- Campus and Region
MBRS
Application Process
"The purpose of the IMSD program is to enhance the ability of students to complete the Ph.D. and engage in biomedical and behavioral research, especially members of groups underrepresented in the current workforce. Underrepresented groups include those reported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as well as the National Academies to be:
Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering).The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. See NSF data at, http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/2013/pdf/tab7-5_updated_2014_10.pdf. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as:
1. Individuals who come from a family with an annual income below established low-income thresholds. These thresholds are based on family size, published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census; adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index; and adjusted by the Secretary for use in all health professions programs. The Secretary periodically publishes these income levels at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml.
2. Individuals who come from an educational environment such as that found in certain rural or inner-city environments that has demonstrably and directly inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.
The disadvantaged background category is applicable to programs focused on high school and undergraduate candidates.
underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral sciences (i.e., African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Natives of US Pacific Islands and people with disabilities). Applicants may include and identify any other categories that institutional policies have determined to be underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research fields with a strong rationale, appropriate references and official validated documentation. Selection of program-supported participants should take into consideration whether the students' participation would help achieve the overall goals/objectives of the proposed institutional program and the IMSD goals. It is the responsibility of the applicant institution to establish the qualifications of students prior to their selection for the IMSD program,"- (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-14-121.html)"
Along with the criteria from the NIH (above) applicants should also be a US citizen or hold a permanent residency card (green card) and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a desire to perform research. Students wishing to attend medical school with the intention of becoming an MD is not a priority of this program.
To apply to the MBRS Program you can click the link below and fill out the form. You can then email the completed form to wbirbano@newark.rutgers.edu or personally drop it off at the MBRS office at 304 Smith Hall. Once we have a completed application, which includes a personal statement, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation, we can then process your application. For undergraduates we can accept students any time during the semester. For doctoral students, we will make decisions by the first week in March for the spring semester and by the first week in September for the fall semester.
If you have any questions please email Wendy Birbano at wbirbano@newark.rutgers.edu, or call 973-353-5772.