MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Undergraduate and Education Research Program

Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine is offering summer education and research training to outstanding undergraduate students who are planning to pursue careers in the biomedical sciences. Students interested in combined DO-PhD training for a career as a physician-scientist are offered an opportunity to conduct research and to be exposed to the excitement of an academic medical environment. The MSUCOM Summer Undergraduate Education and Research Program is a 10 week program. Up to four awards will be given to qualified undergraduate applicants each year. The program includes both clinical & laboratory experiences. Students will work in a research laboratory under the guidance of selected faculty members in the biomedical sciences, shadow physician-scientists in a clinical setting, attend seminars emphasizing the intersection of science and medicine, and participate in career development workshops. Students will work with faculty on an individual basis and as part of a research team. Research teams will include graduate students, post docs, research scientists, and current DO-PhD students.

·         Students will be matched based on their interests to a research faculty mentor/laboratory at Michigan State University.  The student will work in the laboratory 10 weeks.

·         All students will be required to make a full-time commitment (at least 40 hours per week) to their research. Students will be required to  make a presentation to their fellow SUPER participants, faculty mentors, and others at the end of the program.

·         Students can expect to have “hands on” experience and learn the basic skills necessary to contribute to a research effort; a sample of the techniques a student might learn includes: maintaining cell cultures, electrophoresis, chromatography, immunoassays, animal surgery, electrophysiology and neurochemical assays, and protein and nucleic acid molecular biology.

·         Students will receive exposure to the practice of medicine by individual physician mentors; this experience will average 2-10 weeks.

·         Students will participate in several workshops (1) opportunities available in the biomedical sciences (2) how to apply to MSUCOM medical school  and  MSU graduate programs (3) information on how to complete their AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine application service) application  (4) how to succeed in medical school or graduate  school. 

·         Students will also attend seminars.

·         A "Certificate of Merit" will be awarded to all participants upon completion of the program.

·         Each SUPER undergraduate participant will receive $2,500 for the 10-week, full-time research experience and accommodations in University Housing will be provided for any student outside of the greater Lansing, East Lansing area.   Students who successfully complete the SUPER program will be strongly encouraged to apply to the MSUCOM DO-PhD Program and will receive early review. 

Compensation

Each SUPER undergraduate participant will receive $2,500 for the 10-week full-time research experience and accommodations in University Housing can be provided for any student outside of the greater Lansing or East Lansing area. In order to participate in the clinical portion of the program (shadowing in physicians’ clinics) students are required to have their own vehicle for transportation off campus.

Apply

This year's application deadline has passed.

Applications are due by Tuesday March 31, 2015.

Selection: Selection of students is based on the completed application that asks for a description of academic interests, career goals, and research experiences. Students must state specific scientific interests and any particular research areas or techniques they wish to explore in order to be matched with research faculty. Also required are two letters of recommendation ( from faculty and/or from an advisor) and an unofficial transcript from the student's undergraduate institution(s). Minority students are encouraged to apply.  Deadline for receipt of all materials in our office is March 31, 2016. Decisions will be made and students notified by April 30, 2016.

Questions / contact

• Name: J. Justin McCormick
• Email: mccormi1@msu.edu
• Phone: (616) 517-353-7785
• Fax: (616) 517-353-9004