Office of Student Research

The Office of Student Research (OSR) aims to promote innovation and discovery in science for UMSOM students and trainees. Our goal is to foster student achievement in their scholarly pursuits. The OSR is responsible for all research education and research programming for UMSOM medical students, as well as for overseeing the MD/Masters dual-degree programs. The OSR provides individualized research advising and support to all UMSOM medical students across a diverse array of research opportunities.

In addition, the OSR partners with various community outreach efforts to promote research for pre-identified middle- to high-school-aged students and select, eligible undergraduate students to stimulate and foster interest and excitement about careers in medicine and other allied health fields.

Goals

Foundational Research Education and Training

Provide all UMSOM medical students with foundational research education and training and prepare them to capitalize on exceptional research experiences (basic, clinical or translational) in the biomedical and behavioral sciences through the Foundations of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT) course.

The goal of this course is to foster excellence in the development of clinicians, clinical educators, and physician scientists by enhancing intellectual acuity, critical thinking and inquisitiveness. Through individualized scholarly activity, students will explore a topic of interest, gain specific skills, have access to role models in academic medicine, and enhance their academic portfolio for future application to competitive residency training programs.

Advising, Nurturing, and Mentoring

Provide advising, nurturing, mentoring, and opportunities for medical students to enhance their scholarly learning experiences through participation in one or a combination of programs offered and/or supported by the OSR (e.g. PRISM, Research Elective, etc.).

Students who desire an in-depth research learning experience or a research career may choose to consider one of several MD/Masters dual-degree programs offered by UMSOM in combination with or separate from a directed, extended research elective.

Recent Events

46th Annual Medical Student Research Day, 2023

The MSRD 2023 event was held on Tuesday, November 28 and Wednesday, November 29 at the SMC Campus Center. See Awards Announcement and Event Program. To learn more about MSRD, visit the MSRD webpage.

See SOM article highlighting last year's 45th MSRD, including the list of student and faculty awardees.

Important Information

PRISM Program Application

Information regarding the 2024 program will be available in October on the program webpage.

To learn more about the program, visit Program for Research Initiated by Students and Mentors (PRISM).

UM Scholars Program Application

Information regarding the 2024 program will be available in November or December on the program webpage.

To learn more about this program, visit University of Maryland Scholars Summer Research Program (UM Scholars).

Mentor Registration for FRCT Course

Advertising for Student Participants

If you would like to request for advertising support to help recruit UM medical students to serve as participants in medical education research, please visit the Advertise for Student Participants webpage for more information and access the link to the request form.