The University of Connecticut’s Young Innovators Initiative Program (YIIP) is currently accepting applications until March 30. The research-intensive program supports graduate students interested in the fields of medicine and regenerative engineering.
There are several routes available to students interested in health professions, including the traditional medical and post-baccalaureate programs, both of which UConn offers, according to their website.
The program, according to Assistant Director of Special Projects Dr. Gualberto Ruano, “is a different bird.”
[YIIP] is for individuals who want to pursue research, mentored research,” Ruano said.
YIIP is a two-year scholarship program in which participants receive a master’s degree in either biomedical science or regenerative engineering, according to the program’s website. Alternatively, if students only complete one year of the program, they still receive a graduate certificate of research experience, an achievement that is not typically offered at other master’s programs, according to Program Manager Jolene Monahan Wilding.
Students accepted as YIIP scholars receive scholarships for the duration of their studies, along with a significant stipend for research as graduate assistants, Wilding added.
“They’re not just learning and gaining that experience; they are being paid for it,” said Wilding.
Another aspect of YIIP is the mentorship opportunities, according to the program’s website.
“Research mentors are drawn from UConn Health as well as Biomedical Engineering Faculty in the Storrs Campus. These research mentors work with the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering,” said Ruano.
According to the website, there are two kinds of mentors offered within the program. Lab mentors focus on research skills and professional development. Additionally, each scholar is also in communication with an M1 mentor, who does more personal mentorship of career paths and goals throughout their time at the institute.
“M1 mentors also receive funding to take their mentees to conferences and provide them with invaluable experiences at the Institute,” said Wilding.
Last year, Ruano took his mentees to the Student National Medical Association’s AMEC conference, according to Wilding.
Additionally, students have the chance to attend the Rock Stars of Regenerative Engineering Conference, which was founded by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, who is also the director of YIIP.
“YIIP was Dr. Laurencin’s brainchild, this idea of creating programs for individuals who had not been represented in medical science,” said Ruano.
YIIP provides underrepresented individuals equal opportunities and fosters a diverse environment, according to the program’s website.
A unique aspect of the program’s mentorships is their availability to recent postgraduate students, according to Ruano.
“Many other universities limit their mentorships to students who already have their PhD, but the YIIP mentors require an attitude that they are willing to teach techniques, monitor their progress, and be personal mentors. This is a key aspect of YIIP,” Ruano said.
Students interested in YIIP do need to fulfill all the Graduate School requirements and fill out an application through the Graduate School website, according to the program’s website. However, the program looks beyond students’ grade point average, according to Wilding.
“However, when it comes to selecting their scholars, the program looks beyond the GPA and focuses on students who have the drive and interest in making a difference, especially through research,” said Wilding.
After the application process, students are selected for one round of interviews with the Institute, after which the decisions are made for the upcoming semester, according to Wilding.
YIIP is not exclusively geared toward students who want to work as health professionals or physicians, according to Ruano.
“The program offers many paths towards academia or research and provides students with mentors who aren’t necessarily physicians, like PhDs or scientists,” said Ruano.