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School of MedicineHome /Student Affairs /Student Resources /Research Opportunities

Student Affairs -- Research Opportunities

How Do I Get Involved in Research?

TUSOM students have plenty of opportunities available for getting involved in research. Finding a project to match your interests and the time which you can commit may take some initial legwork, but once you find a project which intrigues you, the rewards are many. Use the resources below and along the side of this page to learn about what research is currently happening at Tulane, and who to contact to become involved.

 
Select Recent Tulane University School of Medicine Student Publications

 
 
 
Basic/Bench Research

Students interested in basic/bench research should contact Dr. Diane Blake for more information.

More information on research conducted in these areas can be found here.

 
Clinical/Translational Research

Student must watch the following video prior to seeking a clinical/translational research opportunity

Students interested in clinical/translational research should contact Dr. Vivian Fonseca for more information.

More information on research conducted in these areas can be found here.

 
DeBakey Scholars Program

Students interested in The DeBakey Scholar Program should contact Dr. Kenneth Mitchell for more information.

More information on this program can be found here.

 
Physician Scientist MD/PhD Program

Students interested in the Ph.D./MD program should contact Dr. James Robinson for more information.

More information on this program can be found here.

 
Population & Public Health Research

Students interested in population and public health research should contact Dr. Tonette Krousel-Wood for more information.

More information on research conducted in these areas can be found here.

If you are interested in completing the MD/MPH program, more information can be found here. 

 
Clinical Department Research Contacts

  • Anesthesiology – Contact primary researcher; see research page
  • Dermatology -- Opportunities for students to get involved in research are available, including clinical trails, research with residents, and student-initiated studies. Please contact the department for more information: Dr. Andrea Murina , Dr. Laura Williams, Dr. Brittany Stumpf
  • Emergency Medicine -- There are several different research opportunities, including basic science, clinical and social science research. Contact our Research Director, Dr. Lisa Moreno-Walton, for more information.
  • Family Medicine -- Contact either Dr. Rade Pejic or Dr. Kiernan Smith for information about current opportunities to get involved with research.
  • Internal Medicine -- We have over 100 faculty in the department of medicine, and there are research opportunities available in most areas. One way to find out about research in the department and to make some contacts is to attend our research conference. These are held the 3rd Monday of the month at noon in the 7th floor library (room 7001) of the School of Medicine building.
  • Neurology -- To learn about recent research conducted in neurology, click here . Please contact Dr. Roger Kelley for more information on how to get involved.
  • Neurosurgery -- There are laboratory opportunities with Dr. Dumont , working on an animal model of aneurysm formation and rupture. There are also various clinical projects ongoing at different times. Currently, there is a project evaluating different technologies for the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology -- Students are encouraged to directly email faculty with whom they would like to work.
  • Ophthalmology -- Please contact Dr. Delmar Caldwell for more information about research opportunities in ophthalmology.
  • Orthopaedics -- The Orthopaedics Department has numerous research opportunities, including in clinical, basic science, biomechanical, and education related studies. They hold research meetings about every six weeks and any students interested in orthopaedics are welcome to attend. Students can find out about dates through the Orthopaedics Interest Group. They are strongly encouraged to join, as this group will provide them with a lot of information about orthopaedics. Additionally, Erica Moore (Residency Coordinator) can share this information with students.
  • Otolaryngology -- The Department of Otolaryngology has research opportunities in health care disparities, health care delivery, rhinology and oncology available. Please contact Dr. Paul Friedlander for more information.
  • Pathology -- To learn more about research opportunities in pathology, contact Bea Delucca, Dr. Skrikanta Dash, Dr. Erik Flemington, Dr. Gilbert Morris, or Dr. Tong Wu.
  • Pediatrics -- For research opportunities, please contact the Vice Chair for Pediatric Research, Dr. Stacy Drury .
  • Psychiatry -- There are multiple areas of research occurring within the Department of Psychiatry including: Infant Mental Health – the effects from neglect and deprivation, Collaborative care models, Genetics – the effects on DNA from stress and trauma, Schizophrenia and outcomes with first-episode psychosis intervention, PTSD in children and the best treatment modalities, PTSD and family therapy. There is a research webpage where details on how to get involved can be accessed.
  • Radiology -- For research opportunities, please contact the Vice Chair for Education in Radiology, Dr. Jeremy Nguyen.
  • Surgery -- The Surgery Department focuses research on Minimally Invasive Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Surgical Education, Endocrinology, Oncology, Transplant, and Trauma. Call Tulane Surgery Education Department (504.988.7123) for more information.
  • Urology -- Our faculty is a very productive one – both in basic sciences and clinical research projects. Each faculty member can be approached individually, so as to filter out what would best suit one’s requirements and career goals
 
Calls for Student Researchers

This section contains contact information SPECIFICALLY seeking student researchers. If you are a faculty researcher who would like to advertise for a student researcher, please email Dr. Katrina D’Aquin.

