Benefits
Focus of the program
This is a 2-year research-focused post-baccalaureate program designed to develop the next generation of researchers in the fields of diabetes and metabolic health.
Benefits include:
- Annual salary of $42,000
- $8,000 annually for lab support and supplies
- $2,000 annually for travel to present your research
- $2,000 per year for publication costs
- We offer relocation assistance.
- A one-week annual “exchange” with a lab at another Diabetes Research Center in the US for cross-collaboration and idea-sharing. [Learn More]
- Dedicated career counseling from UMN faculty and Program faculty to support an application for graduate/professional school (MD/MD-PhD) after completing of the program.
- Graduate School Application fee support
- Guaranteed interview for Graduate programs in IBP, BMBB and MSTP if minimum requirements are met for MCAT and GPA.
- Tuition benefits will be determined on a per need basis.
Eligibility
- Must be a US citizen or US permanent resident to qualify.
- A bachelor’s degree and a strong desire to enhance credentials for graduate school applications, aiming for a PhD or MD/PhD. A two-year commitment to the program to build academic and research experience, strengthen publication credentials, and apply to graduate or medical school for an MD/PhD in the fall of the second year.
Requirements
- Attend the Annual MN PRIMED Gathering
- Attend weekly seminar on DEM
- Biannual meeting with the Mentoring Committee
- Attend MN PRIMED workshops and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training sessions. [Learn More]
- Diabetes Virtual Camp in the summer, https://www.diabetesvirtualcamp.org/
- Apply to graduate school at the beginning of the second year.
- Present research at scientific conferences.
- Publish at least one first-author paper.
- Take required Bioethics and DEM courses, and If necessary, they will take another course to improve academic credentials. [Learn More]
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program
Brian Akhapgong, PhD Student | 
Ingrid Aragon Rodriquez, PhD Student | 
Fanta Barrow, PhD Student | 
Arthur De La Cruz-Lynch. MD/PhD Student | 
Mahima Devarajan, MD/PhD Student |
Tracy Her, PhD Student | 
Seokwon Jo, PhD Student | 
Eunice Oribamise, PhD Student | 
Jean Pierre Pallais, PhD Student | 
Alicia Wong, PhD Student |
What Scholars can expect from Mentors
What MN PRIMED SCHOLARS can expect from mentors:
- Dedicated and protected time to make technical and intellectual contributions to their own research project that has strong feasibility and high likelihood of success for completion and publication.
- Extraordinary mentoring from PI on research and scientific development such as testing hypotheses and critical thinking, through an independent research project that promotes both technical and intellectual growth.
- Lab supervisor will provide technical guidance and work toward independence.
- Dedicated time to attend MN PRIMED activities, as well as relevant seminars and colloquia (as relevant from IDOM, IBP, BMBB, MSTP seminars)
- The employee-employer relationship between the Scholar and UMN sets standard expectations regarding working hours (40 hours per week) and vacations/leaves.
- Receive adequate technical and intellectual support from the faculty mentor or other lab members, since many Scholars have not had previous opportunities to engage in substantial lab research.
- Publication: While conducting research in the laboratory of their faculty mentor, we expect Scholars will contribute both technically and intellectually to either a new or ongoing project. At a minimum, the level of contribution from the Scholar will merit co-authorship on presentations and publications, and ideally result in first-author presentations and publications.