Research Opportunities

Welcome to the section dedicated to Summer Research Opportunities. Below are some helpful hints that are important for you to keep in mind when choosing within this group.

1. Find a project that you are interested in- At Western, we are lucky to have programs such as SRTP, SROP and GROH, which offer research in many different specialties. From medical to surgical to radiological, there is a cornucopia available. If you happen to know the type of medicine you want to go into, this is an excellent opportunity to gain experience and contribute to the field. That said, if you aren't yet sure, no big deal!
2. Find a supervisor that you can work well with- This is sagely advice, and not new, but let us give you a new twist: Much of the research done by medical students is with practicing clinicians. Many of these clinicians do not spend as much time in the lab as your professors from undergrad. Try and speak with upper-year students from your potential supervisor's lab to get to know them better.
3. Many projects require ethics approval. Please follow this algorithm:
   1. Ask "Is bioethics required?" - if Yes, ask:
   2. "Has the bioethics application been completed?" - If No, ask:
   3. "How would we proceed to finish the application BEFORE the summer?"
   What's the big deal? Essentially, the bioethics application is a mandatory and time-consuming aspect of many projects. You want to get this out of the way before your summer starts to maximize your research time.

Lastly, I would recommend that you shop around. Even within a given program like SRTP, projects show a lot of variability- in hours worked, secondary financial support, working environment and ambitiousness of expectations for your project :. Set up multiple interviews and wait to commit until you have a project that is worth the time and effort, because hey- you've only got a couple summers left!

Regional Research

CHARLES HOLLENBERG SUMMER STUDENTSHIP PROGRAM 2007
HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
IMS Summer Undergraduate Research Program 2006
Ivan H. Smith Memorial Studentships
SCHULICH RESEARCH OPPORTUNITES PROGRAM
SUMMER RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM

National Research

AAAAI Summer Research Fellowship Medical Student Grant
American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Summer Research Scholarship
American Gastroenterological Association Student Research Fellowship Awards
Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada Safe Drinking Water/CFID Grant Award
CAAAAI Summer Clinical Research Fellowship Medical Student Grants
Fight for Sight Student Fellowships
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. Student Fellowship
Parkinson’s Disease Student Fellows
Radiology Research Medical Student Grant
Student Research Fellowship Awards in Digestion
Summer Student Pediatric Research Program
Summer Student Research Program (BC)
Wildnerness Medical Society

International Research

IFMSA Research Exchange Program
Global Research Opportunities in Health