Strengthening your Research

Make a research experience part of your medical school curriculum by enrolling in Medical Student Research Electives. The Medical Student Research Electives allow LSOM medical students to gain course credit for doing basic science or clinical research.

Best time to enroll? For most students, the best time to enroll in INTD 4210, 4211, and 4212, respectively, would be at the end of Pre-Clinical Spring CSBS Step 1, Fall of MS3, or Spring of MS4. For the Distinction in Reseach, enrollment into only one elective is necessary. ELEC 5059 offers enrollment to MS1s & MS2s in the Spring, and only MSIIs for Fall enrollment.

Medical students may begin a research elective at any stage of their research project. There are three sections of the Medical Student Research Elective designed to cover each phase of a research project.

Students must submit their completed application for the elective rotation no later than four weeks prior to the start of the Block. Late applications will not be accepted. Click here to view the AY 23-24 Block Dates and Deadlines to Apply.

Step 1. Applications must be submitted via SurveyMonkey Apply and must include (1) a plan for conducting research by the student and (2) a mentoring plan endorsed by the mentor. Students will use this Research Work and Mentoring Plan template.

• Research Work Plan: The Work Plan will cite the project’s specific aims, significance, innovation, approach, and timeline. The timeline must be specific.
• Mentoring Plan: The Mentoring Plan will cite the mentor’s expectations for the student’s work, the resources to be made available to the student during the rotation, a supervision plan, and a signed agreement to serve as the student’s mentor during this rotation.
  • NOTE: The faculty mentor is responsible for ensuring that students working on projects are in compliance with regulatory requirements and UTHSCSA policies (i.e., training in human subjects protection, clinical research training, IRB and IACUC policies and procedures, etc.).

Step 2. Once the application has been submitted no later than four weeks prior to the start of the block, the course instructor will review the application. If suggestions for improvements are needed, the Senior Program Coordinator will email the student. A confirmation will be emailed to the student confirming the approved application and enrollment.

Step 3. After the student has received a confirmation email from the Senior Program Coordinator, the student will then enroll in My Student Center. If students do not enroll in My Student Center, they will no longer be able to enroll in the block. Students will begin their research project and submit the final course items no later than two weeks after the block end date.

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At the end of the research elective, students must complete a Refection and submit an Hour Log signed by the student’s mentor. These items will be submitted in Canvas and are due at the end of the block.

• Hour Log – Students are expected to spend 50-100 hours on research over the course of the 4 week block. Students will log their research activity. The time spent must be related to research and meet the goals and objectives set in the student’s Work and Mentoring Plan. This form must be signed by the student’s mentor. The template can be found on Canvas.
• Reflection – Students are expected to reflect on their research project and work. The reflection will be completed on Canvas.

If you are in need of statistical support, the Office for Reseach can assist you with funding through the Stats 4 Students service. To initiate the request, engage with your research mentor to determine what statistical tests and assistance is needed for the project. Connect with the Office for Research and discuss your project. We will guide you to develop a short 10-15-minute presentation that summarizes your project hypothesis, methodology, expected results, and requested statistical services from Stats4Students. This step is critical, because it provides the Stats4Students team with the scientific background and statistical requirement for your study. The Stats4Students team will access your statistical needs, provide feedback, and together with the Office for Research will develop a plan to assist with your project.

The Office for Research has limited funds to assist medical students with the cost of publication fees. Awards are typically limited to $500 per student and are not made until a manuscript has been accepted for publication. Funds will not be approved for publication in journals that have been flagged as potentially predatory by the Briscoe Library.

Students interested in receiving this assistance must first reach out to Chris Gaspard of the Briscoe library to request her review of the journal. Students will then forward the email confirmation to SOMResearch@uthscsa. Once this step has been completed, then fill out the following application.

LSOM Medical Student Publication Fee Assistance Form

Medical students are encouraged to present their research at conferences. To qualify for funding, first author presenters must be an actively enrolled medical student, have documented financial need via FAFSA, and be in good academic standing. Out-of-state students should complete the form at the following link: LSOM Medical Student Conference Attendance Assistance Form. Please note, funding is limited to $500 per student per academic year for an out-of-state conference.

In-state students should contact Jennifer Bitoni Hernandez in the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education for assistance (bitoni@uthscsa.edu)