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Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program Scholar
Position overview
Position title: Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program Scholar (Jr. Specialist Rank)Application Window
Open date: March 12, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Apr 13, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Development, Identity, and Vision (STEMDIV) Research Programs at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for scholars to participate in the NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). The program is overseen by the UCSC PREP Faculty Director and Principal Investigator, Professor William Sullivan (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology) and Co-PI Assistant Professor Euiseok Kim (Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology).
The STEMDIV Research Programs are committed to provide structured research training, academic preparation, and professional development opportunities designed to support students across the educational pipeline. Through mentored research experience, coordinated academic and professional development, the programs aim to strengthen participants’ preparation for advanced study and research careers in the biomedical sciences.
UCSC PREP offers recent graduates the opportunity to gain intensive research experience in the biomedical sciences and benefit from a wide range of professional development opportunities. PREP scholars participate in a full-time postbaccalaureate program, working 30 hours per week (75%) on biomedical-related research under the supervision of a faculty mentor (incumbents will be appointed to the junior specialist research title), with the remainder of the week (25%) devoted to academic preparation and professional development. The program aims to strengthen participants’ competitiveness for admission to leading Ph.D. programs and to prepare them for success in earning advanced degrees in the biomedical field.
The PREP scholars’ research duties will involve laboratory work, computation, data collection and analysis, participating in laboratory groups and other meetings, and assisting with writing manuscripts for publication. Selected candidates will be expected to maintain a detailed laboratory notebook of experimental procedures and data, and they will be expected to archive, label, and document graphic and tabular data for publications, proposals, and/or presentations.
PREP participants will receive support for professional development activities, which may include presenting at a national scientific conference, preparation for graduate-level coursework, workshops related to research skills and career planning, guidance on graduate school applications, and standard employment benefits including medical, dental, vacation, and retirement options, consistent with University policy.
Candidates with the following areas of areas of expertise or achievement are strongly encouraged to apply: strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills; ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research environment; and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
These positions are funded by the US National Institutes of Health, which has the following eligibility requirements for participation with the PREP program.
Please ensure your application addresses how you meet each of the requirements.
- Participants must possess a B.S. or B.A. degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) in a field related to biomedical sciences such as molecular & cell biology, microbiology & immunology, epidemiology, etc. The degree must be awarded no more than 36 months prior to applying. Parental, medical, or other well-justified leave for personal or family situations is not included in the 36 months' eligibility limit, nor is national service (e.g., Peace Corps, or service in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserves).
- Participants must hold citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident status in the United States. The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.
- Participants must intend to apply to a research-focused biomedical Ph.D. degree program during or immediately following completion of the PREP program.
STEMMDIV Programs: https://stemdiv.ucsc.edu/about-us/
Qualifications
- B.S. or B.A. degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) in a field related to biomedical science, such as molecular & cell biology, microbiology & immunology, epidemiology, etc. The degree must be awarded no more than 36 months prior to applying. Parental, medical, or other well-justified leave for personal or family situations is not included in the 36 months’ eligibility limit, nor is national service (e.g., Peace Corps, or service in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserves).
Please note that you must meet the degree requirement at the time you submit your application.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Letter of application that addresses each of the following:
1. Your interest in participating in the UCSC PREP Program.
2. What do you hope to gain from the research training and professional development components?
3. How have your personal experiences, academic achievements, and future goals shaped your commitment to excellence in biomedical research and advanced scientific training?Confirmation of NIH Eligibility Requirements for PREP Participation - Please confirm you meet the following NIH eligibility requirements:
1. You hold citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident status in the United States.
2. You intend to apply to a research-focused biomedical Ph.D. degree program during or immediately following completion of the UCSC PREP program.
3. You have a B.S. or B.A. degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) in a field related to biomedical science and the degree was awarded no more than 36 months prior to applying.PREP Application Essay Questions - In response to the following questions, preference will be given to applicants who clearly and succinctly articulate: how their personal history, achievements, and future career goals demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusive excellence in science; and their proactive pursuit of career advancement, opportunities, and/or resilience and perseverance when faced with personal or structural challenges.
1. Research Experience: Please describe your previous research experience, focusing on the key biomedical questions you addressed and the approaches you used. (Note: Details about collaborators and institutions can be found in your CV.)
2. Inspiration for Biomedical Research: Please describe a book, article, seminar, or professional experience that was particularly impactful and influenced your decision to pursue a career in biomedical research.
3. Career Aspirations: What are your long-term career goals, and how do you see yourself progressing in the field? If you have specific roles or opportunities in mind, please share how you plan to achieve these objectives.
4. Junior Specialist Research Interest: What biomedical research interests do you hope to explore through PREP? Additionally, please identify potential UCSC faculty whose research align with your interests.Unofficial Transcripts - Please provide copies of unofficial transcripts from each college or university you have attended. Please be aware that selected candidates will be required to provide official transcripts prior to their appointment start date.
- 2 letters of reference required
Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation*. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.
References should highlight the applicant’s potential for contributing to biomedical-related sciences, the applicant’s academic/professional potential, and how the applicant will benefit from participating in the NIH-PREP program.
*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement.
Help contact: stemdiv@ucsc.edu
About UC Santa Cruz
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.
Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.
UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.
The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
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