Research Education Program on Microbes, Infections and Cancer (REPMIC)
Be part of Repmic and
apply before June 13, 2025!
apply before June 13, 2025!
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must have graduated within the past 24 months with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, or Engineering (Biomedical or Chemistry)
- Must have earned their degree from an academic institution in Puerto Rico
- Must have a grade point average (GPA) of ≥ 2.80
- Must submit two letters of recommendation
- Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish
- Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident living in Puerto Rico.
Ineligibility criteria:
*Individuals who have graduated more than 24 months ago or who have been accepted into a professional graduate program (i.e., medicine, pharmacy, etc.) or a master’s or doctoral program (e.g., PhD, DrPH) are not be eligible. Additionally, individuals who earned their degree from an academic institution outside of Puerto Rico are not eligible.
- April 15, 2025
Application Period Begins - June 13, 2025 (11:59 pm AST)
Application Period Ends (Deadline) - June 16 – July 11, 2025
Class of 2025-2026 Selection Process - July 18, 2025
Notification Date for Selected Candidates - August 1, 2025
Deadline for Selected Candidates to Confirm their Space in the REPMIC Program - August 15, 2025
Deadline for Selected Candidates to Submit Required Documentation - September 2, 2025
REPMIC Educational Experience Begins - December 24, 2025 – January 7, 2026
Christmas Break* - June 4, 2026
Program completion
*Regular work schedule will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. No vacations will be allowed during regular REPMIC Program business hours; however, participants will have a Christmas break from December 24, 2025 to January 7, 2026.
About us
The burden of infectious diseases and infection-associated cancers is high among Hispanics in the United States (US) and Puerto Rico (PR). As a result, research conducted in PR provides a unique opportunity to advance cancer research across the entire cancer control continuum (prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life), with a particular focus on the relationship between microbes, infections, and cancer.
The Research Education Program on Microbes, Infections, and Cancer (REPMIC) within the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC), aims to support post-baccalaureate (post-bacs) graduates from underrepresented minority groups who wish to develop careers in research. The program provides participants with mentored, hands-on research experience at the UPRCCC or an affiliated institution. This experience focuses on cancer research along the cancer control continuum, with a special focus on the relationship between microbes, infections and cancer.
The overall goal of REPMIC is to prepare participants with the necessary tools to successfully pursue research careers – whether in doctoral programs or professional healthcare career fields [e.g., Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, or Nursing, among others]- with a focus on the relationship between microbes, infections, and cancer. REPMIC will contribute to the development of the next generation of cancer and infectious disease researchers, while promoting diversity in the biomedical and public health research workforce.
The program will recruit and train recent bachelor’s degree graduates from underrepresented minority groups who are interested in pursuing research careers focused on understanding, treating, and preventing infectious diseases and cancers associated with infectious agents. Participants will engage in hands-on research experiences in the field of microbes, infections, and cancer.
A total of ten (10) participants will be selected and matched with a mentor based on their research interests in basic sciences, clinical/translational sciences, or population sciences. This research experience is full-time (37.5 hours per week), face-to-face and lasts 37 weeks. Additionally, participants will have access to complementary activities designed to support their educational and professional development.
The official languages of the program will be Spanish and English.
Our team
Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz, PhD, MPH
Directora / Program Directorana.ortiz7@upr.edu | 787-772-8300 ext. 1204
Dr. Marievelisse-Soto, DrPH, MS
Directora Asociada / Associate Directormarievelisse.soto1@upr.edu | 787-772-8300 ext. 1121
Mentors
© Copyright 2016 – 2023
Centro Comprensivo de Cáncer Universidad de Puerto Rico.
All Rights Reserved
787-772-8300 Ext. 1157, 1419
repmic@cccupr.org