summer research programs for medical students

Popular Search Resources for

Summer Research Opportunities

SUNY Downstate Alumni Association has long sponsored a school-wide Summer Research Fellowship Program for First-Year medical students during the eight weeks between First- and Second-Year. The Alumni Association provides fellowships, stipends and other award types to support students during full-time summer research. Awards are given for basic, translational, clinical and public health research projects.

The Alumni Fund Summer Research Application is released to students in January with a submission deadline of end-March. Internal and External Summer Research Fellowships are highly competitive. Interested students must start early in the fall on identifying and applying to these programs, as submission dates range from October through February for work starting typically in June. In October-November, Downstate offers a series of lunchtime summer research seminars to guide students through the application process.

Other External Competitive Summer Research Training Opportunities

The listings below gives a brief program description. When you find a program that interests you, please go to that program’s website to learn more about their application deadlines and procedures.

NIH Clinical Center Summer Internships

Paid student interns work with researchers and health professionals to train in research and participate in the NIH Summer Poster Day and lecturers presented by NIH investigators.

Summer Internship Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

The Summer Internship Program at NIEHS is part of the  National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (NIH SIP) . NIEHS is located in  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina . The Program provides internships to outstanding students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical/biological sciences to work on a research project that entails exposure to the latest biochemical, molecular, and analytical techniques in a given field.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

Many, many links to medical student summer research opportunities are available here through AAMC.

Hospital for Special Surgery Medical Student Summer Research Fellowships

T he mentored Summer Research Fellowship is designed to introduce students who have completed their first year of medical school to research opportunities in orthopedic basic science, translational science, and clinical research in orthopedics.

American Society of Hematology Medical Student and Early Investigator Awards

Honors (hematology opportunities for the next generation).

The HONORS (Hematology Opportunities for the Next Generation of Research Scientists) Award is intended for medical students and residents in the United States, Canada, or Mexico with an interest in hematology research. The award supports a short or longer hematological research project.

HONORS Page

Minority Medical Student Award Program

The Minority Medical Student Award Program (MMSAP) is structured around an 8- to 12-week research experience for students from the United States and Canada in their early years of medical school. Each year, up to 10 minority medical students enrolled in DO, MD, or MD/PhD programs are selected to participate. (application available in September for Summer, 2015.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Medical Fellows Program

H HMI’s Medical Research Fellows Program is being suspended.  HHMI also seeks to experiment with new ways to achieve our goal of making science education, and science, more inclusive.  We are working to positively impact the highest number of students we can, with a growing emphasis on sustaining inclusive environments for all students at universities and colleges around the country. To do that, we are shifting resources into a number of other efforts, including our  Inclusive Excellence ,  Science Education Alliance (SEA)  and  Gilliam Fellows  programs. HHMI Awards Medical Research Fellowships allows exceptional MD, DVM, and DDS students to shift course and conduct rigorous research at top institutions throughout the US.

NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Medical Student Research Program in Diabetes

The Program in Diabetes  is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health through the NIDDK and allows medical students to conduct research under the direction of an established scientist in the areas of diabetes, hormone action, physiology, islet cell biology or obesity at an institution with one of the NIDDK-funded Research Centers during the summer between the first and second year or second and third year of medical school. The Program helps students gain an improved understanding of career opportunities in biomedical research and a comprehensive understanding of diabetes, its clinical manifestations and its unsolved problems.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NRSA Diversity Supplement Award

The NIDDK currently provides the opportunity for well-qualified individuals from underrepresented minority groups to receive research training under an existing NIDDK-funded  T32 award , only when all the positions awarded for the T32 have been filled. Medical students, either for a short term (summer) or a year, may receive support from any T32 program that supports M.D. trainees.

ProFellow Medical Research Fellowships for Professionals, Scholars and Students

ProFellow is a fantastic resource to inform students and graduates about fellowships. Here are a mixed series of links to short and long-term research training opportunities.

53 Medical Research Fellowships for Professionals, Scholars and Students | ProFellow

Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

The  scientific councils  of the American Heart Association (AHA) want to stimulate interest, knowledge and investigative work in students in medicine, nursing, public health, nutrition and other allied health disciplines. AHA Student Scholarships support students conducting research projects related to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and stroke within basic, clinical, translational or population sciences early during pre-doctoral training, usually during the summer. Projects must be conducted under qualified supervision and each applicant and applicant's preceptor must be members of the AHA at the time of application.

