Summer Research Training Program (SRTP)

Overview

The goal of the Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) is to encourage medical students to pursue their interests in medical research. SRTP enables first and second year medical students in Schulich Medicine & Dentistry to work under the supervision of a faculty member on a research project during the summer months, for two summers.  

Program Objectives

  • To allow medical students to gain exposure to research.
  • To encourage students to develop a scholarly approach to the practice of medicine.
  • To assist in choosing a career path after graduation.

Schedule

  • December 9, 2024 - Project proposals due into Research Office from potential supervisors
  • Mid January 2025 - List of SRTP Projects  and  SRTP Application made available to the Medicine Class of 2028.
  • February 7, 2025 - Deadline for submission of completed application from students.
  • March 2025 - Students and supervisors are informed of the funding decisions.

Duration

Students participate in SRTP for ten weeks in the summer(s). SRTP requires a two summer commitment from both the student and supervisor.  

Remuneration

Schulich Medicine & Dentistry provides funds for one or two summers, in the form of a stipend, to support STRP participants. Participants will be receive a stipend of $5,000 per summer.  Participants are expected to work full-time (~35-40hrs/week) for 10 weeks on their project.

Eligibility

Students enrolled in the first year of the MD program at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry may apply for SRTP.  This includes students at both the London and Windsor sites.  Students enrolled in Schulich Medicine & Dentistry's MD/PhD program or students concurrently enrolled in a master's program are not eligible for SRTP, nor are students who already hold a PhD. Students who already hold a master's degree and wish to participate in SRTP may not work in the same laboratory where they received their graduate training.  

Awards

Students conducting a SRTP project may be eligible for the following awards:

  • Dr. L. DeWitt Wilcox Award is given to a student who has demonstrated initiative, drive, awareness of research and the ability to persevere in completing an SRTP project. The award is intended to recognize the student's outstanding performance in research by permitting the student to present this research at the National Student Research Forum in Galveston, Texas.
  • Dr. Glen S. Wither Award for Research is given for outstanding participation in SRTP.
  • Horace and Clarice Wankel Memorial Award for Cardiovascular Research is awarded to a student demonstrating special interest in some area of research in cardiovascular diseases.

Conditions

Each year, approximately 25-40 students enter the first year of the program. If the number of applications exceeds the available funds, the SRTP Committee reserves the right to take into account the balance of disciplines and of types of projects in selecting participants. A project comprised either exclusively or primarily of a chart review is not a suitable project for the SRTP and will not be accepted. Further, a project that is primarily a literature review, a systematic review, or a case report will also not be supported by SRTP. Students may only submit one SRTP application.

Participants are required to:

  1. Complete a research project, over two summers, under the supervision of a faculty member in Schulich Medicine & Dentistry.
  2. Student will work on the project 10 weeks, full-time (~35-40hrs/week) over the summer
  3. Attend all SRTP Seminar Series held in the morning of approximately four of the ten weeks during the summer.
  4. SRTP students will submit an abstract at the end of the first summer and a report at the end of the second summer
  5. Depending on the source of funds, participants may be required to provide additional information to a funding agency.

Program Funding

The Summer Research Training Program is supported with funds from sources including:

  • Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry clinical departments
  • Lawson Health Research Institute
  • Mach-Gaensslen Foundation of Canada
  • Margaret A. McCullough Heart Research Fund
  • Underwood Scholarship in Diabetes