Medical students often choose to undertake research during the summer between the first and second years of medical school. Opportunities exist for students to participate in basic biomedical, clinical, translational, educational, community-based, public health/epidemiology and outcomes research.
Short-Term Summer Research Opportunities: UAB (Summer between MS1 and MS2)
Medical Student Summer Research Programs (MSSRP) Information
External Funding Opportunities for Research: UAB Campus
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Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship
Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship: The purpose of the AOA fellowships is to stimulate interest in research among medical students. Areas of research may include clinical investigation, basic research, epidemiology, and social science/health service research. Applications must be submitted by January 5th (No extensions) to the Combined Degree Office, not directly to AOA. Dr. Jon Morris, Penn's AOA Chapter Councilor, will work with a selection committee to choose the most promising application. This will then be forwarded to AOA for a final funding decision. For more information, visit the AOA website and read carefully the Program Description.
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The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA)
The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA ) Medical Student Summer Fellowship program awards grants to medical students wishing to spend a summer conducting brain tumor research with esteemed scientist-mentors. The intent of this program is to motivate talented medical students to pursue a career in neuro-oncology research. (Note: Penn med students with 8 weeks are eligible.) For more information and to apply, visit the ABTA website.
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American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA)
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Student Scholarships support graduate-level or medical students conducting research projects related to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and stroke. The AHA has long been committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from students from racial and ethnic groups. The award will be considered for a project conducted under qualified supervision over the summer or in a block of several months not to exceed May 30th of the following calendar year. The student and mentor must be members of the AHA.
If the student goes to a location other than his/her institution, he/she must have written approval of his/her dean or other responsible individual. AHA will consider up to 5 applicants from Penn. Applications must be submitted by March 1st to the Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Staff, not directly to AHA. If more than 5 students wish to apply, a committee of Penn faculty will review applications and select the top 5 to go forward and apply directly to AHA. AHA will typically select one of these students for funding. For more information, visit the AHA/ASA Student Scholarships website. -
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) offers financial support for students to spend time performing research on topics relevant to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) for a minimum of 10 weeks. CCFA hopes to stimulate research interest in the areas of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
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EMF/SAEM Medical Student Research Grant
EMF/SAEM Medical Student Research Grant - The Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation (SAEMF) jointly encourages medical students to engage in and to be exposed to emergency medicine research. Emergency Medicine research is broadly defined as scientific investigation designed to furnish new knowledge relevant to emergency medical care. Such investigations may focus on basic science research, clinical research, preventive medicine, epidemiology, cost-containment, and research in emergency medicine teaching and education. For more information and to apply, visit the EMF website.
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North American Society for Thrombosis & Hemostasis
North American Society for Thrombosis & Hemostasis is a scholarly society whose missions include fostering new investigators interested in thrombosis and hemostasis research. NASTH Research Fellowship is an 8-10 week program for medical, PhD, MD/PhD, or PharmD students working on targeted research projects in hemostasis and thrombosis. Proposed projects may be lab-based, clinical or epidemiologic in design. For more information, check out the Program Announcement and visit the HTRS website.
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Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students (RREMS)
Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students (RREMS) is for research into both neurological and non-neurological concerns in rehabilitation research. The UAB PM&R Department is a site sponsor and the Association of Academic Physiatrist funds the program. For additional information, students can contact Physci@uab.edu for more information.
External Short-Term Summer Research Opportunities
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The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Investing in the Future Student Research Summer Fellowship
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Investing in the Future Student Research Summer Fellowship supports digestive disease and nutrition-related research projects. Highly qualified students will work in the labs of top investigators in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology.
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American Society of Nephrology: Kidney TREKS (Tutored Research and Education for Kidney Scholars) Program
American Society for Nephrology: Kidney TREKS (Tutored Research and Education for Kidney Scholars) Program – ASN Kidney TREKS fosters interest in nephrology and research careers through a week-long retreat focused on renal physiology at Mount Desert Island Biologic Laboratories in Bar Harbor, ME, combined with a long-term mentorship program with a member of their local nephrology division.
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Cardiothoracic Surgery Summer Internship Scholarship
Cardiothoracic Surgery Summer Internship Scholarship introduces to first and second year medical students in a North American medical school with the goal of broadening their educational experience by providing an opportunity to spend eight weeks during the summer (June thru September) working in an AATS member's, cardiothoracic surgery department. The Scholarship is funded and administered by the AATS Graham Foundation and provides a grant of $2,500 to the successful applicants for their living expenses during the eight weeks of training at the selected host institution.
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David E. Rogers Student Fellowship Award
David E. Rogers Student Fellowship Award - is meant to enrich the educational experiences of medical and dental students through projects that bear on medicine and dentistry as they contribute to the health of communities, and to address the human needs of underserved or disadvantaged patients or populations. The content of the Fellowship might include clinical investigation, public health/epidemiology, health policy analysis, activities linking biomedicine, the social infrastructure and human or community need.