Herbert Brendler, MD Summer Medical Student Fellowship Program (for urology)

Stimulating and meaningful research experiences mentored by leaders in the field are likely to stimulate the interest needed to accomplish that goal, and could be the catalyst that leads medical students to pursue a career in academic urology. The Urology Care Foundation is proud to provide the Herbert Brendler, MD, Summer Medical Student Fellowship Program, designed to encourage medical students to join the field of urology through a summer fellowship program. 

Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Student Research Fellowship

The SVS Foundation Student Research Fellowship stimulates laboratory and clinical vascular research by undergraduate college students and medical school students registered at universities in the United States and Canada.

The intent of the fellowship award is to further the student’s education and introduce the student to the application of rigorous scientific methods to clinical problems and underlying biologic processes important to patients with vascular disease.  

Crohn's & Colitis foundation of America Student Research Awards

Offers financial support for students to spend time performing research on topics relevant to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), or Crohn's disease  and  ulcerative colitis . The Foundation hopes to stimulate research interest in the area of IBD.

American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship

Prestigious AAN awards recognize outstanding contributions to research in the field. Browse the awards and scholarships available, and contact the staff representative for more information. Open the award title link to view eligibility criteria, further award information, and to apply.

American Brain Tumor Association Jack and Fay Netchin Medical Student Summer Fellowships

Medical Student Summer Fellowships are grants awarded to medical students who intend to spend a summer conducting brain tumor research with esteemed scientist mentors. The program’s intent is to inspire talented medical students to pursue a career in neuro-oncology research.

American Federation for Aging Research Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program

Sponsored by the  National Institute on Aging (NIA) , the MSTAR program encourages medical students provides medical students with an enriching experience in aging-related research and geriatrics, with the mentorship of top experts in the field. 

HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Research and Mentorship Program (RAMP) (for African American and Hispanic students)

HIV Vaccine Trials Network, in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health is investing in the next generation of HIV prevention researchers

MD Anderson Center First Year Medical Student Program

The First-Year Medical Student Program is a 10-week program that offers hands-on experience in biomedical, translational or clinical research.  Students are matched with a mentor from MD Anderson’s research or clinical faculty. Work alongside the mentor on projects designed to reflect current research. Workshops and lectures connect you with faculty, residents, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and other participants. The program culminates with a symposium in which participants present talks and posters on their research projects to peers and faculty. 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Summer Fellowship Program for Medical Students

MSKCC Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program is a research program for first- and second-year students at US medical schools who are interested in careers as physician-scientists in the field of oncology and/or related biomedical sciences.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Summer Research

At this internationally-renowned research institution and one of the few Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country, a multidisciplinary focus with unique immersion in cancer science  is provide to help guide young physician-scientist careers.

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship

Financial support for full-time research conducted for a minimum of 8 weeks for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership, or professionalism. Funds from the fellowship are expected to be the major source of support for the student.

Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF)

Fellowships are awarded to medical students in the United States, Canada or Mexico who have completed one or more years of medical school and want to spend a summer mentored by a neurosurgical investigator sponsor who is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

Student Research Training Program (SRTP) in Diabetes and Obesity, Kidney Disease, and Digestive Disease (sponsored NIH)

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine invites applications for the summer Medical Student Research Training Program (SRTP) in Diabetes and Obesity, Kidney Disease, and Digestive Disease. Program is funded by the National Institutes of Health to provide training during the summer between the first and second year to conduct diabetes and obesity-related research, kidney disease and hypertension-related research, or digestive disease research under the direction of an established scientist. No prior research experience is required.

Program Description | Vanderbilt Diabetes Center (vumc.org)

Children's Hospital Los Angeles Summer Oncology Research Fellowship

NIH-supported Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF) Program is designed for medical students in the summer between their first and second year who are considering a biomedical career that involves cancer research. This research fellowship is held at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the  Keck School of Medicine  at University of Southern California (USC).

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program

The Pediatric Oncology Education program is funded by the National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute. The POE program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, or public health to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. POE provides a summer internship in either laboratory research or clinical research, with the primary goal to encourage students to pursue a career in cancer research. 

