Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event

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This Fall term, The University of Minnesota Medical School will be hosting our annual Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event, a program designed to actively engage and recruit prospective students into PhD programs in the biomedical sciences. The Medical School at the University of Minnesota recognizes the importance of representation in the biomedical sciences and the successes that come with a diverse workforce. The goal of our recruitment event program is to actively engage and support participants from historically marginalized communities who are interested in pursuing predoctoral studies in the biomedical sciences. Participants in this event will have the opportunity to learn about the breadth of research training available to all students at the University of Minnesota and gain an immersive experience of what it’s like to be a biomedical sciences PhD student in our Medical School. 

  • Thursday, October 10, 2024 to Friday, October 11, 2024
  • Program starts Thursday for a full day and then half day on Friday
  • Participants to arrive Wednesday afternoon and then depart Friday afternoon 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Have research experience (minimum of 3 months in a research lab)
  • Studying life sciences or have a strong interest and passion for the biomedical sciences
  • Plan to pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences
  • Interested in starting graduate school Fall 2025 or Fall 2026

Preference will be given to students who:

  • Have been historically underrepresented in biomedical research
  • Identify as first-generation college students (can also be the first in their family to attend graduate school)
  • Is considered disadvantaged as defined by the NIH
     

BENEFITS

  • Transportation, meals, and lodging fully covered 
  • Students who complete the program and choose to attend the U can earn $5000 towards career development 
  • Application fee waiver
     

PARTICIPANT LEARNING GOALS

By actively participating in the Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event, participants will be able to:

  • Learn about each of the biomedical science graduate programs in the Medical School at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Connect with faculty, staff, and graduate students from the various graduate programs
  • Explore what the the UMN Twin Cities campus and medical school has to offer
  • Shadow a PhD student for a day through engaging activities and networking opportunities 
  • Get support on how to enhance your graduate application 

Questions about the program? Email Marlena Yang, Program Manager for Graduate Studies at yang1358@umn.edu

Letter of Interest and Diversity Statement Prompts

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Letter of Interest and Diversity Statement Prompts

Letter of Interest

Letter of Interest Prompt

Describe why you are interested in participating in the Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event with the University of Minnesota Medical School, Biomedical Science Graduate Programs. The letter can address two or more of the following:

  • What you are looking for in a graduate program

  • How a graduate degree will support your career goals and aspirations

  • Life experiences that have prepared you to start a graduate program

  • Your career goals (i.e. your interest in pursuing graduate or professional-level work in a specific discipline/area)

  • The scientific questions that interest you most and the reason(s) for this interest(s)

  • The specific areas in which you would like to conduct research and the factors that influenced the development of those interests  

Word limit is 500.

Diversity Statement

Diversity Statement Prompt

The long-term success of scientific research enterprise in our country is critically dependent on a diverse workforce. Please indicate how your unique life experiences will contribute to a diverse research workforce in the future.

*as defined by the NIH

Word limit is 500.

Application Requirements

Please prepare the following items before starting the application:

  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • One Letter of Recommendation from Faculty (must be research-based)
  • Resume/CV
  • Letter of Interest (500 words)*
  • Diversity Statement (500 words)*

*Prompts can be found at the bottom of this webpage

The 2024 Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event application opens mid-May and will close on July 24, 2024

APPLY NOW!