GW medical students are encouraged to reach out to faculty mentors who might sponsor their research. If you’re thinking about summer research projects, you should begin to identify research mentors early! This might mean reaching out in November or December.
Email faculty about projects for medical students:
Dear Dr. X,
I am a first year GW medical student interested in research with your group for next summer. I have previous research experience with X, and am interested in your work on Y. Could we meet next week to discuss possible projects?
GW Faculty Database
Potential research mentors can be identified using the GW Faculty Researcher Database.This database includes over 600 researchers at GW and Children’s, and links to their contact and recent publications. You can search the database for keywords, or for translation level. Contact Dean Hall for individual follow-up as needed at: akhall@gwu.edu.
NIH Reporter
Researchers at GW and other universities with funding from the National Institutes of Health can be searched in NIH Reporter. Read this for search strategies in NIH Reporter.
NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education
The NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) provides opportunities for medical students to conduct research at the NIH.
Medical Student Opportunities (password protected)
The OSPE Opportunity Database contains information on summer programs at other institutions that host medical students in summer research.
GW Faculty Proposals
Faculty propose summer research projects for medical students; these proposals are provided in a packet to students in December. If you see a project of interest, you should contact the faculty listed for more information.
Once you have identified a research mentor and project, you should develop an application for fellowship funding. You are encouraged to develop the proposal to apply to multiple funding sources (such as external professional associations as well as internal GW fellowships such as the WT Gill or Health Services fellowship). This increases the likelihood you will receive a competitive fellowship, since no single source is guaranteed.