TJU Student Research Resources

Research Programs Open to Jefferson Medical College Students

Students can learn about the different research endeavors that take place in each of the academic and clinical departments at Jefferson Medical College by contacting the departments' research directors or departmental administrators. A list of potential research advisors are available at the identify & contact Jefferson researchers.

Faculty members who have a research opportunity for medical students may contact Andrea Cherenack, JMC Office of the Dean (215-503-6166 or Andrea.Cherenack@jefferson.edu).

Overview of Options for Research

• College within the College (CTR)
  • Summer research, PLUS
  • Structured program over 4 years
• Summer Research Programs at Jefferson Medical College
  • Stipend (subject to availability)
  • Structured lectures
• Neurosurgical Scholarship Opportunity
• Ad hoc research
  • Scope of individual relationship established with an investigator and not part of CwiC or the Summer Research Program
  • Timing and duration at the discretion of student and investigator
• Sigma Xi and AOA Research Days
• Travel funds for student-researchers

College Within The College

A four year, mentored experience, College within the College(CWIC) is designed to supplement the medical school curriculum for those students who seek a scientific concentration in Clinical/Translational Research or Population Health. Elemental components for enrolled students include assignment of a career mentor and a comprehensive curriculum of core topics, assistance in developing a final scholarly project. At the end of the four-year longitudinal program, participants will be prepared as physician-scientists. CWIC students will receive additional distinction as part of their transcript. Interested students can learn more and apply online at the CwiC website.

Interested students must apply to CWIC in January of the first year of medical school. CWIC students are expected to take part in a project during the summer between 1st and 2nd years of medical school (See CWIC directors for more details). Students are encouraged (not required) to apply to the summer research program at Jefferson. There are a variety of other summer opportunities that may or may not provide funds.

Summer Research Programs at Jefferson Medical College

Students are expected to seek out research advisors/opportunities in the following departments and apply online by winter during the first year of medical school. A mentor should be identified at the time of application. In the past, Federal Work Study funds have supported student stipends during research experiences with clinical or basic science faculty actively engaged in research at Jefferson Medical College. It is hoped that such support will exist for the current year.

In addition, students must complete a Transcript Resease Form and contact Atheia Mobley Atheia.Mobley@jefferson.edu to complete a Federal Work Study Application.

Dean's Biomedical Summer Research Program

The Dean's Program encompasses the structure that supports the summer student research. Students are encouraged to seek out on campus faculty research advisors in all Jefferson Departments. Students interested in doing summer research in a department which does not have a formal program listed below should identify a research advisor and apply to the Dean's Biomedical Summer Research Program. Transcript Release Required.

For more information, contact Andrea Cherenack, Office of the Dean (Andrea.Cherenack@jefferson.edu or 215-503-6166).

Dean's Computer-Assisted Education Development

The Summer Computer Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for first-year JMC students to work closely with faculty in order to develop, or evaluate the use of, instructional technology for the medical college curriculum. The program has produced a wide range of computer-based learning programs and quiz preparation software. Students and faculty work with the Education Services division of Academic & Instructional Support & Resources (AISR), which provides instructional design help as well as support for learning the programming language appropriate for the project and for developing any graphics, animation, video or sound that will become part of the program. Transcript Release Required.

For more information, contact Anthony Frisby, PhD, Director, AISR Educational Services, at Anthony.Frisby@jefferson.edu, or 215-503-4990. Take a look at some recent projects (2003, 2004 or 2005) to get an idea of the possibilities.

Basic and Translational Research - Department of Medicine Summer Research Program

The program in basic and translational research provides an opportunity for medical students to become involved in fast-developing fields of gene therapy, heart disease, HIV research and immunology. Laboratories of the Department of Medicine provide stimulating environment that enables the participants to learn advanced scientific techniques and pursue cutting-edge research. Transcript Release Required.

For more information, contact Tung Chan, PhD at Tung.Chan@jefferson.edu.

Emergency Medicine Summer Research Program

In this 8-week program, the student serves as a research assistant for the Department of Emergency Medicine. The student will assist in patient enrollment and data collection into ongoing clinical emergency medicine research. Research in emergency medicine is focused in the following areas: ultrasound, patient flow through the emergency department, patient satisfaction, resident education, and patient utilization of the emergency department. The participant will also have the opportunity to follow and observe Emergency Medicine physicians as they provide patient care. Transcript Release Required. Students with work-study status will be given priority in the selection process. Students do not need to seek out research advisors/opportunities - those selected for the program will be assigned to work with specific research faculty.

The faculty advisor is Bernard Lopez, MD. For more information, contact Nicole Renzi at Nicole.Renzi@jefferson.edu or 215-955-2471.

Family Medicine Summer Research Program

In this program, medical students who have successfully completed their freshman year are given the opportunity to participate in ongoing family medicine research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Past research topics include chronic pain, refugee health, palliative care, capillaroscopy, homeless care and ER utilization. The students will also have the opportunity to shadow in the Jefferson Family Medicine Associates office and will attend a lecture series. Transcript Release Required. For more information, go to the Family medicine research page or contact Marianna LaNoue, PhD (Marianna.Lanoue@jefferson.edu or 215-955-8234) or Lisa Michaluk, MSEd (Lisa.Michaluk@jefferson.edu or 215-955-2362).

