UM-SMART is designed for undergraduate students who have an interest in obtaining a combined MD/PhD degree leading to a career in academic medicine as a physician-scientist performing basic research relevant to human health and disease. As a UM-SMART summer research fellow, students work full-time in a basic research laboratory under the mentorship of a research faculty member.
The goal of the UM-SMART program is to help students decide if a career as a physician-scientist is right for them, and to enhance competitiveness when applying to MD/PhD programs. This 10-week program is aimed at students who have some amount of basic and mechanistic research experience related to medicine and are interested in gaining more experience to advance their career goals.
Application deadline: January 20, 2023
Program dates: May 30, 2023 - August 4, 2023
Program Highlights: (visit the website or view the brochure for more information)
Students participating in a lab receive a stipend of $4,700 plus residence hall housing and a meal allowance.
The main scientific focus of the summer program is to provide full-time laboratory biomedical research, as well as
· Two half day clinical shadowing experiences
· Online MCAT preparation accessible for 12 months
· Oral and Poster presentation and relevant seminars
· “Big Sib” Mentoring Program
Eligibility: (see the website or brochure for more information)
Applicants belonging to groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes: Individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, such as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds such as family annual income below established low-income thresholds, or an educational environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.
In addition, applicants must
- Be a US Citizen or permanent resident of the US
- Complete sophomore year by June 1, 2023
- Maintain a minimum 3.2 grade point average
- Complete 100 hours of research lab experience by June 1, 2023
- Submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a research mentor or instructor
To apply to the UM-SMART program, follow this link: https://umms-omse.smapply.io/
