Medical Student Research Programs at UVA

2023 On-Line Preceptor Form

2023 On-Line Student Match Form

The Dean’s Office will solicit projects from faculty at the start of the calendar year.  Students should consult the list of proposed MSSRP projects beginning early in 2023 or contact faculty sponsors directly to discuss a specific project in detail.  Students also may approach faculty directly to develop a research project that has not been posted, to be performed under the MSSRP.

The MSSRP provides a summer research opportunity that is open to rising second-year UVA medical students only.  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.  As many as 94 students have participated in this program annually, gaining important exposure to the excitement, rewards, trials, and tribulations of biomedical research.  Students will receive fellowship payment 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:

• Participation in a research project under the guidance of a faculty preceptor.  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.

• Presentation of one’s project in an informal setting attended by other students and the program director.  These sessions allow students to discuss their research project with their peers.  Presentations must be completed by July 31, 2023.  More details to follow.

• Attendance at departmental lectures and workshops over the course of the summer, as required by the preceptor.

• Responsible Conduct of Research:  CITI training must be completed by June 16, 2023.

• Submission of a final project report.  The written report stimulates students to formulate their thoughts and bring the work to completion.  Final reports are due no later than September 29, 2023.

MSSRP participants (and all other medical students) and SOM faculty are invited to attend and participate in the fall symposium.

On-line forms for faculty projects and student participants are available at the top of this page.  The faculty form should be submitted by the preceptor.  Student forms should be submitted only when student and preceptor have agreed on a “match.”

• Projects must be conducted during the summer between first and second year.  The summer break runs from May 27 to August 1, 2023.
• January through April:  Projects are posted here.  Matches must be made no later than April 28.
• Friday, May 26, 2023:  Student Agreement Form due back to the Office for Research.
• June: Responsible conduct of research training: details will be provided.
• June-July: Presentations of project methods and goals: details to be provided.
• September 29, 2023:  Final project report due.
• Date TBA:  Fall Research Symposium.

The UVA Center for Global Health has established the CGH/MSSRP Scholar Awards to encourage UVa students to design and carry out interdisciplinary research projects related to global health.  Health is a universal value, and defined broadly.  Environmental health, economic health, mental health and health of communities are all issues which can be approached from a broad range of disciplines including politics, biology, economics or foreign affairs.

The CGH/MSSRP Award is open to undergraduate, graduate and professional students in all departments across grounds at the University.  Prospective scholars are encouraged to work with UVa faculty within established research collaborations or ongoing faculty research; building on the work of a previous scholar is also encouraged.  CGH/MSSRP Awards provide up to $5,000 to cover student travel, living, and project expenses.  Scholars can work with one or more UVa faculty mentors as well as a mentor from the international host site.  A letter of support for the project is requested from one UVa faculty mentor and the on-site, host country mentor. Support in the amount of $1000 is provided for a UVa faculty mentor.  Follow this link for the CGH University Scholar Award application form.  The application deadline is in mid-January.

The SMRI is supported by three training grants from the NIH for short-term research training in Allergy or Infectious Diseases; Cardiovascular, Pulmonary or Hematological Diseases; and Cancer Research. Based on stated research interests, trainees who are selected to participate will be matched with one of ~140 mentors in the SOM and will receive a generous stipend of $5,382 for a 10-week commitment beginning in early June and running through early August (stipend will be prorated for shorter commitments, but the program requires at least 8 weeks of participation).  In addition to research, interns in the SMRI program are provided a professional development series designed to help explore ways in which research can be incorporated into medical careers.  In addition, trainees benefit from a communication workshop, during which they learn to effectively communicate about science by distilling and tailoring their message for different audiences. SMRI interns will be required to submit a brief final report about their work for NIH reporting purposes, to give an oral presentation at the SMRI/SRIP Final Symposium and strongly encouraged to present a poster at the Medical Student Research Symposium in early November.  Please note that NIH training grants only can support trainees who are US citizens, non-citizen nationals, and permanent residents.

If you are interested, please complete the very brief statement of interest at the link below. We ask for a few sentences about your research interests, which we will use to match you with an appropriate research mentor.  If there is a particular faculty member whose research is of interest to you, please indicate their name in your response.  While we will attempt to accommodate your request, we cannot guarantee a position in this program.

In order to participate in this program, students should submit a statement of interest before the end of March. Contact: Dr. Adrian Halme (ajh6a@virginia.edu; 2-6066).

The Brodie Medical Education Fund established the Brodie Student Scholar Award to encourage students to consider a medical education research project consistent with Mrs. Brodie’s endowment wishes. These are to support clinical education innovations on behalf of both general and generalist medical education activities. This award is open to medical students during their preclerkship education under the mentorship of a generalist faculty member in Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine or Obstetrics/Gynecology. Potential areas of interest include curriculum innovations, workplace learning projects, or position papers focused upon areas of special concern to general and generalist clinical education locally or nationally. Brodie Awards provide financial support to cover student project costs, living and related travel expenses. A letter of support for the student’s project from their faculty mentor is required in the application process. Further information on the program and how to apply.