NYU Langone Pediatrics Summer Programs for Medical Students

The Department of Pediatrics at NYU Langone provides Summer Research Fellowship for eight weeks each summer. It pairs each student with an investigator who focuses on clinical or basic science research in either general pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty. Students can also request additional experiences in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings at various locations

Pediatrics Summer Programs for Medical Students | NYU Langone Health

Golisano Children’s Hospital Medical Student Summer Research

Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Program is open to students who have completed first year of medical school. The program is designed to assist students in choosing careers in research, pediatrics, and academic medicine. Selected students are paired with a mentor in a focused summer project, giving students an opportunity to become acquainted with the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Medical School, faculty, staff and other participants in the program.

Summer Training Program - Strong Children's Research Center - Pediatrics - University of Rochester Medical Center

Children's Hospital Colorado Summer Child Health Research Internship

The summer program will introduce students to research opportunities related to child health. The summer internships will include opportunities for students to participate in a lecture research series as well as present their research at the completion of the summer internship. Weekly research seminars will be given every Friday afternoon

Research Training | Children's Hospital Colorado (childrenscolorado.org)

MD Anderson Summer Experience

The MD Anderson Summer Experience is an umbrella program that comprises 15 summer academic programs at MD Anderson. The umbrella program provides activities such as lectures, seminars, workshops, a poster presentation and networking events. All students accepted into Summer Experience programs are invited to attend these events.

Summer Experience Information | MD Anderson Cancer Center

The Glorney-Raisbeck Medical Student Grants in Cardiovascular Research

The Glorney-Raisbeck Medical Student Grants in Cardiovascular Research. The grants are awarded to MD candidates who are either enrolled in a New York-area medical school or plan to conduct research at a New York-area institution, to pursue summer research projects seeking better understanding of the causes, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

David E. Rogers Fellowship Program

This Fellowship Award is designed to enrich the educational experiences of medical students through projects in medicine that contribute to community health and address the needs of underserved or disadvantaged patients or populations.  Content includes clinical investigation, public health/epidemiology, health policy analysis, activities linking biomedicine, the social infrastructure and human or community need.

Ferdinand C. Valentine Medical Student Research Grants in Urology

The New York Academy of Medicine is pleased to announce the competition for The Ferdinand C. Valentine Medical Student Research Grants in Urology. The grants are awarded to MD candidates who are either enrolled in a New York-area medical school or plan to conduct research at a New York-area institution, to pursue mentored summer research projects in urology.

Campagna Scholarship in Neurological Surgery

This Summer Research Scholarship is available for United States medical students intending a career in neurological surgery here at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).  Students in the  first  or  second  year of study at an  accredited U.S.  medical school are eligible to apply. Applicants are invited to review the clinical and scientific interests of   research mentors  in the OHSU Department of Neurological Surgery. One scholar will be selected annually.

James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

Fellowship supports public health research and professional development in the areas of infectious diseases and health disparities, with a special focus on increasing knowledge and interest in public health research careers among students from underrepresented populations. Fellows may also gain clinical experience and develop professional leadership skills in the public health field.

Simon Kramer Summer Externship in Radiation Oncology

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University & Hospitals in Philadelphia provides the annual Simon Kramer Society Externship in Radiation Oncology. This externship was established to provide exposure of medical students to radiation oncology working on a research project and participating in clinical and educational activities.

NASPGHAN Foundation Medical Student Mentored Summer Research Program

NASPGHAN (North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition) supports this program at multiple sites throughout the U.S. and Canada where medical students with research experiences under the mentorship of basic or clinical scientists with a research focus in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, or nutrition.

  Web Site

National Student Injury Research Training Program

The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) hosts the National Medical Student Injury Research Training Program to provide research training to future physician-investigators while introducing them to the field of injury research and prevention.

NYU Langone Health Emergency Medicine Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine

The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine at NYU Langone is pleased to offer the Fellowship for Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine to medical students enrolled at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education–accredited school. 

MD-PhD Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

New section.

Find medical research opportunities for undergraduates on medical school campuses.

