Skip to main content

RAMP


Applications now open for RAMP 2025-2026!


Our Goal

Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) is a summer research training program that targets 11th and 12th grade high school students from Baltimore City. The program aims to prepare students for careers in biomedical research. RAMP is designed for students with a strong interest in biology, chemistry, medicine, or related fields.


Program Structure

RAMP is a 2-year program, consisting of a 5-week summer program that teaches foundational knowledge required to understand concepts across the translational research continuum while providing the skills to perform basic lab techniques and clinical measurements and school year research rotation experiences in year one, followed by an applied summer research experience during the second summer. High school participants can be paid through YouthWorks for the summer portions in addition to being paid up to $500 for participating in the research rotations.

Summer 1

School Year

Summer 2


Our Team

Elizabeth Dennis

Dr. Liz Dennis

Dr. Dennis is the Principal Investigator (PI)* of RAMP.  She is a researcher and professor on campus and a registered dietitian. Her research focuses on helping older adults to improve their diets so that they can become healthier. More recently, her research has focused on older adults who have disabilities that impact their movement, exploring how disability negatively impacts dietary quality, and identifying barriers to consuming a healthy diet among this population.

*What is a Principal Investigator (PI)?

Anna Pudder, MAT

Anna is the Program Manager of RAMP. She has a background in K-12 education and is passionate about getting students interested in biomedical research. In addition to her work with RAMP, Anna also works on other research training programs at UMB, including STAR-PREP and UMB AMPLIFIED.


Support

Thank you to our funders, including:

  • Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R25GM129875; and supplements 3R25GM129875-04S1​; 3R25GM129875-05S1
  • NIH National Institutes of Aging SEPA R25AG090804
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)
  • UMSOM Office of Student Research
  • UMSOM Department of Physical Therapy and Rehab Science

Thank you to our partners:

University of Maryland Baltimore Professional Schools, Institutes, Centers & Offices: School of Medicine​, School of Nursing​, School of Pharmacy, School of Social Work, School of Dentistry,Graduate School​, Institute for Genome Sciences​, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science​, Department of Microbiology and Immunology​, Department of Neurology​, Department of Neurobiology​, UMB CURE Scholars Program​, Office of Student Research​, General Clinical Research Center (GCRC)​, Human Research Protections Office​, Human Resource Services​, Health Sciences and Human Services Library​, Office of Emergency Management

Cross-System Partnerships: Towson University​, University of Maryland, College Park​, Loyola University​, Stevenson University​, University of Maryland, Baltimore County​

Business and Professional Community: VA Maryland Health Care System Baltimore Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC)​, Beth Birago (Learn AHA CPR, First Aid, ACLS, & PALS)​, Illumina, College Bound

×