Careers at Virginia Tech

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program Scholars (PREP Scholars) are expected to engage in independent, mentored research projects that will allow them to develop their own hypotheses and design experiments to test these hypotheses or to be able to develop resources needed to test hypotheses. The research work and developmental responsibilities are expected to make the incumbent competitive for admission into top PhD programs in the behavioral and biomedical sciences and engineering. The 100% full time effort is expected to be allocated to responsibilities as follows: 75% of effort will be on research apprenticeship and 25% on experiential activities including presentation, grant writing workshops, and if necessary a gateway course as determined by the supervisor and or PREP Principal Investigator.
PREP Scholars are expected to have competence in biological, engineering, and behavioral sciences and to have a proven desire to pursue a PhD and a biomedical or behavioral research career. An undergraduate degree from an accredited university in STEM majors is required. Applicants should have a commitment to interdisciplinary research and be willing to work in a very diverse and inclusive educational program. Applicants must have graduated within three years of applying to the PREP. Applicants must also be willing to develop a competitive graduate school application program and to attend local and national meetings to help with the process. Additional information about the NIH funded PREP program can be found at https://www.nigms.nih.gov/training/PREP.

• Applicants must hold a B.A./B.S. degree with a minimum GPA of 2.8/4.0 in a STEM major.
• Applicants must have graduated within the last three years
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Must demonstrate educational deficiencies due to economic deprivation or geographic disadvantage (e.g., inner city disadvantages schools, disadvantaged schools in rural poverty areas) or be part of a group considered to be historically underrepresented by the federal government.

1

Restricted

31,200

03/15/2025

To learn more about the PREP application process, please visit http://prep.apsc.vt.edu.   Reminder, at least two letters of recommendation to let us know, "Why You Need PREP," should be emailed to vtprep@vt.edu.  Additionally, please include 1-2 pages for personal statements and career goals. 

To learn more, visit http://prep.apsc.vt.edu PREP Program Office, 2250 Litton-Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5898, email vtprep@vt.edu 

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.