Postbacc Program (GATORAADE)

The University of Florida’s Gators Advancing Through Opportunities in Research for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Education (GATORAADE) Program is a NIH-funded postbaccalaureate training opportunity for students who have recently completed their undergraduate degree. Our program aims to expand the pool of researchers and healthcare workers interested in cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

To address the increasingly dire burden of cognitive health decline, the GATORAADE program will focus on training and developing a strong research and clinical workforce that will be dedicated to research and treatment of cognitive aging and ADRD.

During this two-year paid program, students will work as full-time research assistants in the lab of a UF research mentor whose work  aligns with the applicant’s interests and professional goals.

Students will also complete a graduate certificate in neuroscience with an emphasis on courses that intersect with aging and neurodegenerative disease. All students will participate in professional development activities that enhance career readiness and bolster trainees’ knowledge regarding brain aging and ADRD.

Typically, successful applicants provide strong evidence of coursework in a relevant discipline (e.g., psychology, biology, engineering, chemistry, pharmacology, or genetics). Prior research experience is helpful but is not required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Students who have received or are currently working on a non-research-based master’s degree, or who are new to the field of aging, are encouraged to apply and will be considered.

What is the structure of the GATORAADE program?  

• GATORAADE is a postbacc training program. Postbacc is short for “postbaccalaureate,” which means the program is tailored to trainees who have finished a bachelor’s degree. (A one-year master’s degree program may also be considered if the curriculum was not research-based; more details on this in the following sections).  
• Broadly, our area of expertise is the neurobiology of aging and neurodegenerative disorders; therefore, trainees interested in these topics are invited to apply. We provide a list of potential research labs from which trainees may choose to work in for the duration of the program (up to two years). In addition, the cost of our Neuroscience Online Certificate is covered, which can be completed during the first year of the postbacc.  

Why is there a citizenship requirement to apply for GATORAADE? 

• Our program is funded by an R25 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and, therefore, can only support trainees who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (i.e., green card holders). These are NIH requirements. 

Is the $30k annual stipend the total pay for this position? 

• Yes, the stipend is $30k per year based on the NIH grant that provides funding. This is the amount that the trainee will receive, distributed every other week. The cost of the Neuroscience Online Certificate offered by our department is covered under the grant.  

I am already working as a research assistant in one of the research labs at UF. If accepted as a postbacc trainee, would I be able to stay in my current lab? 

• If accepted, you may choose to remain in the lab you are already in, provided the Principal Investigator (PI) or mentor of that lab is listed as a potential host for our program (access the list of mentors here). Alternatively, you may choose to work with someone else from the list. During the application process, you will need to select three possible PIs you are interested in working with.  

What are the professional development activities planned for the program? 

• The GATORAADE program will provide a mentoring committee composed of the PI of the trainee’s lab, one of the Program PIs, and one near-peer mentor (a current Ph.D. student in our Neuroscience Graduate Program). This committee will meet regularly with trainees to help them devise a professional development plan that aligns with their career goals and will ensure that the plan is being implemented.  
• During the summer at the end of Year 1, trainees will also attend weekly workshops covering diverse professional development topics.

Can someone who is currently pursuing a one-year master’s degree apply for this program? 

• Technically, yes. While our program was created as a two-year program (see next question for more details on this), we understand that there are special cases and circumstances. When reviewing applications, we take these situations into account holistically before making a decision. We want to ensure that all deserving trainees are given a chance. If this applies to you, be sure to address your circumstances in your personal statement and explain why you are applying to our research-based program after completing a master’s degree–especially if you are coming from a different field and have limited research experience (e.g., if you completed a Master of Public Health degree or online degree).  

The duration of the program is stated as “up to two years”. What does that mean?  

• Considering the goals of our program, we believe that two years would provide maximum benefit to our trainees. During the first year, trainees will take the classes required to complete the Neuroscience Online Certificate and begin developing their research project. In the second year, the primary focus is on completing the project and preparing for graduate school applications.  

Do you have to have completed your bachelor’s degree at UF to qualify for this program? 

• No. Anyone with a recently completed bachelor’s degree can apply. 

I am not available to start in the fall semester; can I start the program in the spring? 

• No. The GATORAADE program is designed to begin in the fall semester, as are most of our graduate programs. Trainees will take 12 credits worth of classes during the first two semesters (fall ), followed by a year of full-time lab research. You are more than welcome to apply for the next fall semester in which you are available to start. 

Could I choose a project, or would the mentor choose one for me? If I’m interested in multiple projects, could I work on multiple projects simultaneously? 

• The project–and, more broadly, the work GATORAADE trainees will be doing in the lab–is determined by the PI/mentor. Applicants are welcome to reach out to individual PIs listed as potential mentors to inquire about these and other lab-specific questions.  

Would it be possible to volunteer or have a part-time job outside of this program if I were to be chosen as a mentee? 

• This position is considered a full-time training opportunity. Any outside activities trainees wish to pursue must be discussed with their lab PI/mentor and approved by them.  

Who should write your letters of recommendation (LOR)? 

• LOR writers should be people who know you well in a professional or academic setting and who can provide details about your qualifications for our program. The letters should also address your interest in research on aging and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as how our program could support your career goals. NOTE: Your LOR writers do not need to submit a letter with your application. If we decide to interview you, we will reach out to your LOR writers. Please ensure their email addresses are typed in correctly in your application.

What should I write in my personal statement? 

• Your personal statement should explain your motivation for participating in this program (Why do you want to pursue aging research? How would a postbacc help you achieve your goals?), along with what you expect to gain in terms of professional development and career direction (Where do you want to go from here, and how can our program help you get there?). If you have relevant experience in research or healthcare, briefly describe it and explain how it has influenced your professional goals.