The Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship (MSSRF) program provides opportunities for up to 50 first-year medical students enrolled at Drexel University College of Medicine to engage in full-time clinical or basic science research under the direction of a member of the faculty at Drexel or one of our affiliated clinical sites. Previous research experience is helpful but not required.

Selected students should expect to spend six weeks during the summer working full time (minimum of 40 hours per week) on projects with their faculty sponsors. Fellows will be paid a stipend of $2,500 and can receive no other University-funded income or outside funding for the same project during this period. Fellows cannot also participate in other Drexel-sponsored funded projects, such as Bridging the Gaps.

Fellowship recipients are required to attend Responsible Conduct of Research Seminars during the summer. Students are also required to present their work at the College of Medicine's annual day of research, Discovery Day, held in the fall.

Whether you are interested in working with one of our provided research contacts or finding your own, contact the faculty member directly to discuss the specifics of the project, your qualifications and motivation, and any specific arrangements regarding the scheduling of the project. If the student and sponsor agree that participation in a project would be mutually beneficial, they should jointly complete an application, including a project proposal for a summer research fellowship.

Research completed through the MSSRF program can count as the Year 1 summer program requirement for the Medical Scholars Program.

Faculty Mentors

Reminders for faculty mentors:

• Students will be required to contact the faculty member of interest to discuss and develop the application and specific goals of the project.
• Part of the process for the student is being able to write a brief description of the project after speaking with their faculty mentor. It is important that the student write their own application and has a solid understanding of their role in the project.
• Please note that this program will support one student per faculty member. Faculty members are generally not allowed to have multiple medical students apply for one position. However, support for two students working with the same mentor may be considered, depending on the number of applications received and availability of funds.

Fellowship Timeline

Exact dates will be communicated to the class via email within these timeframes:

• Application available: December of MS-1 year
• Application deadline: February of MS-1 year
• Notification of acceptance into program: March of MS-1 year
• Expected start date of research project: May/June after the conclusion of the MS-1 academic year

How to Apply

Interested current first-year students should visit the Office of Student Affairs and Career Advising web page for application details and resources.

Learn More

For more information, please contact:
Karen Berkowitz, MD
Associate Dean for Medical Student Research
Associate Professor
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
kmb354@drexel.edu