Our Mission is to strengthen the next generation of the scientific workforce by providing research experiences and career development opportunities for postbaccalaureate scholars.  We’re especially interested in serving scholars that are community leaders, and those who can expand the perspectives that currently exist in science, to ultimately create a scientific workforce truly representative of the Bay Area.

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Overview

PROPEL is a program for full-time postbacalaureate researchers hired by UCSF faculty for a 1-2 year paid research positions. We offer career and professional development training sessions, networking opportunities, and laboratory mentorship. Scholars must be employeed full-time at UCSF and all funding must be provided by the host lab before scholars apply.  In this way our program is supported by institutional wealth and scales with community need here at UCSF! 

Introduction

• Post-baccalaureate research opportunities are critical for the preparation and competitiveness of many aspiring PhD (and MD/PhD) scholars. These opportunities can be particularly impactful for students from backgrounds who cannot afford the time to volunteer in laboratories during their undergraduate coursework, and students attending schools that provide a high quality education but no well-funded research lab experiences.
• UCSF’s singular focus on postgraduate health sciences is a strength, but the absence of undergraduate degree programs demands increased outreach and recruiting efforts to capture the attention of outstanding prospective students that may not easily imagine themselves studying and working at our institution.

UCSF Matchmaking Event

To match scholars with hiring faculty mentors, we host a virtual event every year.  Our next event will be held in January 2026. To register visit justice.ucsf.edu.