Each MD-PhD student must complete a minimum of two research rotations. While we do not require that students complete a rotation before starting the first year of medical school, this is highly recommended. We have found that those students who do complete a research rotation before starting medical school tend to have a somewhat easier transition into graduate school.

MD-PhD students who have already completed one year of medical school and one research rotation will have the option of completing 2 shorter (i.e., 5-6 week) rotations rather than one longer (10-12 week) rotation.

After you have completed your first rotation, you are expected to turn in a written abstract and give a poster presentation. After your second rotation, you are expected to turn a written abstract and give a 10-minute oral presentation. All of the professors who served as summer mentors will evaluate your poster or oral presentation. In addition, each mentor will turn in a summary evaluation describing your experience in his/her lab.

Computer Science rotation: If you are considering the computer science department for your PhD, you will need to take your first rotation in that department. Computer Science at UNC is a highly competitive department. They reserve the right not to enroll MD-PhD students into their PhD program who they feel are not competitive with their own applicant pool.

Finding Research Mentors

• The leadership team will assist you in the process of finding a research mentor. They will make suggestions but it is up to you to follow up with the individual researchers.
• Your fellow MD-PhDs are great resources for rotation recommendations. (Use the directory on Blackboard if you need to contact anyone) A list of rotation and dissertation mentors are available here.
• The program has prepared a letter for potential mentors outlining our expectations of your rotation experience.

Other search tools include:

• Biomedical and Biological Sciences List of Faculty: A very good list of the BBSP participating faculty members. Search by PhD Program or research interest.
• Research Abstracts Database: Search the abstracts for all grant applications being submitted by the UNC faculty members.
• Department Listing: You can review individual departments to locate other faculty.