  • Tulane University 30th Annual Health Sciences Research Day is scheduled for March 18-19. Poster/Abstract submissions will be accepted until January 23. For more details, see the Health Sciences Research Day webpage. 
  • CCTS Mentored Research with Stipend: 

 This mentored research training program is currently accepting applications from pre-doctoral students in health-related profession programs. The mission of the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) is to address disparities and/or diseases disproportionally represented in the Deep South. For more information, see the application. Deadline is January 25, 2019.

  • Johns Hopkins Hospital Orthopaedics Research Fellowship: 

Dr. Khaled M. Kebaish is currently inviting medical students to apply for a Clinical Research Fellowship in the Department of Orthopaedic Spine Surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. This fellowship is aimed towards third or fourth-year medical students interested in gaining orthopaedics research experience through an immersive, year-long program.

 

This is a one-year, paid research position dedicated for medical students interested in pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery. Successful candidates will be provided with a rich and well-rounded experience that we hope to have a long-lasting impact on their careers. During the year, you will be working closely with Dr. Khaled Kebaish, the chief of spinal surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and other attending spine surgeons in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The research you would be involved with focuses primarily on clinical outcomes in adult spinal deformity surgery.

 

Most of the projects involve a collaborative effort between many within the orthopaedic surgery department (attending surgeons, research scientists, fellows and residents). The spine surgery department has a well-maintained surgical registry that we use for several research projects that are retrospective in nature. You will also have the opportunity participate in research projects led by international study groups and will be part of ongoing efforts to answer major questions in adult spinal deformity surgery. For those interested in population research and large datasets, the department has access to several databases such as NSQUIP, MarketScan and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS). Projects are usually submitted to and presented at several meetings including: Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), Cervical Spine Research Society (cSRS), North American Spine Society (NASS), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS) and the Maryland Orthopaedic Association (MOA).

 

The department of Orthopaedic surgery at Johns Hopkins also has several educational activities that you are encouraged to take part in. These include weekly grand rounds and monthly journal club held at a house of one of the faculty members. The spine surgery department also has its own weekly journal club, indications conference, and monthly research meetings. Finally, fellows are encouraged to attend clinics with Dr. Kebaish and observe caring for a very unique patient population.

 

The position requires excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Applicants are selected based on previous research experience, interest, and a video interview. Research fellows typically begin soon after finishing MS3 year, and will work for one calendar year before resuming MS4 year and applying to residency. Applicants finishing MS4 year will also be considered. Previous research fellows have all been successful applicants at top programs in the orthopaedic surgery match.

 

The application deadline is February 28, 2018, but it is highly recommended to submit your application before that time, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews will be held in early March, and may be an in-person or videoconference interview depending on your availability. Application materials include a cover letter, CV, and 2x2 headshot. A letter of recommendation is optional. Application materials should be sent to aharr153@jhmi.edu, with the subject line “Research Fellowship Application”.

 

 

  • TLC Research Opportunity: Hey T1s! Interested in medical education? Looking to get involved in research? We're looking for two students to take over a med ed research project working with Dr. Chakraborti, Dr. Weissbecker, and Dr. D'Aquin. In the past, students working on this project have presented both locally and at national conferences. This past year, we got two presentations (one poster and one talk) in six months, and are currently working on getting a manuscript together. If you're interested, reach out to me or Daniel (cc'd). Thanks!  Sophie

Sophia Foroushani

Tulane University School of Medicine

Class of 2021

sforoushani@tulane.edu | 512-536-0524

  • McSwain Trauma Group: If you’re interested in getting involved in research, keep reading! I am looking for 3 students to help data collect for a project I am working on with the McSwain Trauma Group. The research pertains to sleep hygiene protocols in the ICU. The data collection will need to take place in person in the Tulane ICU. The goal will be to have 3 students rotating weekly for a few weeks, so the time commitment will be minimal. Also, we will show you everything you need to know about the data collection process and will get you access to Meditech. No experience necessary! We will start data collecting in the very near future as this project is already ongoing. Please email me if you would like to get involved or would like more information! This is a great way to get involved in research if you have been looking to do so! And the McSwain Trauma Research Group is a great group to be a part of. Contact Caitlin Cook.
  • Mechanisms of Lung Disease Related to Environmental Exposures: I have an interest in a medical student joining my laboratory. My research interests are mechanisms of lung disease related to environmental exposures. More detailed information can be gathered from my website in the Pathology Department. Contact Dr. Gil Morris .
  • Tulane Center for Autism & Related Disorders :We constantly have the need for data entry assistance. We have an extremely large database that we need updating on a weekly basis, which holds the data form our diagnostic evaluations that are completed on patients coming to the center. We have 2 other projects that we have been trying to get off the ground, but have not finished the IRB submissions. One is on the benefits (health and social) of learning how to ride a bicycle in children/adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bike riding is a skill that is significantly delayed if ever even learned in children with ASD, but there is some qualitative research that suggests bike riding increases overall functioning in activities of daily living, social, and health domains. The second is a comparison of improvement in speech/language skills in very young children depending on the setting of the intervention (i.e., home, school, clinic). Contact Dr. Lisa Settles .
 
