Co-Directors

Program Directors, Dr. Jacques Robert & Dr. Elaine Smolock, are faculty in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology Our experience with the administrative and scientific aspects of graduate education provides us with a broad and unique perspective that makes us especially effective in our role as Program Directors.

Dr. Elaine Smolock is a Co-Director of the PREP program.  Dr. Smolock is a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and has been at URMC since 2007. In addition to acting as a PREP co-director, she serves as the Director of Writing Services and Training Grant Development in the Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs office. She has extensive experience mentoring trainees and has cultivated relationships with research faculty and educational support faculty across the URMC. Dr. Smolock’s specific role as PREP co-director is to oversee the educational component of training and develop trainee skills in the areas of scientific communication and writing, self-advocacy, project management, and time management. 

Dr. Jacques Robert is a Co-Director for the PREP program.  Dr. Robert is a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and is affiliated with Environmental Medicine and Biomedical Genetics. He is the Director of the Xenopus research resource for Immunobiology, which is the world's most comprehensive facility specializing in the use of this species for immunological research. Dr. Robert has a long interest and experience in mentoring scholars of all backgrounds and at all levels.  He is the Director of the Microbiology & Immunology Student Seminar (MBI 501) that trains students, including PREP scholars, in formal scientific communication as well as the Track Coordinator and Advisor for all UR undergraduates in Microbiology.

Steering Committee