable, other criteria including reference letters, previous research experience, and a personal statement will also be considered. US citizenship or permanent residency is required.
Graduates from the University of Pittsburgh are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should be members of an underrepresented racial/ethnic group according to the NIH’s definition that includes Blacks or African Americans; Latinx; American Indians or Alaska Natives; Native Hawaiians; and other Pacific Islanders.
Training
Scholars will carry out mentored research under the supervision of a faculty mentor for two years. The research will be complemented by graduate-level courses, seminars, workshops, training in best research practices, statistics, and ethics. Guidance for preparing and delivering research presentations as well as crafting fellowship applications will be provided. Attendance and presentations at group meetings, local and national scientific conferences are encouraged. It is anticipated that the fellow will contribute to publications in scientific journals.
- Support, Training, and Frequently Asked Questions
- Diversity Scholars Research Program (DSRP) Application Information
Contact Us
For questions contact: Katie Rossi or by phone at (412) 648-9000.