Summer Opportunities

  • The AAMC maintains a database including both clinical and research experiences, which can last for the summer or throughout a year.
  • The National Institutes of Health offer a Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research , which allows students to spend a summer working at the NIH. Additionally, their Medical Research Scholars Program trains clinician-scientists in biomedical and health research.
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers a Cancer Research Opportunity Summer 2019, which offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology or public health to gain biomedical and oncology research experience.
  • Harvard-Longwood Short-Term Research Training in Vascular Surgery provides seven medical student research fellowships  for 10-12 weeks of summer research training in molecular and cell biology, biomechanics, coagulation and thrombosis, and angiogenesis, with a focus on clinically relevant problems such as atherogenesis, intimal hyperplasia, prosthetic/host interactions and thrombosis. Trainees will pursue a program of intense research activity for a minimum NIH mandatory requirement of 8 weeks and an additional week in the beginning for the onboarding process. This training program is designed to provide medical students with an initial exposure to vascular surgery research. See their website for  more details. Application deadline is January 15, 2019.
  • NIDDK Medical Student Research Program seeks students to conduct research with an established scientist in the area of diabetes, hormone action, physiology, islet cell biology or obesity for 2-3 months, and offers a stipend of approximately $2000/ month to do so. Application deadline for summer 2019 is January 28, 2019 at 11:59 pm CST.
  • The Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) Summer Program provides challenging and rewarding experiences in anesthesia research. For more information, download the complete 2018 MSARF Summer Program Information document that covers eligibility requirements, application instructions, information on the stipend and funding, and student and host department responsibilities.
  • The American Urological Association offers a Urology Care Foundation Summer Medical Student Fellowship, which includes a ten-week mentored research experience, training opportunity with urology research experts and a $4000 stipend. Deadline to apply for consideration is 5 pm ET January 10, 2019.
  • The Research Initiative to promote Diversity in Radiology offers students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to get involved in radiological research while earning a stipend. Deadline for application is January 25, 2019.
  • The Summer Imaging Research Project at MDAnderson Cancer Center is accepting applications for a summer fellowship in diagnostic radiology research. Deadline for application is January 17, 2019.
  • The University of Texas at Austin is offering a summer Value-Based Care Summer Research Internship. Deadline for application is February 4, 2019.
 
Funding Opportunities

The NIH Intramural Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) is seeking applicants. This program is to foster and promote workforce diversity training of future biomedical researchers, especially those who are likely to engage in research that advance the understanding of minority health and health disparities among medically underserved populations. Application deadline is January 11, 2019. You can find more information here. 

The Warren R. Bourgeois, III, MD and Usha Ramadhyani Bourgeois, MD Student Research Endowed Fund is a generous endowment which provides support each year to one or two first year medical students for a summer research experience in the Department of Physiology. The donation provides, but is not limited to, stipends, grants, and assistance with conference attendance, travel and other expenses related to the recipients’ research experience. This research experience for medical students brings to the student a potential dual career in research as well as medicine. It reveals to the student they can be involved both in the healing of a patient and in the process of finding cures. For more information, please contact Dr. L. Gabriel Navar, Professor and Chairman, Department of Physiology, SL-8639, 504.988.5251.

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship is designed to foster the development of the next generation of medical researchers. First, second and third year medical students from schools with active AOA chapters are eligible for this award, unless the medical student already has a Ph.D. For information on applying for this highly competitive award, please go to The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship webpage.

The DeBakey Scholars Program offers medical students the opportunity to pursue and complete a longitudinal structured, closely supervised research experience culminating in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. Limited summer funding is available for projects and students who qualify. More information on this program can be found here.

Many professional societies provide competitive grant funding for research. The links below should take you directly to the grant pages for the societies listed:

 

Professional Conference Schedule

Wondering where you can present your research? Click on our calendar of professional conferences to see when a relevant conference may be happening! (Links to conference information are provided.)

 

Tulane Opportunities and Resources