Medical Student Research Program
All medical students enrolled at UT Southwestern have the opportunity to engage in a variety of research activities—both basic and clinical—during the summer break in conjunction with faculty members.
Students begin the process of choosing the laboratory in which they will work during the school year, and then complete this choice in the spring.
- The research begins after the school year is over and lasts for approximately 10 weeks.
- Students are paid a research stipend during this period and are able to attend a series of weekly luncheon seminars in which faculty and former student researchers discuss the fundamentals of basic and clinical research.
Many take advantage of this program each year. Most choose to participate during the summer before and after their first year.
The office of the Associate Dean for Medical Student Research is charged with organizing these activities.
Summer Research FAQs
Who can participate?
Any student who’s currently enrolled or has been accepted at UT Southwestern. If you’re interested in doing basic, clinical, or applied research and you are a medical student who is currently enrolled or has been accepted at UT Southwestern, you are eligible to do research and receive a stipend. It’s important to note that the subject of the research supported must be consistent with the mission of the supporting NIH institute.
NOTE: If you’re are an undergraduate student and are only interested in obtaining the PhD degree, or if you intend to apply to MD/PhD programs, you should be applying to the SURF program.
How much experience is required?
While any experience will greatly accelerate the development of students, none is required.
When do I need to identify a mentor?
Usually this is done in January-March preceding the summer that research is to be conducted. It’s advisable to begin this process early, as it will then be possible for students to carefully explore the large number of opportunities that are open to them. Additionally, a student who identifies a lab/mentor in the spring will afford him/herself an opportunity to become familiar with the research topic and techniques that are to be employed in advance of the fellowship period.
Students should contact prospective mentors directly (by email or phone) to discuss potential projects and to define the role of the student in the project. Students are encouraged to contact more than one potential mentor. Students needing additional suggestions or help with the choice of a mentor are encouraged to contact Michael McPhaul, MD, Associate Dean for Student Research.
What laboratories participate in this program?
Each year, many laboratories submit projects covering a range of clinical and basic research topics. In addition, some students identify mentors/projects based on their past experiences and interests. Still others identify mentors by exploring the Faculty section of the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences webpage.
What’s the level of support and what are the time periods during which research is conducted?
Research is conducted during a 10-week period. Students are permitted to take a week off during the 10-week period (the timing of this is to be decided after consultation with the mentor). A $3,000 stipend (divided into three monthly checks) is provided as support for this period. Students who successfully compete for a position supported by one of the two NIH-funded T-35 grants will be supported at a slightly higher level. (In addition, a small amount of money will be available for travel to a conference.)
Is there paperwork?
Once a suitable mentor and project is identified, minor paperwork must be completed prior to the appointment of the student as a student researcher at UT Southwestern. The completed form must be signed by the student and the prospective mentor and brought or faxed to Dr. McPhaul. Please note that there may be limitations in the number of spots that can be supported in any given summer period. In these instances, awards will be made after an assessment of the quality of the proposed project and consideration of the proposed mentor. Paperwork completed and submitted after all of the 'slots' are allocated may not be eligible for stipend support. Please see Summer Research Program for more information.
Are there other requirements?
Yes. Each student must submit a summary of their research experience at the conclusion of the program. The description should include: 1) the question asked; 2) the methods employed; 3) the results obtained; and 4) the conclusions drawn. Note that with proper formatting, variations on this summary would be acceptable for submission as an abstract to the Annual UT Southwestern Medical Student Research Forum. Abstracts submitted to the research forum are published and can be listed on your curriculum vitae.
Are there additional programs to distinguish students who excelled in the research that they have conducted at UT Southwestern?
Yes. Students may apply to the 'M.D., with Distinction in Research' Program. This program is designed to recognize students that distinguish themselves in the conduct of meaningful clinical or basic research activities during the course of their medical school training. Individuals satisfying the program requirements would be recognized at graduation and on their diploma as graduating with the degree of: "Doctor of Medicine, with Distinction in Research."
Is it possible to obtain elective credit for research that I conduct?
Yes. The requisite paperwork can be found on MyUTSW, UT Southwestern's internal website. Note that 1) it is not possible to get paid and get credit for your work, and 2) that the credit earned can only be applied to the year of medical school in which it is taken.
MD-Masters in Clinical Science
Although the pace of biomedical discovery continues to accelerate, there is a pressing need to provide additional avenues to train physician-scientists that are capable of moving these discoveries to the bedside. In recent years, greater attention has been paid to providing opportunities for medical students at early points in their schooling. Such opportunities are provided by a number of programs at UT Southwestern and nationwide, and include short-term training opportunities (such as those provided by the NIH funded T-35 grant) and the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship for Medical students.
In order to provide a more robust opportunity by which interested medical students can enhance the level of clinical research training, UT Southwestern has established a combined MD-Masters in Clinical Science Program. This training program will combine rigorous didactic training with a mentored clinical research project. The completion of the didactic and practical training will be marked by the successful submission and public defense of a Masters thesis.
In publications, do I need to cite support by any particular program?
Yes. You should be sure to cite support for the program that you were supported by.
- Those supported by the NIDDK T-35 should indicate that they were supported by this grant (the manuscript or abstract should acknowledge the support of "T35-DK066141").
- Those supported by the should indicate that they were supported by this grant (the manuscript or abstract should acknowledge the support of "T35-HL086346"). NHLBI T-35
- Those supported by the NHLBI R-25 should indicate that they were supported by this grant (the manuscript or abstract should acknowledge the support of "R25-HL096367").
- Undergraduate students supported by the UT-SUMR fellows program should acknowledge support by the "UT Southwestern Undergraduate Medical Research (UT-SUMR) Program".
- Medical students that are participating in summer research at UT Southwestern not supported by the UT-SUMR or T-35 programs should acknowledge support by the "UT Southwestern Medical Student Research Program".
- Medical students that are participating (have participated) in the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship at UT Southwestern should acknowledge that such students have "been supported by the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship for Medical Students".