1.  What is the Summer Research Scholar Program?

The Summer Research Scholar Program (SRSP) is a 10-week program in which incoming medical students and medical students between their 1st and 2nd years can work on a research project of a U of L faculty member.  The goal of the SRSP is to provide medical students who are interested in research the opportunity to participate in a research project and expose them to the research environment of an academic medical center and the activities of academic physicians and scientists.  

2  What are the dates for the Summer Research Scholar Program?

The SRSP is a 10-week program.  In 2008 it will run from Monday, June 2 to Friday, August 8.  In some circumstances students have arranged to work a different 10-week period if agreed to by their mentor and the School of Medicine Research Office.

3.  What is the work schedule for the program?

It is expected that participants will work full time (at least 35 hours per week) on the project.  Acceptance of the stipend will be contingent on fulfilling the obligations agreed to on the SRSP agreement form.  

4.  What does the SRSP pay?

Stipend support ranges from $3,000 to about $4,150, depending on the sponsor of the stipend (NIH, foundations, School of Medicine, mentor, etc.)  The summer stipend for each project can be viewed on the project website during the selection process. 

5.  When would I get the pay?

The SRSP pay will be distributed in two paychecks (or payroll deposit if applicable).  These are tentatively scheduled for payment on June 27 (four weeks in) and August 8 (last day of SRSP). 

6.  How do I sign up for the program?

Students who are interested must register via a short online process on this website.  The registration website will be activated soon after the end of the fall term with a deadline for registration in mid-March.

7.  How many students can participate in the program? 

For 2008 there will be funds to support approximately 50 students.  About 10 slots usually go to incoming students and the others to rising 2nd-year students.  For the past several years about 20 more students have registered for the SRSP than there are funds to support. 

8.  Are any students ineligible to participate in the SRSP? 

First-year students who are in academic difficulty (failing or in the bottom 10% of first semester courses and students who failed the February Block 1 exam) will be excluded from the program.  For these students the summer would be better spent reviewing 1st-year material and beginning preparation for the Step 1 exam.  Some of these students are also in danger of having to make up a 1st-year course during the summer which would require them to drop out of the program too late to fill their slot with another student.

9.  If more students register for the SRSP than there are funds to support, how is it determined who can participate?

Participation is primarily based on the project preference ranking submitted by each student.  However, because faculty members provide all the research funding for the project, if a faculty member identifies one or more students they would like to have work on their projects, those students are given priority as long as that project is listed in their top 5 choices.  In some cases on important NIH training grant projects, academic performance may be considered.  The details of the project assignment process is explained in (14) below. 

10.  If faculty members can designate students, how can I review projects and talk to faculty members about their research beforehand? 

A spreadsheet of almost all of last year's available projects can be found on the Medical Student website at http://medstudents.stage.louisville.edu/summer-research-project-list .  By clicking on the title, the details about each project can be found along with the mentor contact information.  Also provided are the names (and usually class year) of recent student who have worked for this faculty member. 

NOTE:  It is not certain that the faculty members who had research projects in 2007 will submit projects for the 2008 program.  If they do, listing one or more students by name on the project will give those students preference for getting the project. 

11.  How can I see what projects will be available for the 2008 SRSP?

Early in the new year, faculty members will be contacted and encouraged to submit projects.  Soon after the SRSP registration deadline, each qualifying registered student will be sent a spreadsheet of all available projects via email.  Each project will have a website link that will provide detailed information about the project, the stipend level, and whether the project is a Priority 1 or Priority 2 project. 

12.  What does "Priority 1" and "Priority 2" mean? 

Priority 1 projects are those funded by training grants.  Students must be assigned to these research training grant projects or the grants will be in jeopardy of non-renewal.  Priority 2 projects are those in which the research or in some cases a student stipend is supported by extramural agencies such as NIH or national foundations.  Priority 1 and then Priority 2 projects must be filled before students will be paired up with the other projects. 