MD-PhD-specific Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Hanover, N.H. MD-PhD Undergraduate Summer (MPUS) Fellowship

Harvard Medical School Boston, MA Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics

Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Boston, MA Harvard/MIT Equitable Access to Research Training (HEART) MD–PhD Summer Program

Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Ind. Undergraduate Research for Prospective Physician-Scientists and Physician-Engineers

Ohio State University Medical Center Columbus, Ohio ASPIRE Medical Research Program

State University of New York Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Physician Scientist Program (SURF-PS)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. Summer in Biological Sciences (SIBS) Undergraduate Research Program

Companion program for URM Preparation for Graduate and Medical Education (PARAdiGM) Program

University of California San Diego San Diego, Calif. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program

University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA The UCSD MSTP Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio  Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Iowa City, Iowa Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research (SUMR) Program

University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minn. Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, N.Y. MSTP Summer Scholars Program

University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Medicine & Public Health Madison, WI MSTP Summer Scholars Program

Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tenn Vanderbilt MSTP Summer Research Program

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis St. Louis, Mo. MSTP ACCESS Program

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering New York, N.Y. Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program

Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Augusta University Augusta, Ga. Summer Student Training and Research (STAR)

Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) Program

Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Mass. Summer Student Training and Research (STAR)

Brigham and Women's Hospital  (in collaboration with Harvard-affiliated hospitals) Boston, Mass. Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine

Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Case Summer Research Programs

Children's Hospital Research Foundation of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Division of Developmental Biology Undergraduate Summer Student Program

City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute Duarte, Calif. Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy

Committee on Institutional Cooperation Champaign, Ill. Summer Research Opportunities Program

Creighton University Omaha, Neb. Undergraduate Biomedical Research Training Program

Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Dell Medical School’s LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes’ Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia, Pa. Biomedical Graduate Studies-Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Georgia State University, Neuroscience Institute Atlanta, Ga B&B Summer Scholars Program

Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Harvard Medical School Boston, Mass. Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program (SHURP)

Hofstra North Shore/LIJ School of Medicine   Manhasset, N.Y. Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Student Intern Program 

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, Md. Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Keck Graduate Institute Claremont, Calif. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program

Louisiana State Health Sciences Center Shreveport Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience Shreveport, La. Summer Undergraduate Pharmacology Experience in Research Program (SUPER)

Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine   Chicago, Ill. Undergraduate Summer Research Program, Department of Microbiology & Immunology  Summer Undergraduate Research program, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Maine Medical Center Research Institute Scarborough, Maine Summer Student Research Program at main Medical Center Research Institute

Massachusetts General Hospital Multicultural Affairs Office Boston, Mass. Summer Research Trainee Program

Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisc. Summer Program for Undergraduate Research Summer Enrichment Programs

Medical University of South Carolina Charleston, S.C. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Medical Student Summer Fellowship Research Program Molecular Imaging Summer Program (MISP)

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Minneapolis, Minn. Summer Research Internships in Clinical Cardiology

Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Md. Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research

New York University School of Medicine New York, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Evanston, Ill. Summer Research Opportunity Program

Oregon Health and Science University Portland, Ore. Summer Research Programs

Penn State University, College of Medicine Hershey, Pa. SURIP – Summer Undergraduate Research Internship Program STEP-UP - Short-Term Educational Program for Underrepresented Persons SURF – American Heart Association Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, Calif. Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)/Amgen Scholars

Stony Brook University School of Medicine Stony Brook, NY Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program

Texas A&M University College of Medicine Bryan, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences   Lubbock, Texas Summer Accelerated Biomedical Research (SABR) Program 

Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, Pa. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Tufts University Boston, Mass. Sackler School Summer Research Programs

University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Ala. Summer Research Programs for Undergraduates

University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Summer Undergraduate Research Program BLAISER Program

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Little Rock, AR Summer Research Fellowships for Undergraduate Students UAMS Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Increase Diversity in Research

University at Buffalo (SUNY) School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo, N.Y. Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine Irvine, CA Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research

University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA Summer Research Training Program

University of Chicago Chicago. Ill. The Leadership Alliance & The University of Chicago Summer Research Early Identification Program The Pritzker School of Medicine Experience in Research (PSOMER)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati, Ohio Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Denver, Colo. Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS)

University of Connecticut Health Center Farmington, Conn. Undergraduate Summer Research

University of Georgia Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute Athens, Ga. Summer Undergraduate Fellows

University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Ill. Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) 

University of Kansas Lawrence, Kan. Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

University of Kentucky Lexington, Ky. NSF-REU: Summer Program in the Biomedical Sciences

University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, Ky. Cancer Biology Training Program