Center for Urban Health Summer Research Program (Population Health)

In this program, medical students who have successfully completed their freshman year may find opportunities for summer research through the Center for Urban Health. Students work with an interdisciplinary staff in underserved community-based sites, focusing on population health and health services research in target neighborhoods, or on policy related issues that affect chronic disease prevention and management. Past projects have included obesity prevention programs, evaluation of a community based blood pressure screening and education program, and assessment of social factors related to frequent hospital admissions. Transcript Release Required. For more information, contact James Plumb, MD MPH (James.Plumb@jefferson.edu or 215-955-6340).

Neurology Summer Research Program

This program is available to JMC first-year medical students and provides an excellent opportunity for students to participate in basic science and/or clinical research in laboratories of Department of Neurology faculty. The fellowships run nine weeks during the summer break between the first and second year of medical school. Transcript Release Required.

For more information, contact Michael Oshinsky, PhD (Michael.Oshinsky@jefferson.edu, 215-955-0433).

Obstetric and Gynecology Summer Research Program

This program gives medical students the opportunity to work with a research-oriented faculty mentor in obstetrics, gynecology, gynecologic oncology or maternal fetal medicine. Students will either take an active role in the mentor's research or may identify a new research project that he/she may want to investigate with direction and leadership provided by the mentor and research personnel in the department. The participant will be given opportunities during the nine weeks to shadow, observe and become involved in the clinical offices, operating room, labor and delivery, grand rounds, journal club and clinical meetings. Transcript Release Required.

For more information, contact Dr. Jason K. Baxter, MD, MSCP @ Jason.Baxter@jefferson.edu, 215-955-9238.

Computational Systems Biology

The Systems Biology Summer Research Program provides an opportunity for first year JMC students to work closely with faculty using a systems biology approach in their research. The program introduces clinical researchers to the genomic scale data collection, data analysis, and computational biology typical of systems biology. Research projects can originate in any clinically relevant area but must clearly apply a systems approach. Original projects creating new collaborations between systems biologists and translational researchers are strongly encouraged. All projects are pre-approved by Program coordinators and sponsoring research science advisors. For more information, contact rajanikanth.vadigepalli@jefferson.edu.

Orthopedics Summer Research Program

Physician Leader: Javad Parvizi, MD
Primary Contact: Bahar Adeli
Research Coordinator, Rothman Institute Orthopedics
925 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
267-339-7813
Central application to identify advisor
http://www.rothmaninstitute.com/about-us/research/research-application-form (should be completed first to identify an advisor, then apply to the official summer research program)

Surgical Summer Research Program

Primary Contact: Hywda Arafat, MD PhD
215-955-6383 or Hwyda.Arafat@jefferson.edu

Anesthesia

Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research's (FAER) Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) Program Provides support to both medical students and host departments for 8 to 12 weeks of Anesthesia-related research experience and is an element of a commitment to attract scientific talent to academic anesthesiology. The program hopes that an exposure to the specialty early in the career of medical students will encourage future pursuit of research in anesthesiology and preoperative medicine. Transcript Release Required.

NOTE: external funding maybe available for students through FAER.
Deadline for funding application: February 1, 2013.
Contact Dr. Jeffrey Joseph 215-503-8032 or Jeffrey.Joseph@Jefferson.edu

Apply Now

To apply to the Summer Research Programs listed above, please complete the following application by Friday, February 22nd at 5pm

Summer Research Program for Medical Students Application Form

Neurosurgical Scholarship Opportunity

The Thomas Jefferson University Department of Neurological Surgery offers two eight-week scholarships, the William Keene Scholarship and the Jewell Osterholm Scholarship, to encourage medical students interested in pursuing careers in a neurosurgical or spinal-surgical specialty. Students will work with JMC faculty mentors on clinical research projects. The research programs can be tailored to the students' individual interests. Students will also experience clinic and in-patient hospital care settings. Students are expected to either present or publish their research in the neurosurgery community. Support for this is also available. Transcript Release Required.

For more information and to apply, contact James S Harrop, MD, or Ashwini D. Sharan, MD, at 215-955-7959.

Research Days

Sigma Xi is a national organization fostering biomedical research. A research seminar is hosted by the local chapter each spring, with refereed abstracts presentation.

AOA is a medical student honor society which also hosts a research day to highlight student projects.

Travel Funds

Student Organization Conference Fund

The JMC Student Council supports a limited amount of transportation and/or registration expenses for an otherwise not attendable conference. Up to one request per year may be made by any official JMC student organization.

Medical Student Research Travel Fellowships

A limited amount of funding is available through the Office of the Dean to support medical students who present their research at national or international scientific meetings.

One-half of travel expenses or $400 (whichever is less) is available to up to ten students who meet the following criteria:

1. the student must be first author on the abstract and must present the research findings (either poster or oral presentation) at the meeting;
2. the faculty or departmental sponsor must sign the application and indicate the source of matching funds; and
3. the research should have been completed while a student at Jefferson Medical College and represent research done at Jefferson Medical College (exceptions must be pre-approved).

Any medical student who has done research while at Jefferson is eligible. For more information or an application contact Andrea Cherenack at 215-503-6166 or Andrea.Cherenack@jefferson.edu.