Medical Student Research Opportunities at UVA


Summary and quick links:

Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP)
       MSSRP available projects
       2009 Preceptor Form
       2009 Student Application Form
       2009 calendar
       Contact information

Medical Student Extended Research Program

Medical student research programs at other institutions

Medical Student Summer Research Program 2009

Projects proposed for the 2009 program can be accessed here.  Students should contact the faculty sponsor directly to discuss the work in greater detail, or may approach other faculty directly to develop an unlisted research project for inclusion in the MSSRP.

This program provides research opportunities to UVA medical students during the summer following their first year.  This seven-week, extra-curricular research experience is an important element of a well-rounded medical education.  A wide range of research experiences is available, covering essentially all departments within the medical school.  Approximately fifty rising second-year students participate in this program annually (62 in 2008), gaining important exposure to the excitement, rewards, trials, and tribulations of biomedical research.  Students receive a stipend for the program.  Funding is provided by a combination of faculty grants, departmental funds, individual student awards, and Dean's Office funds. The MSSRP has several components:

  • Students participate in a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.  The research experience is often tailored to the student's interests and abilities, and can include laboratory, clinical, epidemiological, or theoretical projects.  The program provides an opportunity for students to become immersed in a research project to which they can contribute actively.
  • A second component to the program is informal breakfast meetings with other students and the program director.  These are held at about the halfway point in the program and allow students the opportunity to present an oral summary and to discuss their research project among their peers.
  • Program participants are encouraged to attend departmental or School of Medicine lectures and workshops over the course of the summer.
  • Students must attend a session on Responsible Conduct of Research, which is offered during the summer.
  • Students are required to submit a report of their work in order to receive a passing grade and receive credit on their transcript for this program.  The written report stimulates students to formulate their thoughts and bring the work to completion.  One student will be chosen each summer as the recipient of the MSSRP award, a cash prize based on the quality of the submitted paper.  The prize will be awarded at the Student Research Symposium in October. 

All medical students and SOM faculty are invited to attend the fall symposium.  This event permits a select group of MSSRP students to give lecture presentations of their work to their peers and to faculty.  There will also be invited speakers and the opportunity for every student to present their work during a poster session.

Applications for faculty projects and student participation are available by clicking on the links below:

2009 Preceptor Form
2009 Student Application Form


2009 MSSRP Calendar

January:  Projects start to be posted (see "MSSRP available Projects" above) 

late April:  Student Agreement Form due back to OFR

June 15:  Earliest project start date

July 15, 21:  Required lecture on responsible conduct of research

July 7 through 31:  Bagel Breakfasts

August 14:  Latest project end date (MS2 Core Systems starts 8/17)

September 19:  Final report of project due

October 29:  Fall Symposium and Poster Session

Contact information

MSSRP director:
        William J. Elias, MD
        Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery
        wj34r@virginia.edu

MSSRP administrator:
        Steven S. Wasserman, PhD
        Assistant Dean for Research
        ssw3an@virginia.edu

Program coordinator (primary contact - note change): 
        Joyce Fortune
        Office for Research
        klm4e@Virginia.EDU
        McKim 3026
        x3-7088

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Medical Student Extended Research Program

The objective of this program is to provide an opportunity for medical students to participate in either a short-term or a sustained research program during their medical school training.  The subject area may include, but shall not be limited to classical biomedical investigation such as biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, etc.  Alternatively, work in the humanities on a medically related topic, medical ethics, health care delivery, medical economics or medico-legal issues is appropriate for this program.

  • Option 1 (Short-term Program):  This program is intended to incorporate and define in greater detail the current seven week research opportunity for medical students which is available during the summer following Year I.  The Short-term Program provides the opportunity to extend the seven-week project into free time in Years II and III and elective periods in Year IV.  For any of these alternatives, students will select a faculty mentor who is knowledgeable and experienced in providing guidance to students with limited research experience and a limited time frame.  No thesis committee or prior proposal is required for this activity. Credit for up to three months of elective time spent on the project in Year IV will be awarded, subject to approval by the Electives Committee.  The submission of an acceptable report to the Office for Research is required.
  • Option 2 (Year-Long Program):  This program provides an extended and intensive research experience to interested students.  The project may represent continuation of a project carried out during summer research following Year I, but can be initiated formally only after completion of Year II.  The work will involve an additional research year which can be taken after Year II or III, or under exceptional circumstances, Year IV.  The student must identify a mentor and jointly with that mentor, select a research supervisory committee consisting of two additional faculty:  one from a basic science department and one from a clinical department.  The student will prepare a brief (1-2 page) research proposal reflecting the hypothesis for the project, the methods to be employed, and a time schedule.  This proposed plan must be approved by the committee, which will meet every 3-4 months to provide oversight of the work for the entire project period.  A report in the format of a scientific paper must be submitted to the committee and the Office for Research by 31 January of the year of anticipated graduation.  The student must make an oral presentation of his/her research to the committee or, preferably, as part of a departmental seminar program.  The committee must approve the successful completion of all requirements by 31 March.  Recognition for this extended research will appear on the student's transcript as "Distinction in Research" and an additional certificate will be awarded at graduation. Certain external programs, such as those funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute or the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation may substitute for the internal, year-long program.  Please contact the Office for Research in advance for approval of such a program.

Note: Students participating in the year-long program, after completion of their third year, may apply for up to three months of elective credit through the Electives Committee.  However, they may not receive stipends/wages for the work performed during those three months. 

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Medical student research programs at other institutions:

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