13.  How do I make my project selections?

Project viewing will be available for about two weeks after you receive the project spreadsheet in your email.  After viewing the projects, you will simply place a ranking number next to those projects of interest indicating your preferences in order; (1, 2, 3, etc.).  The filled-in spreadsheet will then be saved and sent as an email attachment to the HSC Research Office.  Students can rank only those projects they want to work on or all projects. 

14.  How are students paired up with particular projects?

Before the project assignments are made, a random lottery will take place in which each student will be assigned a lottery number.  This number will only be used to break ties in the selection process. 

Following the lottery, all Priority 1 projects will be assigned first, followed by Priority 2 projects, and then all other projects.  The project assignments in each category (Priority 1, then 2, then others) will take place in the following sequence: 

(1) Projects that have a student designated on the project will be considered first.  The project with the highest rank by a designated student (as long as it is in their top 5) will be assigned to that student.  If more than one designated student has the project listed, the one with the highest listing for the project will get the project.  Lottery numbers will be used to break ties. 

(2) For projects in which no student has been designated (and for project in which no designated student has the project listed in their top 5), the student (including designated students) with the highest listing for that project in their preference ranking will get that project.  Lottery numbers will be used to break ties.

This process will continue for Priority 1, followed by Priority 2, and then all other projects until the budget for the SRSP stipend funds is exhausted. 

NOTE:  It can be appreciated that students who choose Priority 1 or 2 projects high in their selection list, and particularly those who contact faculty members and get designated on those project, will have a high probability of being able to participate in the SRSP.  Students who do not list Priority 1 or 2 projects high on their selection list and are not designated on projects will have a lower chance of being assigned to a project before the SRSP budget it exhausted. 

15.  When will I know what project I got?

Students will have about two weeks following the close of the SRSP registration to view the projects and make their ranking list.  Therefore, the deadline for students to send in their choices will be sometime in early April.  The lottery and project pairings will take about another week.  Students will receive an email about mid-April notifying them of the project they received. 

NOTE:  Every year a few students notify us later that they found another summer opportunity or they decide not to participate after all, so even after the pairings are made, a few more projects may be assigned late. 

16.  Does all the summer research have to take place in the medical school by medical school faculty members?

No, research projects can be submitted by any full-time faculty member of the University.  In past years there have been projects in Engineering, Psychology, Chemistry, Nursing and Public Health.

17.  Can the research be done in a different city?

Yes.  While all of the research projects must be overseen by a full-time UofL member, there are sometimes projects where a faculty member is conducting a biomedical project at an off-campus site or even in a different city.  This year it is anticipated that several Priority 1 projects will be offered in Owensboro, with free housing available.  For all projects, the location where the research will be conducted (hospital, building, campus, etc.) will be listed on the information with each project. 

18.  Is there any training or other qualifications that must be met before I can participate in the summer research program?

Before the start of the SRSP, all students must have completed their HIPAA and privacy training.  In addition, students who will be involved in clinical research with human subjects, or those working with radioactive material, with biohazards, or with animals, must have completed the appropriate training before engaging in that aspect of the project.  Details for obtaining this project will be presented at the SRSP Orientation on June 2. 

19.  Are there any other requirements to participate in the SRSP?

Yes.  All students will be required to attend the weekly PHCI-501 "Bench to Bedside" course, with the exception of those who have already taken the course.  This course is typically given on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 ? 5:00.  Students will receive one hour of "pass" credit if they do not miss more than three of the sessions.  This credit will count toward the 2nd-year elective.  Students funded by the higher-paying Priority 1 projects (typically NIH training grants) may be required to attend additional lab meetings or research conferences. 

In addition, all SRSP students are required to present the results of their summer research in the form of a poster presentation at Student Research Day, scheduled for Tuesday morning, October 21 during Research!Louisville. 

20.  What if I have other questions about the Summer Research Scholar Program.

For additional information or questions, contact the HSC Research Office at 852-7794 or via email at hscro@louisville.edu