University of Maryland Baltimore, Md. Office of Student Research

University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Mass. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University New Brunswick, N.J. Undergraduate Summer Research

University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine Miami, FL. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. UM-SMART Undergrad Summer Program

University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minn. Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (LSSURP)

University of Mississippi Jackson, Miss. Summer Research Internship in Medical Sciences

University of Missouri Columbia, MO Summer Research Internship in Medical Sciences

University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, Neb. Undergraduate Summer Research Program

University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Neb. Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, N.M. Undergraduate Pipeline Network Summer Research Program

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, Okla. Native American Center for Health Research Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Stephenson Cancer Center Summer Undergraduate Program

University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pa. Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pa. Summer Undergraduate Research Programs Premedical Academic Enrichment Program MIDAS summer Research Opportunity Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunities Training and Experimentation in Computational Biology

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Rochester, N.Y. MSTP Summer Scholars Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Program

University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston Houston, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Smithville, Texas Summer Program in Cancer Research

University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, Texas Computational Cancer Biology Training Program Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Program Summer Internship in Tropical Diseases Research

University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas GSBS Summer Undergraduate Research Programs

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI)

University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, Va. Minority Health International Research Training Program (MHIRT) Summer Research Internship Program

University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle, WA University of Washington Summer Undergraduate Research Program

University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisc. Integrated Biological Sciences Summer Research Program Summer Research Opportunity Programs

Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Va. Summer Research in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health Epidemiology (MIDPH) 

Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, N.C. Summer Research Opportunities Program

Washington University St. Louis, Mo. BioMedRAP AMGEN Scholars Program MSTP ACCESS Program

Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, Mich. SURE Programs

West Virigina Univeristy Morgantown, WV MD/PhD Summer Research Internship

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering New York, N.Y. Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program Weill Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program Computational Biology Summer Program (CBSP) Chemical Biology Summer Program (ChBSP) Engineering Summer Program (ESP)

Yale School of Medicine New Haven, Conn. NIH-NIDDK/KUH Yale Summer Research Fellowship for Undergraduate Students BioMed Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

• Like AAMC Pre-Med
• Follow @AAMCpremed

Information on how to become a research physician, also known as a physician-investigator or a physician-scientist.

A Personal Plea to Premeds

Trisha Kaundinya | January 13, 2021

When I was in college, I was in a premed “bubble” a lot of the time. I took many of my courses and labs alongside hundreds of other aspiring physicians. I would see the same people throughout my academic day, and sometimes even outside of the lecture hall. Because of this, I unintentionally overheard conversations […]

Get important information, resources, and tips to help you on your path to medical school—delivered right to your inbox each month.

• See us on facebook
• See us on twitter
• See us on youtube
• See us on linkedin

CVI Summer Research Program

For Undergraduate and MD Students

Informational Sessions: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 | Session Recording Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | 10:00am-11:00am PT via  Zoom

Our 10-week Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (CV) Summer Research Program is designed to provide meaningful research experiences to a diverse cohort of undergraduate and medical students from across the country in the field of cardiovascular science. Our long-term goal is to bolster a pool of scientists and physician-scientists who will support and/or contribute to the diversity of cardiovascular research and medicine and expose them to the landscape of 21st century translational research and medicine. A primary goal of our program is to increase diversity in cardiovascular research and medicine by supporting students from varying backgrounds. The CVI Summer Research Program is open to all.

The CVI Summer Research Program provides both research and training. 80% of trainee time is devoted to a cardiovascular or pulmonary research project in the lab of a Stanford faculty mentor. Specific research domains our faculty specialize in include precision medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, health disparities, pulmonary research, heart failure, rhythm disorders, and clinical trials. We also provide a dedicated curriculum to ensure trainees learn about these topics and more from leaders in cardiovascular and pulmonary science and medicine. The remaining 20% of students' time is spent in a comprehensive curriculum consisting of scientific seminars, career development workshops, social and networking opportunities, and personal development sessions. Students also have the opportunity to participate in  MAvERICS  (Metascience Analyses and Explorations of Reproducibility In Cardiovascular Science) where, as part of a collaboration between CVI and  SPORR , small teams of summer students work under the guidance of a CVI early career scientist to conduct a metascience study in the field of cardiovascular research. Our program provides exceptional research training and strives to be an inclusive opportunity for individuals with varying backgrounds, outlooks, and career goals.

