Structure at a Glance

The PROPEL curriculum offers professional development activities designed to prepare scholars for success in competitive biomedical graduate programs. This curriculum complements the hands-on research training conducted in the lab. 

Scheduled programming is expected to account for approximately 5 hours/week or .13 FTE.

  • Orientation for 2025-2026 cohort:  Scholars  join the PROPEL postbac research community while being introduced to the program goals and scholar milestones scheduled throughout the year.

    • Scholars begin  preparing a customized individual development plan (IDP) that is reviewed at 6- and 12-months to track progress.

  • Scholars prepare graduate application materials. The program provides personalized support with their personal statements and CV, discussions with graduate program directors, and mock interviews with faculty and postdocs.

  • Attendance at a national conference 

  • Scholars submit graduate program applications in early December and prepare for interviews in late winter.

  • Winter term Growth Sessions focuses on experimental design, data analysis, and research management through workshops with OHSU faculty and the Training Future Faculty (TFF) program.

  • Another winter series offered in the Weekly Growth sessions addresses the hidden curriculum of graduate school, covering topics like values in scientific culture, conflict resolution, mentor-mentee expectations, and non-violent communication.

  • Scholars will prepare an abstract for OHSU Research Week, supported by their research mentor.

  • Weekly Growth Sessions focus on scientific communication and curating your professional/scientific identity 

  • OHSU Research Week presentation

  • Oral presentation at OHSU PROPEL symposium 

  • Completion and submission of research paper 

  • In the summer, scholars will participate in a fellowship writing workshop, providing structured guidance and draft review of fellowship applications.

  • Orientation for 2026-2027 cohort

  • Regular meetings with mentors and program staff 

    • Including mentor buddies, OHSU graduate students who are interested and committed to broadening participation in STEM

  • Professional networking 

  • Participation in departmental seminars/journal clubs, with approval from research mentor 

  • Through September-June: The PROPEL critical reading seminar develops scholars’ ability to evaluate published biomedical research papers through monthly meetings. Scholars present relevant literature, and meetings are facilitated by PROPEL Co-Director, Gary Westbook and advisory committee faculty members.

  • Attending quarterly lectures center on special topics in biomedicine (e.g., ethics, single-cell technologies, etc.).