Skip to main content

This page is a resource for discovering research training opportunities available outside of the Carolina Medical Student Research Program. Some programs offer students grants to conduct their research at the institution of their choice, including here at UNC. Other programs offer stipends for students to come specifically to their training facilities to conduct research. The listings below give a brief program description in alphabetical order by Agency. When you find a program that interests you, please go to that program’s website to learn more about their application deadlines and procedures.

The Office of Medical Student Research is always looking for opportunities that suit each student’s interests and availability. Please contact us with any additional research training opportunities that should be listed on this page.

There are many opportunities for research on our campuses:

Asheville: offers multiple opportunities through collaboration with our research team, faculty, and residents. The longitudinal program lends itself well to medical students participating in research given that students have flexibility in their schedule and learner-centered time. Some ongoing research foci include health care workforce development, medical education and practice, substance abuse, and community-based participatory research.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Dr. Robyn Latessa: robyn.latessa@mahec.net
https://mahec.net/innovation-and-research/research

Wilmington: medical students have an opportunity to explore and develop skills in clinical research. Our Research Department is led by Lynette McFayden, RN, MSN who has years of research experience and experience assisting learners who are interested in research. Working with our faculty and research team, we can assist students in making connections to engage in clinical research if it is an area of interest. In fact, we recently celebrated an Application Phase student who completed a project in the outpatient setting. He submitted his work at the North Carolina American College of Physicians (ACP) student poster presentation where he won first prize. He has been invited to present his work and poster at the National ACP meeting Los Angeles later this spring.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Danielle Kurtz: danielle.kurtz@seahec.net
https://www.seahec.net/seahec/research/research-internships

Charlotte: offer multiple short and long term research opportunities. There are even paid research opportunities. Areas include, trauma, orthopedics, and health services research.

For more information, see link below and/or contact Dr Heather Tarrantino: Heather.Tarantino@atriumhealth.org
https://atriumhealth.org/education/graduate-medical-education/medical-student-summer-scholars-program

AAMC Clinical and Research Opportunities Database

The AAMC has a database of clinical and research opportunities for medical students. Must login with AAMC account.

Learn More

American Diabetes Association Core Research Program

Program Description: These awards provide support to medical students while pursuing a graduate degree in order to gain exposure to clinical and basic science diabetes research.
Project Location: UNC or an outside accredited institution
Stipend: Varies

Learn More

American Heart Association Student Scholarships in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

Program Description: This program is offered to stimulate interest, knowledge and investigative work related to cardiovascular disease, stroke and basic sciences early during  pre-doctoral training.
Project Location: UNC or an outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: minimum 2 months/ $2,000 plus $750 in travel fees to attend International Stroke Conference

Learn More

American Heart Association Student Scholarships in Cerebrovascular Disease

Program Description: This program is offered to stimulate interest, knowledge and investigative work related to cardiovascular disease, stroke and basic sciences early during  pre-doctoral training.
Duration/Stipend: minimum 2 months/ $2,000 plus $750 in travel fees to attend International Stroke Conference
Project Location: UNC or an outside accredited institution

Learn More

American Otologic Society Research Training Fellowships

Program Description: The American Otologic Society is offering fellowship awards to study otosclerosis, Meniere’s disease, and related ear disorders in United States or Canadian institutions only. Proposals may include investigation of the management and pathogenesis of these disorders, and underlying process.
Duration/Stipend: 1-2 years, must be done outside of residency training
Project location: UNC or an outside accredited institution

Learn More

Center for Disease Control Experience – Applied Epidemiology Fellowship

Program Description: This program provides third and fourth year medical students hands-on experience in epidemiology and public health.
Duration/Stipend: 10-12 months/ stipend covers living expenses
Project Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Learn More

Henderson Post-Sophomore Fellowship in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The Henderson Post-Sophomore Fellowship is a 1 year fellowship available to UNC medical students who have completed the foundation phase and ideally the application phase.

The fellowship is composed of 12 one month rotations through the various areas of anatomic and clinical pathology.  The student fellows are given the same responsibilities as first year pathology residents.   The Henderson fellows are paid a stipend and their medical school tuition for this year.  This is an excellent opportunity to learn if Pathology is a good career option.   Material learned during this fellowship is also applicable to most other clinical disciplines.  Please contact Dr. Yara Park (Yara.Park@unchealth.unc.edu) or Dr. Russell Broaddus (rbroaddus@med.unc.edu) to learn more.

Howard Holderness Distinguished Medical Scholars Program

Program Description: The Holderness program provides students with an opportunity to pursue an independent project with a faculty mentor and to participate in biweekly seminars that cover a broad range of topical issues in surgery and medicine. Under this program students will be offered an extra year of medical school, to begin immediately after the third year.

Program Location: UNC

Stipend: $10,000 per semester for a total of $20,000 for the year

Learn More

Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ National Institutes of Health HHMI Research Scholars Program

Program Description: Students have the opportunity to spend up to a year, or longer, at the Bethesda campus of the National Institutes of Health. Student’s research project and mentor are determined after acceptance into the program.
Project Location: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Duration/Stipend: 9-12 months/ $25,000 plus paid medical insurance, moving expense reimbursement, furnished on-campus housing, and allowance for conference travel, related books and courses.

Learn More

Howard Hughes Medical Institute HHMI Research Training Fellowships for Medical Students

Program Description: Fellowships provide support for one year of full-time research training in fundamental biomedical research. The fellowship includes a stipend and a research allowance.
Project Location: The research must be conducted at an academic or nonprofit research institution in the U.S. (excluding the National Institutes of Health).
Duration/Stipend: 12 months/ $25,000

Learn More

Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications National Library of Medicine Medical Informatics Training Program

Program Description: This program provides graduate and medical students an opportunity to participate in on-going medical informatics research under the tutelage of Lister Hill Center mentors.
Project Location: Bethesda, MD
Stipend: dependent on research area and experience

Learn More

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Fellowship in Environmental Medicine for Medical Students

Program Description: The Division of Intramural Research of the NIEHS focuses on basic research, environmental toxicology, and environmental disease and medicine. They offer a one-year stipend to medical students to work full-time with NIEHS scientists.
Project Location: UNC or an outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: one year

Learn More

Oak Ridge Insitute for Science & Education Student Research Participation at the National Center for Toxicology Research

Program Description: This program is for opportunities to participate in research on biological effects of potentially toxic chemicals and solutions to toxicology problems that have a major impact on human health and the environment.
Project Location: National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas
Duration/Stipend: 10 weeks-12 months/ $500 per week plus $75 per week housing allowance

Learn More

Special Olympics Health Professions Student Grant Program

Program Description: The purpose is to promote short-term projects with a focus on the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programs and Special Olympics athletes, as well as the health and well-being of all persons with intellectual disabilities. Projects may include: data collection and analysis on issues impacting persons with intellectual disabilities; measurement of attitudes, opinions and behaviors of health professionals, coaches, family/caregivers and athletes; follow-up assessments of existing programs; or health promotion projects. Projects that involve collaborations with Special Olympics Programs or other CDC grant recipients (e.g., state and local health departments) are encouraged.
Project Location: UNC or outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 8 weeks – 12 months/ $3,500

Learn More

Stanley J. Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Research, Inc. Research Fellowship Program for Medical Students

Program Description: The Sarnoff Fellowship Program is designed to give medical students the opportunity to spend a year conducting intensive work in a biomedical research laboratory located within the United States. Each awarded student is paired with a member of the Endowment’s Scientific Board.
Project Location: UNC or an outside accredited institution
Duration/Stipend: 12 months/ $25,000 plus $2,000 travel and $2,000 relocation fees

Learn More