The CVI Summer Research Program at Stanford is supported by the American Heart Association, The National Institutes of Health, and the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. We will be offering a stipend between $5,000 and $8,000 depending on the specific funding source and whether participation is virtual or in-person.

Application deadline: January 10, 2025

Submission deadline: January 19, 2025

(detailed application instructions below)

Program Details

Eligibility

Eligibility for Undergraduate Students: 

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, or foreign nationals holding a student, exchange, or permanent resident visa, including an F-1, H1, H1B, J1, PR, TC, or TN visa are  eligible  for our program. Students who are foreign nationals or DACA recipients are only eligible if they are entering at least their third year of undergraduate study following the program end. Individuals graduating from an undergraduate degree program in Spring/Summer prior to the program start (within  six months ) are also eligible.

Eligibility for Medical Students: 

U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for our program.  To qualify for the program as a medical student, you must be enrolled in medical school at a US institution.

Application Instructions

The application includes: 

• Completed Application Prompt Document ( Word  or  PDF )
• CV (or Resume)
• Transcript (Unofficial Transcript is acceptable)
• 1-3 Letters of Reference

Review Criteria:

• Potential:  Has a high likelihood of a research experience providing a strong impact on their career. For example, a student who is plateauing will not gain much from a new research experience at Stanford. A late-bloomer, or a student with limited access to research resources, may find a summer research experience at Stanford much more impactful.
• Self-awareness:  Has a well-calibrated self-assessment. Self-awareness of failures and mistakes helps individuals identify and overcome weaknesses. This is a quality that tracks well with students benefiting from short-term research experiences.
• Competence:  Has demonstrated strong skills in the work they've done. Not necessarily grade-based, but also practical experience working in teams or pursuing research.
• Commitment:  Has a clear motivation or passion that propelled them into applying for this program.
• Creativity: Has novel ideas and approaches for tackling challenges

Online Application form:

Complete the application below with a  single   PDF document  containing the requested forms (Here are  instructions on how to merge documents into one PDF ).  Application deadline: January 10, 2025 . Decisions will be sent out in February - March.

Online Letter of Recommendation submission form:

Please ensure that 1-3 Letters of Recommendation are submitted. Submission deadline: January 19, 2025

Below is a list of mentors who have participated in the past. Please indicate in your application if there are particular PIs that you are interested in working with. Note that each student will be matched with a mentor  once we have made an offer and received a signed letter of acceptance from the student . We will do our best to match you with one of your listed mentors but cannot guarantee your choice. Please note that any PI at Stanford is eligible to be a faculty mentor.

Please refer to  this link  to learn more about the CVI Summer Research Program mentors!

Funding, Housing, Travel, and Additional Support

On campus housing is a requirement of the CVI Summer Research program unless alternative housing arrangements outside the program have been verified. Students are offered three options to devote their stipend to either six, eight weeks or ten weeks of on-campus housing and board. Option one is six weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$2,800 of stipend, option two is eight weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$1,900 of stipend, and option three is ten weeks of on-campus housing and board with ~$500.

What dates do the summer research commitments start and finish?

The CVI Summer Research Program will begin in the middle of June and end sometime in the middle of August. Although 8 weeks of research in person are required, some cases may be granted if and when that 8 week of research is completed. Additionally, up to two weeks of research may be conducted virtually, if PI mentor approval is granted

What year do I have to be to apply as an international student?

International students must be  at least  in their second year of their undergraduate degree to be eligible for our program.

Do international students need visas in order to apply?

We recommend international students (students who are not US citizens or permanent residents) have a visa in-hand before applying to our program, because of the length of time it takes to secure a visa. Stanford's CVI cannot help in obtaining a visa for the program's participants due to the short time period between acceptance into the program and the program start date.

Am I eligible to apply if I graduate right before the program begins?

You are eligible to apply for the program if your graduation date falls within 6 months of the start of the program.

Do I upload all transcripts if I have been to multiple institutions?

We recommend uploading all available transcripts.

What if my transcript is not available in time for the application due date?

A letter of good standing is sufficient if a transcript is unavailable.

Is there a word count for the writing statements?

Each writing statement must be half a page of text, or approximately 250 words.

What do I write about in the Statement of Research/Professional Experience if I don’t have any research experience?

