Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event

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Graduate Diversity Recruitment Event is a program designed for prospective students to experience what it’s like to be a PhD biomedical graduate student for a day while also learning about the great opportunities and resources offered at the University of Minnesota, Medical School. Participants will also get a chance to meet with faculty, be mentored by a current PhD student, explore the UMN Twin Cities campus, and learn about resources.

  • 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

Expand all

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 utilize the space provided below to 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!