Pathways to Research Program (PReP)
PReP provides an opportunity for students from populations underrepresented in research to begin or advance their research career. Opportunities for travel funds to participate in national and international scientific meetings are awarded on a competitive basis.
The Pathways to Research Program provides undergraduate students with knowledge, skills, and experience in translational science and health equity research through a structured core curriculum including a mentored research project, weekly training seminars, small group discussions, and a final poster to present research findings at the annual University of Minnesota CTSI Translational Science Symposium & Poster Session held in September 2025.
The cornerstone of the research training program is the scholar’s participation in a research project under the direct supervision of a University of Minnesota faculty mentor. With input and oversight by the faculty mentor, scholars will work on a project related to the mentor’s ongoing research programs.
The CTSI PReP Program partners with the M-ASCEND: Advancing Science, Enhancing Diversity program, which has its own summer undergraduate research program. Scholars from both programs will have the opportunity to attend some seminars and networking events together. Students interested in both programs may submit an application to and be considered for each program.
2024 scholars
Former PReP scholars
Madelyn Blake, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Kurt Prins, MD, PhD
Dola Greene, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Jessica Nielson, PhD
Elijah Johnson, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Abbie Begnaud, MD
Valerie Nguyen, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Tammy Butterick, PhD
Redeat Wattero, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Ida-Arlaine Fonkoue, MD, PhD
Kamar Abdullahi, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Michael-Paul Schallmo, PhD
Katherinne Fox, Harvard University
Mentor: Ida Fonkoue, MD, PhD
Pierre Mansour, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Gregory Vercellotti, MD, FACP
Sayra Medina Banuelos, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Ida Fonkoue, MD, PhD
Nkechi Okereafor, North Hennepin Community College
Mentor: Beshay Zordoky, MSc, PhD
Soliana Teshome, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Manda Keller-Ross, PhD, DPT
Crystal Thao, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Abbie Begnaud, MD
Hossam Halaweish, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Christopher Staley, PhD
Salma Ibrahim, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, PhD
Nathan Keller, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Claire Kamp Dush, PhD
Francine Legba, Carleton College
Mentor: Sandra Safo, PhD, MSc
Daniel Mansour, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Beshay Zordoky, PhD, MSc
Aisha Mohamed, Macalester College
Mentor: Steve Fu, MD, MSCE
Anthony Ruiz, Bemidji State University
Mentor: Melissa Horning, PhD, RN, PHN
Zuani Ventura, Augsburg University
Mentor: Christen Ebens, MD, MPH
Vasthy Anang, University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development
Mentor: Glenn Simmons Jr, PhD, Assistant Professor, Medical School
Alexa Carrera, Augsburg University, Biology program
Mentor: Beshay Zordoky, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy
Nicolas Diaz de Leon, Macalester College, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Colum MacKinnon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Neurology
Asiya Hassan, University of Minnesota, School of Nursing
Mentor: Eunice Areba, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Olivia Karanja, University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Diane Treat-Jacobson, PhD, Professor, School of Nursing
Hibo Mohamed, St. Olaf
Mentor: Iris Borowsky, MD, PhD, Professor, Pediatrics
Park Youngjay, University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Hai Dang Nguyen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Dante Rogers, University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Aaron Kerlin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pharmacology
Lulua Webo, University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Mark R. Schleiss, MD, Professor, Pediatrics
Christina Yang, Bemidji State University
Mentor: Jen Granick, PhD, Associate Professor, Veterinary Medicine
Deneisha Bergquist
North Hennepin Community College, College of Liberal Arts
Grace Hernandez
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Joanna Ly
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Ayan Sheikdon
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Pa Thao
University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences
Kristin Wilk
University of Minnesota, School of Nursing
Egeziharya Yilma
Hamline University, School of Public Health
Hani Abi
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Nofisat Babajide
Carlton College
Dina Elyamany
MetroState University
