What is ASPIRE?
Acquiring Skills and Practice in Research Excellence (ASPIRE) is a competitive program which provides stipends for students to conduct research in the summer between their T1 and T2 years. These stipends require a minimum 8-week commitment to full-time research at Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center or the undergraduate Tulane campus. Students may chose faculty from any of the three campuses as a research mentor. In addition to research, students will attend weekly didactic sessions that will cover topics such as research integrity, animal care and use, protection of human subjects, and proposal preparation. Students are required to attend at least 6 of the 8 sessions. Students will write and submit an abstract as part of this program. Finally, students will present their research in one of the required didactic sessions.
Why should medical students participate in research?
Participation in investigative research enhances the critical reasoning skills needed to develop into a responsible physician.
Students who pursue research are more likely to seek a deeper understanding of the disease process and to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the current literature.
Investigative research fosters the skills of life-long learning essential to the practice of medicine in the 21st century.
Demonstrated research skills are valued in the field of medicine.