We recommend writing about professional or academic experiences that have shaped your interest in participating in our summer research program.

Do I provide all GPA’s if I went to multiple institutions?

Please provide the GPA of your current institution.

Is there a GPA cutoff?

We do not have a GPA cutoff.

Will I have access to Stanford health facilities such as the gym?

Gym access may be available to those who request it, but is not guaranteed.

What do I do if I accidentally submitted my application before it was complete? 

We will always use the latest submission from you, but you are welcome to alert CVI staff and we will delete the incomplete application from the database.

Is this program specifically designed for medical students between their M1 and M2 year? 

Medical students in any year of their training may participate in our program as long as they are able to secure the necessary 10-weeks of time for research.

Is it possible to participate in the program completely virtually? 

We do not offer completely virtual research experiences; however, some labs may be able to accommodate a virtual research project. If you are accepted into our program please notify program administration about your need to participate in the program virtually and we will attempt to match you with a lab offering virtual research projects. Note that these opportunities are extremely unlikely to exist and if we cannot match you with such a lab you would need to participate in the program in-person or decline our offer. Please also note that participation in a fully virtual research project would reduce the stipend to $5000 due to removal of cost-of-living support.

Is it possible to participate in the program partially virtually? 

Students must spend at least 8 weeks on-campus, but may—at the discretion of their faculty research mentor— complete up to two weeks of the program remotely.

Do students receive a stipend for participation?

Students receive a minimum stipend of $5000 for virtual participation and $7000 for in-person participation. Students may receive approximately $1000 additional support for travel and accommodation, but these funds are not guaranteed. The program is unfortunately unable to provide on-site housing for students at this time. By law, payments to non-residents of the U.S. are subject to 14% Federal tax withholding and are reported on Tax Form 1042-S." to "Students receive a minimum stipend of  $7000. Students may receive approximately $1000 additional support for travel and accommodation, but these funds are not guaranteed. The program is unfortunately unable to provide on-site housing for students at this time. By law, payments to non-residents of the U.S. are subject to 14% Federal tax withholding and are reported on Tax Form 1042-S.

What are the demographics of applicants to the CVI Summer Program?

Information on our recruitment criteria and previous years' applicant demographics are available  here .

Previous Awardees

Summer Research Program Outline

Research into the effectiveness of our program, shows that students from underrepresented populations performing cardiovascular research report significant gains in scientific proficiency. Please refer the  full article .

Download the program flyer

CVI Summer Research Program Informational Session PowerPoint

Affiliated Leaders

T35 Program

Tameka Clemons, PhD

Co-Director Meharry Medical College

América Facundo, PhD

Co-Director University of Puerto Rico

Joseph Wu, MD, PhD

Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Simon H. Stertzer, MD, Professor and Professor of Radiology

R25 Program

Vinicio de Jesus Perez, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)

Kristy Red-Horse, PhD

Associate Professor of Biology

AHA Institutional Award and AHA SURE

Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Simon H. Stertzer, MD, Professor and Professor of Radiology; Site Director

Cardiothoracic Surgery Diversifying Pipeline Award

Tomi Obafemi, MD

Resident, Cardiothoracic Surgery

Jason Irwin

Director of Finance and Administration

Joseph Woo, MD

Chair & Norman E. Shumway Professor and, by courtesy, of Bioengineering

MAvERICS Program

Steven Goodman, MD, MHS, PhD

Associate Dean of Clinical and Translational Research and Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, and Medicine

Office of Education and STEM Outreach

Director, Education and Stem Outreach, Community Engagement Operations

Office of Diversity in Medical Education

Marcella Anthony, EdD

Assistant Director, Diversity Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement, Office of Diversity in Medical Education

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Research Training

Medical Student Summer Opportunities to Advance Research (M-SOAR)

This program is available to:

• Doctoral Students

An opportunity for medical students to perform a summer research internship in the Intramural Research Program at the NIH.

On this page

About this program, diversity and inclusion, eligibility criteria, stipend and other compensation, before you apply, how to apply, selection process, contact nih principal investigators.

This program is an opportunity for first-year medical students who want to learn about translational research to spend a summer immersed in a culture of translational science at the NIH. These are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. M-SOAR students will work on, or near, the main campus in Bethesda, MD.

