Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship
The medical student fellowship research program is for first, second, third, and fourth year medical students. Research fellowships for a period of 10-12 consecutive weeks will be available to medical students during this year. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, and may be used during the summer, or any other 10 -12 week consecutive period during the academic year when you are not participating in the regular medical school curriculum (for example, during a vacation break). The stipend is approximately $1,731/full calendar month.
To apply for a fellowship:
1. Select a research area and faculty sponsor. Click on the following links for a list of available student research projects and faculty with major research grants:
a). Available Research 2008
b). Funded Projects 2008
The research areas listed represent the primary research mentors for this program. It is your responsibility to contact one of these faculty mentors. If you cannot find a research mentor from among this list, but can identify another faculty mentor with a research project with whom you would like to work, you must first get it approved by Dr. St. Clair. A faculty member may supervise no more than two medical students at one time.
2. Together with your faculty sponsor's help, write a fellowship application that contains all of the following:
I. APPLICATION COVER PAGE (download here)
Complete the cover page (see above web link), including a title, and signed by faculty sponsor(s) and student. Include your highest academic degree (B.S., M.S., Ph.D., etc), the institution from which it was awarded, and your current medical school class.
II. BODY OF APPLICATION (Use no smaller than an 11 font)
1. Objective and Specific Aims - What do you propose to do? (one typewritten page).
2. Background and Literature (do not exceed two pages).#
3. Research Plan Description - How will you accomplish the specific aims? (two to three typewritten pages). #
4. Student's Role - If you will carry out your research as part of a larger project in which your faculty sponsor and/or other people will also participate, indicate your role in the project and be specific. (Do not exceed one-half page).
5. Sponsor's Role (to be completed by the faculty sponsor) - Briefly describe the ways in which the faculty sponsor will guide the research training.
6. Bibliography
7. Career Relevance - Briefly describe how you believe this research experience might fit into your future career goals.
8. Previous Research Experience - What research experience have you had in this area or in any other area? (including undergraduate research). Be brief. If you have had no previous research exposure, indicate none. This section is for the program director’s information and will not be considered in the ranking of your application.
# Cutting and pasting verbatim from the sponsor’s grant, etc. is neither acceptable nor ethical.
It is your responsibility to write the application with the assistance and guidance of your faculty sponsor. Keep in mind that your application will be judged against the other student applications, so allow sufficient time for the preparation of a thoughtful proposal. Examples of successful student fellowship applications from previous years are available for your inspection in the Office of Research (E floor - Gray Building).
Applications will be evaluated by the Intramural Research Support Committee and awards will be announced the first week of April 2008.
Upon completion of your fellowship, you are required to prepare a poster to present your research findings at Medical Student Research Day (October 8, 2008). The abstract of this poster also will serve as the final report for your research fellowship. The Office of Student Affairs will be advised of the completion of your research project so that your research experience can be included as part of your academic record.
The deadline for submission of the completed fellowship application is February 26, 2008. The completed application and 1 copy should be taken to Penny Gatsis in the Office of Research. An electronic version should also be emailed to Penny Gatsis (pgatsis@wfubmc.edu). For further information, contact Dr. Richard St. Clair (6-2672 or rstclair@wfubmc.edu) or Penny Gatsis (6-0780 or pgatsis@aol.com).
*For second, third, and fourth year students it is necessary to arrange with Dr. Mac Ernest an appropriate modification of your clinical rotation schedule to allow 10 -12 consecutive weeks for research.