KYAD-PREP Training

FAQs and Resources

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical or behavioral sciences with at least a 2.5 GPA may apply. Applicants must be willing to make a full-time, personal commitment to the program similar to that of a first-year graduate student.  

Our program welcomes all applicants and will consider each applicant’s educational background, life experiences, and socioeconomic background. The University of Kentucky and its programs will not discriminate based on race, color, ethnic or national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, or age.

Yes, you are still eligible to apply. We will take into consideration what you’ve been doing in the interim, understanding that there are many paths to a career in science.

Yes, you are still eligible to apply, provided your GPA in your graduate courses is 3.0 or higher. However, if you have obtained a graduate degree or a PhD, you are no longer eligible to apply.  

No, this program does not require previous research experience. Our program’s purpose is to provide interested students with the opportunity to work in an immersive research environment, particularly those who may not have had a chance to work in a lab at their graduating institution.  

The program has a flexible start date, so there is no specific deadline to apply. We review applications as they're submitted and reach out to qualified candidates when spots become available. 

Generally, new positions open twice a year, in the Spring and Fall. However, the length of a position is flexible for each participant and may extend up to two years. For this reason, we recommend you submit your application once you know you're interested. Applications are reviewed within two weeks, at which point you’ll receive a status update with any further instructions.

If you're interested but choose not to apply at this time, we recommend you Join Our List, where you’ll receive email notifications when spots become available.

While your initial application will be for a one-year spot, the opportunity to extend the position to two years is available with the approval of program directors and your mentor.  

As a KYAD-PREP participant, you will be a regular full-time employee of the university, with a salary, benefits, and a standard probationary period and annual performance evaluations.

You will need to upload your resume and cover letter as PDFs, each 10 MB or less,  when you fill out the application form. Each document should be titled as your LastName_CoverLetter.pdf and LastName_Resume.pdf, respectively. 

For those candidates who reach the next step of the process, we will request two to three references and a transcript from your graduating institution.  

You’ll receive a response about the status of your application within two weeks.  

Once applications have been reviewed, we will notify students of their status and ask promising candidates to provide two to three references and a transcript from their graduating institution. As spots become available within the program, candidates will be notified, and an in-person Zoom interview will be scheduled with our team to select participants.

Successful applicants will need to pass a background check and pre-employment screening at the University of Kentucky before starting their new position.

All interviews will be conducted via online conferencing. Candidates do not need to travel to Lexington until they are selected as program participants. 

We have over 30 faculty members dedicated to mentoring KYAD-PREP participants. View our Faculty Mentors page for bios and areas of specialty. 

Yes, we have a flexible program for assigning mentors. Some students will have a specific research area in mind, while others may want to try different labs. You’ll have the option to try several rotations across various laboratory environments to see which one is a good fit for you before settling on a permanent position for the duration of the program.  

Yes, it is possible, provided the faculty member’s research area of interest is related to age-related dementia.  

The position is as a full-time University of Kentucky employee, salaried at $36,000, with benefits including healthcare, dental, vision, and a 403(b) retirement plan. The university will conduct a background check and pre-employment screening before employment can begin. Relocation support will be provided and determined on a case-by-case basis.  

This position is a research education experience in which you will be considered a full-time university employee with benefits and will undergo regular probationary and performance evaluations.  

Yes, we have support available for any student requiring relocation assistance. The amount of support will be determined on a case-by-case basis.  

As a KYAD-PREP participant and university employee, you will be responsible for locating your own housing.

This will be a full-time position in which you can expect to spend about 75% of your time conducting research lab work and 25% in professional development, such as coursework, seminars, and conferences.

Yes, taking courses is part of the KYAD-PREP program and is encouraged. You’re allowed three credit hours per semester, with course material subject to the program director's approval.

The program will include required coursework, but you will have the option to take additional courses that you think might support your professional development, subject to program director approval.  

Our program administrator, Katharina Kohler, will be the participants' consistent point of contact throughout the program. 

Yes, there will be a structured orientation process for all new participants to help them become familiar with the center and the university, and to understand the protocol for working in an academic environment. 

The goal of our program is to provide a cohesive team that guides and nurtures our participants, helping them feel challenged, confident, and successful. We strive to have our students interact with each other, with students in other programs, and with students at different degree levels. 

The University of Kentucky has a wide range of student organizations at the Gatton Student Center that can help new participants integrate into the campus work life. Participants are also encouraged to contact our program administrator, Katharina Kohler, throughout their employment with any specific requests or concerns.

You are welcome to reach out to our program administrator, Katharina Kohler, via email or to schedule a one-on-one meeting.