Graduate Programs

About the Program

The Summer Research Program for first- and second-year medical students is designed to provide highly motivated and talented students with valuable experience in participating in a research project; acquaint them with scientific methodology; and enhance their analytic and laboratory skills, as well as their presentation and writing skills. The program provides an atmosphere that encourages and facilitates student interactions with a diverse group of established investigators and clinicians.

The rationale for the program is that exposure to a superior research environment will ultimately result in better and more able physicians. It also opens the possibility for students to consider pursuing biomedical, clinical and/or translational research as physician-scientists dedicated to enhancing healthcare.

Under the guidance of faculty, students conduct short-term research projects in areas of basic, translational, or clinical investigation. Students will attend a core curriculum consisting of weekly lectures on broad topics in medical research and career advice. They will complete a poster describing their research to be presented at a research forum at the conclusion of the summer program. After successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate of accomplishment.

Participation Options

• Summer Student Research Fellowship: Designed for medical students with a chosen mentor and project. The program runs from mid-June to mid-August for seven weeks, followed by a symposium. Read the Fellowship Program Description. The 2025 application deadline is April 2, 2025, by 4 PM. Access the 2025 Fellowship application.
• Summer Student Research Training: Designed for medical students who have not identified a mentored project. Read the Training Program Description. The 2025 application opens March 1, 2025, and closes April 5, 2025. Access the 2025 application.

Schedule

• Program Duration: Mid-June to mid-August (7 weeks), followed by a symposium.
• Start Date: Monday, June 9, 2025.
• Weekly Lectures: Tuesdays at 4 PM in the Medical Education Building (MEB), Room 102 (in-person, not recorded).
• Symposium: July 30, 2025 (tentative), at RWJMS in Piscataway. All students must present; abstracts are due July 18, 2025 (tentative).
• Time Commitment: Generally ~35 hours/week, depending on the mentor and project.

Requirements

• Attendance at weekly lectures and the symposium is mandatory for all participants.
• Students must present a poster at the symposium.
• For fellowship applicants, IRB or IACUC approval is required before starting the project (pending approval at the time of application is acceptable).
• Fellowship applicants must have a mentor and project at Rutgers (external mentors are not eligible for fellowship funding).
• Students may work on only one project unless approved by their mentor.

Pay

• Fellowship Stipend: Awarded to selected students (40 fellowships awarded in 2024). Stipends are distributed via check and are considered taxable income (1099-MISC form provided).
• Stipend Distribution: Notified by the Office of Research; address updates must be provided to avoid delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Eligibility: Rising M2 (M1) and M3 (M2) students are eligible for both fellowship and training options.
• Mentor Matching: For the training option, mentors are matched by the program; notifications occur from March to May.
• Project Selection: Projects may be proposed by the mentor or student, depending on the mentor’s preference.
• Multiple Projects: Not encouraged unless approved by the mentor.
• External Research: Students conducting research at another institution may apply for the training option but not the fellowship.
• Deadline Extensions: Contact rwjmsresearch@rwjms.rutgers.edu for exceptions (e.g., finding a mentor after the deadline).
• Fellowship Notifications: Award decisions are communicated by May 1; recipients have until May 1 to accept or decline.
• Biosketch/CV: NIH biosketch or CV is acceptable for the mentor.

External Research Programs

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School students have participated in numerous programs at institutions around the country and the world. Examples include:

• ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine Summer Genetics Scholars Program
• Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Pediatric Oncology Student Training (POST) Program
• American Academy of Dermatology Diversity Mentorship Program
• American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Summer Scholarship
• American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) & Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship
• American Brain Tumor Association Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program
• American Federation for Aging Research Paul Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program
• American Heart Association Western States Affiliate Medical Student Research Award Program
• The American Osler Society William B. Bean Student Research Award
• American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research Medical Student Grant
• The American Society for Clinical Nutrition National Clinical Nutrition Internship Program
• The American Society of Hematology Minority Medical Student Award Program
• The American Society of Nephrology Student Scholar Grant
• Association of Academic Physiatrists Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students (RREMS)
• ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology) Minority Summer Fellowship Award
• Harvard Catalyst Program for Faculty Development and Diversity Visiting Research Internship Program
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Medical Fellows Program
• Infectious Diseases Society of America Medical Scholars Program
• Johns Hopkins CUPID (Cancer in the Under Privileged, Indigent, or Disadvantaged) Summer Fellowship
• Lupus Foundation of America Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowships
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Fellowship Program
• National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program
• The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health Cook/Rutledge Fellowship
• The New York Academy of Medicine Glorney-Raisbeck Student Research Grants in Cardiovascular Research

For more opportunities, search the Association of American Medical Colleges' Careers in Medicine (CiM) database.

Contact

For questions or concerns, email the Office of Research at rwjmsresearch@rwjms.rutgers.edu.