For specific questions concerning clinical, basic science, and translational medicine research contact the Advisory Committee for Student Research (joel.n.stern@hofstra.edu).
Is it mandatory to complete summer research?
No, participating in summer research (either through a School of Medicine-sponsored program or at another institution) is not mandatory. The Office of Medical Student Research promotes participation in research, believing the overall experience is a major contributor to a strong medical knowledge base. Experiences such as acquiring valuable skills and information, working collaboratively with faculty and other researchers, as well as exploring various disciplines, all enrich students’ knowledge whilst strengthening their residency application, especially in competitive specialties.
When should I start looking for a summer research project?
Incoming MS1 students should begin looking for summer research projects during the Fall semester. OMSR will provide a link to a Google Doc listing Internal opportunities in October. Students will need to find their external opportunities. All those interested in summer research are strongly encouraged to attend Research Week poster presentations and other events for more specific directives (in November).
Does my mentor have to be a faculty member? Should I rely on this one mentor?
Yes, your mentor must be an appointed faculty member or in the process of obtaining a faculty appointment at Zucker School of Medicine. This faculty mentor should serve as your primary investigator (PI). In addition to this faculty member, a member of the Advisory Committee for Student Research will serve as your in-house mentor. Your in-house mentor will review your stipend application , guide you in creating your poster, and provide a final review and approval of your presentation before Medical Student Research Day.
Are global health opportunities included in summer research?
Yes. Global health research projects follow the same criteria as other internal research projects. Students must operate under the guidance of an appointed faculty member and the majority of the project must be spent performing research (not travel or service abroad). All projects will be vetted by the Advisory Committee for Student Research prior to approval.
How do I secure funding for summer research?
Summer research stipends are available through an application process managed by the Office of Medical Student Research in conjunction with approval from the Advisory Committee for Student Research. Stipend applications are provided to first-year medical students after summer research participation is officially confirmed. Checks are processed and disbursed through the Office of Student Finance.
When do I find out if my stipend application was approved?
Stipend applications are reviewed by members of the Student Research Advisory Committee. Applications are typically approved by the middle of April and notification will be sent our via your Pride email by the Office of Student Affairs. Stipend checks will be made available by July.
Is there a statistician available to help analyze data from my project?
Yes, there is a statistician available for summer research projects in which medical students need help analyzing data they collected. The Office of Medical Student Research will send this information out to students participating in summer research during the summer months.
I have never created a professional poster before. How do I start? When is the poster deadline?
In August, the Office of Medical Student Research will send out Poster Guidelines, a Sample Poster Format and upon request examples from last year's posters. In addition, please reach out to your in-house mentor for guidance as you start this process. Final posters should be emailed to the Office of Medical Student Research (Medicine.OMSR@hofstra.edu) in PDF format by the third Friday in September.
Are there certain specialties where research is particularly important for residency applications, and would a summer research project strengthen an application in those fields?
While research is not a formal requirement for residency applications, it can play a particularly important role in certain highly competitive specialties. Fields such as dermatology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery often expect applicants to demonstrate meaningful research experience, ideally with tangible outcomes such as presentations or publications. A summer research project can be a valuable opportunity to explore a specialty, develop mentorship relationships, and strengthen one’s application—though its impact will depend on the student’s level of involvement and the scope of the project. Additional opportunities for research include elective time and Academic Leave of Absence, both of which must be reviewed by the Student Research Advisory Committee and require IRB approval.