The College of Medicine sponsors a summer research program allowing medical students to experience laboratory research firsthand. Students who have completed their first year of medical school spend 10 weeks conducting research and analyzing data in the clinical and basic science research laboratories of established faculty investigators. The program is designed to expose students to the methods and techniques used in biomedical research.
Students choose a mentor and research project based upon their particular interests.
To apply, the student submits a research proposal describing the specific project. These are evaluated by a COM committee and 15 are chosen for funding. In the fall participants present their final results at the Annual Medical Student Research Forum. Two first-place winners are selected to represent the college at the National Student Research Forum in Galveston, Texas, in April of the following year. In addition to this program, there are many other opportunities for pursuing summer research.