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Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin - Summer Research Assistantship
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin - Summer Research Assistantship - offers an exciting research opportunity for medical students. The 2 to 3-month Summer Research Assistant position provides an opportunity to closely work with leading Dell Medical School faculty on clinical and/or care delivery research projects over the course of an 8-12 week period. Students will have opportunities to interact with faculty and other leaders in fields ranging from Anesthesiology to Orthopaedics to Urology, depending on the student’s interests. Eligible students can apply by sending a letter of interest and CV to Lauren Uhler, Assistant Director of Research in the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care. For more information, please see the Position Description.
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HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Medical Student Program
HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Medical Student Program - This program supports HIV-related clinical learning, research projects and mentor relationships during medical school. First, second and third-year medical students are eligible to apply, and have flexibility in designing curriculum to complement their schools' curriculum and training. They receive free HIVMA/IDSA membership, and a $3,500 stipend per year for up to three years, dependent on successfully meeting annual milestones. The program provides an additional $1,000 for mentors and institutions for incidental expenses including supplies and conference registration. Coverage on developments in HIV, TB, and more from the conference can be found here.
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Leah Menshouse Springer Summer Student Program
Leah Menshouse Springer Summer Student Program at the Siteman Cancer Center provides opportunities for undergraduate, premed and medical students enrolled at Washington University or other accredited universities to work on cancer research projects during the summer.
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Medical Student Enrichment Program (MSEP)
Medical Student Enrichment Program (MSEP) provides UAB students, who are in good academic standing, with short-term service and training opportunities in developing countries throughout the world. It is designed to encourage and develop humanitarian attitudes and cross-cultural understanding among UAB students. It fosters interest in assisting various populations, and stimulates and supports a "whole world" understanding of medicine. Application details
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Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship Summer Program
Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship Summer Program provides students with a challenging and rewarding experience that exposes them to the opportunities within the medical field of anesthesiology and research.
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Medical Student Research Initiation Grant from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Medical Student Research Initiation Grant from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons provides opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical or laboratory-base research focused on diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.
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Medical Student Research Training Program
Medical Student Research Training Program - Vanderbilt University School of Medicine invites applications for the Medical Student Research Training Program for the summer of 2025. This program allows medical students to conduct research under the direction of an established Vanderbilt scientist in the area of diabetes and obesity, kidney disease, and digestive disease.
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Memorial Sloan Ketterling (MSK) Summer Fellowship Program
Memorial Sloan Ketterling (MSK) Summer Fellowship Program is an NCI-sponsored research program for first- or second-year students at accredited US medical schools. All students interested in the field of oncology and/or related biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply.
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Nth Dimensions Summer Internship Program
Nth Dimensions Summer Internship Program offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable first-hand clinical and research experience at a critical time in your medical school career. Internships are available in Orthopaedics and Radiology.
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Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the American Parkinson's Disease Association
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and the American Parkinson’s Disease Association - PDF-APDA’s Summer Student Fellowship program supports students – from advanced undergraduates to medical students – in their pursuit of Parkinson's-related summer research projects. The goal is to cultivate students’ early interest in helping to solve, treat and end Parkinson’s and providing the tools they need to transition into leaders in the field. For more information and to apply, visit the PDF-APDA website.
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Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program
Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program offers a unique opportunity for pre-doctoral students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, and pharmacy to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Students participate in basic or clinical oncology research, research and clinical conferences, and a core lecture series designed specifically for them.
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Summer Clinical Otolaryngology Research (SCORE) Program
2018 Summer Clinical Otolaryngology Research (SCORE) Program – This is an 8-week summer program opportunity to pursue research and observe clinical care in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
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Summer Research Experience Program in Oncology
Summer Research Experience Program in Oncology at Roswell Park - Through this internship experience, you will gain either first-hand research or clinical experience by working full-time on an independent clinical or scientific cancer-related research project. Funding support is provided by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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St. Baldrick's Foundation
St. Baldrick's Foundation - The St. Baldrick's Summer Fellows award offers a $5,000 stipend (one per institution) for a student to work on pediatric oncology research.
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Summer Cancer Research Education Program (SCREP)
Summer Cancer Research Education Program (SCREP) is a collobration among Morehouse School of Medicine, Tuskegee University, and University of Alabama at Birmingham. The program invites graduate and medical students to participate in an 8-week summer cancer research education program. Submit questions and completed application to Ann Smith at annsmith@uab.edu.
Search the AAMC site for opportunities - Summer and year round programs are available to medical students looking to gain valuable research and clinical experience in a desired specialty. Learn about opportunities for fellowships, internships, summer programs, scholarships, and grants that are available in the United States and abroad. You will need to login with your AAMC ID/password.