Pathways to Research Program (PReP)

Woman standing in front of her research poster

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.

Koushik Paul
Jace Gilbertson accepts the award for best undergraduate poster at CTSI's annual poster session from Dr. Kelvin Lim, the director of his CTSI research training program.
Jace Gilbertson and Dr. Lim
Sudip Bhandari
Jamie Morrissette with Senator Amy Klobuchar

2024 scholars

Former PReP scholars

2023

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

2022

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

2021

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

2020

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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