The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School has a long-standing commitment to fostering research by its students. The office of the Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research is charged with organizing these activities. A large proportion of UT Southwestern medical students take advantage of this program.
Most students choose to participate during the summer following their freshman year.
Students choose the laboratory in which they will work during the school year, and then choose the laboratory 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. Students are encouraged to submit their work to national and regional meetings, including the UT Southwestern Medical Student Research Forum . In addition to summer research activities, students are encouraged to explore year-long research program in basic and clinical research.