Dawson Hill
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Ahmed Idris
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Austin Leikvoll
University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences
Cristhian Martinez
Gustavus Adolphus College
Duane Nguyen
Macalester College
Jocelyn Ricard
University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences
Libin Said
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Marcos Zachary
University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering
Anh Thu Doan
St. Olaf College, College of Biological Sciences
Mariam Fawzy
Augsburg College, College of Liberal Arts
Nik Martinneau
Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Academy of Science and Mathematics
Koushik Paul
University of Minnesota Duluth, College of Liberal Arts
Hok Sreng Te
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Dara Tourt
Normandale Community College, Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Kamal Tusa
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts
Hamdi Adam, Augsburg College
Mentor: Irina St. Louis MN, PhD
Medinat Akindele, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Natalia Tretyakova, PhD
Quoc Bui, Rochester Community and Technical College
Mentor: Victor Barocas, PhD
Isatou Cham, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Barbara Beacham, PhD, RN
Bridget Curtin, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Reena Kartha, PhD
Kayla Ha, Saint Catherine University
Mentors: Susie Nanney, PhD and Kola Okuyemi, MD, MPH
Karen Herrera, Saint Catherine University
Mentor: Beshay Zordoky, PhD
Thao Hoang, Macalester College
Mentor: Michele Allen, MD
Vy Nguyen, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Katie Cullen, MD
Sierra Trost, University of Minnesota - Crookston
Mentor: Joe Gaugler, PhD
Sonnah Barrie, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Kathleen Call, PhD
Alana Dopp, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Pamela Jo Johnson, PhD
Jace Gilbertson, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Andrew Barnes, MD
Monica Goodman, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Erin E. Krebs, MD, MPH
Pakou Her, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Kelvin O. Lim, MD
Ashley Johnson, St. Catherine University
Mentor: Irina St. Louis, MD, PhD
Kyle Lau, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Logan G. Spector, PhD
Patty Maglalang, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Lisa Coles, PhD
Jessica Pham, Macalester College
Mentor: Kathryn Cullen, MD
Denise Quintanilla, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Iris Borowsky, MD, PhD
Sowda Ahmed, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Mark Schleiss
Samantha Carlson, School of Public Health
Mentor: Alicia Allen
Stephanie Duong, Macalester College
Mentor: Kathryn Cullen
Cedith Giddings, Augsburg College
Mentor: Siobahn McMahon
Virginia Godfrey, University of Minnesota-Morris
Mentors: Kathleen Call and Melissa Walls
Jamie Morissette, College of St. Scholastica
Mentor: Cari Clark
Ammanuel Taye, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Mentor: Paul Bohjanen
Thang Tran, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Richard Brundage
Abhishek Vaidya, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Erica Schorr
Allison Wolf, University of Minnesota-Morris
Mentor: Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Olufemi Adams, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Susie Nanney
Sudip Bhandari, St. Olaf College
Mentor: Iris Borowsky
Amy Blakeslee, College of St. Scholastica
Mentor: Sarah Cusick
Paris Delaney, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Ruby Nguyen
Nhat Duong, Normandale Community College
Mentor: Amir Moheet
Mnwabisi Mbangata, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: James Cloyd
Waruiru Mburu, Macalester College
Mentor: Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
Arwa Osman, St. Olaf College
Mentor: Lauren Martin
Sasha Orange, School of Nursing
Mentor: Janet Thomas
Kevin Siem, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Kathleen Thomas
Chelsea Wagner, College of Education and Human Development
Mentor: Cari Clark
Amanda Wanous, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Rebecca Shlafer
Sara Cronquist, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Janet Thomas
Co Duong, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Susan Everson-Rose
Mercy Konchellah, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
Hai Nguyen-Tran, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Rahel Ghebre
Nima Odowa, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Naty Lopez
Anthony Osifuye, College of Liberal Arts
Mentor: Kathleen Call
Kendra Radtke, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: James Cloyd
Danielle Swichtenberg, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Carol Peterson
John Tarnowski, College of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Julie Ross
Uyen Truong, College of Science and Engineering
Mentor: Robert Hebbel