M-SOAR is a cohort program within the broader Summer Internship Program (SIP) . In addition to having access to the resources offered to all summer interns, M-SOAR interns participate in a curriculum focused on the development of academic, professional, and resilience skills as part of a cohort or learning community.

Diversity strengthens our community. We welcome applications from individuals who meet the M-SOAR eligibility requirements and strongly encourage applications from individuals:

• from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research and healthcare fields
• with disabilities
• who were Pell Grant-eligible as an undergraduate student
• who are/were enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• who identify as LGBTQ+
• disadvantaged by life circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities.

To be considered for M-SOAR, you must meet all the requirements for the Summer Internship Program . In addition, you must be:

• Enrolled for fall 2025 in a MD or DO program in the U.S.
• In good standing and have written permission from your medical school program/university to participate in the program.

M-SOAR interns must commit to completing the entire program and must be on campus full-time during the eight or nine weeks of their internship. M-SOAR students may choose to begin their internship on May 19 or May 27, 2025 and must be available to participate in the program through at least July 11, 2025. M-SOAR interns can extend an additional two weeks until July 25, 2025 if the mentor agrees.

Summer internships are full-time positions; interns are expected to devote 40 hours per week to their projects and training.

Stipends for summer interns are adjusted annually and are based on educational level. There is free parking on each NIH campus; summer interns are also eligible to participate in the Transhare program .

All summer interns must present proof of health insurance to participate in the program.

The decision to come to the NIH as a M-SOAR intern is an important one. These are full-time research positions, and it is not possible to take summer classes or tend to other responsibilities during work hours.

Research groups are located on several different NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD. Before you begin your application, we encourage you to learn more about the NIH IRP , the NIH Clinical Center , and the mission of each IC . M-SOAR interns will be placed in research groups on, or near, the main campus in Bethesda, MD. If you are interested in a placement in a research group on another campus, we encourage you to apply for the NIH SIP .

Opening and closing dates

The M-SOAR application is now open.

The M-SOAR application will close January 8, 2025, at noon ET. M-SOAR reference letters are due January 15, 2025, at noon ET..

Complete your application

You must use the NIH Application Center to apply for this program.

• Complete your NIH Application Center profile. Any information submitted to the profile will be stored for use on future applications. (Your profile is NOT the application.)
• Indicate that you are interested in applying to ‘Summer internships’.
• Find 'Medical Summer Opportunities to Advance Research’ in the ‘Open Programs’ list. Complete the Eligibility Screener.
• If you are eligible, use the ‘Apply’ link to begin your application.
• Import any relevant information from your profile. You must also submit:
• Coursework - a list of all coursework and grades
• CV/Resume - a list of your education, experience, and other relevant history
• Personal Statement - a statement broadly describing your research experience, current interests, and career goals.
• References – Enter the names and contact information of two references. Note that your references will receive a request to submit a letter of recommendation after you submit your application.

Review all of your materials carefully before you submit your application.

The M-SOAR selection committee reviews applications and will notify applicants of final decisions by January 31, 2025.

2025 M-SOAR applicants should follow the instructions below to use the NIH IRP webpage and search for potential mentors. You can only reach out to investigators as a potential M-SOAR candidate. You may NOT confirm placement in a research group unless you are selected as part of the 2025 M-SOAR cohort. M-SOAR will not fund placements of candidates not selected as part of the 2025 M-SOAR cohort.

Please read our recommendations on finding mentors in the Intramural Research Program , which provide important information on how to find research groups and factors to be aware of as you interview and consider positions.

You should reach out to NIH Principal Investigators (PIs) and direct them to your completed application .

• Search databases and develop a list of PIs in the Intramural Research Program whose work interests you. Note that PIs may reach out to you to see if you are interested in working in their group.
• Send personalized emails to PIs expressing interesting in their research group and highlighting why you are a strong candidate for their program.
• Interview, virtually or in-person.

Watch the How to Find an NIH Research Mentor video on the OITE YouTube channel.

Have questions?

We also encourage you to pay careful attention to our extensive frequently asked questions list to support you in the application process.

Reach out to us with questions at [email protected] .

Darryl Murray

• Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP)

External Website Policy

This graphic notice ( ) means that you are leaving the NIH website.

This external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of this site. NIH cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site.

Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by NIH or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site's privacy policy when you follow the link.

• I understand