Program Description
The program will match M1 students with full-time mentored research projects to take place in the summer between their M1 and M2 years (6-8 weeks). A seminar series will be a component of the program and will run throughout the summer culminating in the UofSC SOMG Annual Medical Student Research Symposium. Students are required to submit an abstract for presentation at the the symposium, Prisma Research Showcase or Discover UofSC. A select number of students will be awarded summer stipends (through the Scholars Program) following submission and review of applications.
Program Details
- November 2020 – January 2021:
- Recruitment of research mentors across the HSC who will mentor rising M2 medical students on research projects in the summer of 2021.
- CITI Training and IRB registration for students.
- December 2020 - January 2021:
- Student research applications open for M1 students.
- Students are matched with research mentors
- February - April 2021:
- Students and mentors are notified of match
- Students meet with mentor to discuss project details and agree to and sign mentor-mentee agreement
- Students may register for M2 Research Elective
- Students may now apply for the SOMG Summer Scholars Fellowships
- May - July 2021:
- Student research begins!
- Weekly seminar series (8 weeks)
- Abstract submission for symposium
- Medical Student Research Symposium (late July)
Program Requirements
| SOARinG [Umbrella program for all summer research between M1&M2 within the HSC] | M2 Research Elective [zero credit course based on summer research between M1&M2] | Scholars Program [Competitive summer stipends awarded to 6-12 students] | |
|---|---|---|---|
Required Project Submission in Research Registry? |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Required Research Hours* Documentation? |
No; ~100 hours is suggested | Yes; 140 hours | Yes; 180 hours |
Research ProposalRequired? |
No | Yes | Yes |
Required Meeting with HSC Librarian? |
No | Yes | Yes |
Required Attendance at Summer Seminar Series? |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Required Journal Club Presentation? |
No | No | Yes |
Abstract** Required? |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Required Summer Symposium Participation? |
No; Highly encouraged to participate in med school symposium, Prisma Showcase or Discover UofSC | Yes | Yes |
*Research Hours: The hours that can be counted towards a summer research project may include time at the lab bench/clinic/dry lab space, meeting with research mentor/research team members, analyzing data, writing protocols, reading background/related papers for the project, attending research seminars/journal clubs/lab meetings, writing a paper/abstract/case study, preparing a poster/talk, or other tasks related to the research project.
**Abstract: The abstract submitted at the end of the summer research experience may or may not represent a completed research project (and this is OK!). Many projects will still be in the data collection phase, so the abstract can report current activities and planned next steps. Developing a protocol, collecting samples, or planning how data will be collected and analyzed can take time, so it is completely acceptable to describe an “in-progress” research project in the abstract.