PROPEL Curriculum
Activities will occur about 1-2 times per month, typically lasting 2-3 hours each (not including preparation or travel time). Social and networking events will be coordinated in partnership with other UW departments hosting PROPEL Scholars and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Scholars will meet with their Primary Mentor (the PI of their host lab) at least twice per quarter and with their Secondary Mentor (a postdoctoral fellow assigned when they join the program) at least once per quarter.
Fall Quarter (September - December 2025)
September: Basic Bench Essentials & Trainee Expectations
Lecture/workshop reviewing basic lab techniques, including sterile technique, lab math, keeping an organized lab notebook, as well as advice on the general expectations for a postbac trainee.
October: How to Apply to Graduate School: A Step-by-Step Series. Choosing the Right Graduate School for You (Session 1)
Informational session to discuss the structure of graduate programs, understand the components of an application, identify features of competitive applications, and answer any questions from trainees.
November: Application Workshop (Session 2)
Work with postdoc mentors and graduate students to discuss drafts of applications.
December: Navigating the Interview Process (Session 3)
Panel led by a faculty member, postdoc, & grad student to provide insight into what to expect during and after the interview process, how to talk about research in a meaningful way, and questions to ask during the interview.
Winter Quarter (January - March 2026)
How to Apply to Graduate School: A Step-by-Step Series continued
January: Interview workshop (Session 4)
Short mock interviews with grad students, postdocs, & faculty.
February: Journal Club
Read high-impact scientific paper(s) and discuss jargon, interpret figures, identify assays used, and review the impacts of discovery.
March: Mastering the Art of a Captivating Talk
Lecture to review different ways to tell a scientific story, how to set up a good question, hypothesis, how much data to present, and the importance of model slides.
Spring Quarter (April - June 2026)
April: Journal Club
Read high-impact scientific paper(s) and discuss jargon, interpret figures, identify assays used, and review the impacts of discovery.
April, May, June: Communication workshop series
Scholars attend the Communication workshop series led by professors from UW Communication Leadership Program.
March, April, May, June: Research in progress seminar
Scholars present their research progress (15 min each, with 5 min for questions)