Vanderbilt University School of Medicine invites applications for the summer Medical Student Research Training Program (SRTP) in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases. This program is funded by the National Institutes of Health (Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases branch) and allows medical students during the summer between the first and second year or second and third year to conduct independent research under the direction of an established scientist. Prior research experience is not required.

The objectives of this program are:

The program started in the summer of 1975 and during the past 30 years over 600 students from 60 medical schools have participated. Each summer 25 medical students participate in the program. Click HERE for a list of students who recently participated in the program. Each student chooses an established Vanderbilt investigator in the field of diabetes. The diabetes-related investigation is quite broad and ranges from basic laboratory studies on gene to clinical studies in humans. Program staff will assist students in selecting an appropriate research project and preceptor. The Vanderbilt faculty member and the medical student jointly design a research project which is then conducted over the course of the summer. At the conclusion of the summer, each student presents a brief summary of his/her work in a scientific forum. In addition to working on his/her own research project, each student attends a series of seminars addressing various clinical and research aspects of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Through these seminars, Vanderbilt faculty alert students to recent advances in basic and clinical research and treatment of diabetes. Distinguished visiting faculty contribute to the program through special seminars and discussion groups. A Student Coordinator, a 2nd year Vanderbilt medical student who participated in last summer's program, helps students find housing, coordinates the seminar series and facilitates participation in the social life of Nashville. A list of preceptors, scientific abstracts from last summer's participants and the lecture series are available.

Positions for the next summer’s program will be awarded after a review of all applicants. Each student receives a stipend (currently calculated at a rate of approximately $399 per week) from which expenses for travel, food and housing may be paid. The stipend amount is prorated based upon the actual number of weeks of participation in the program. Students are expected to spend twelve (12) weeks in the program, but commencement, conclusion and vacation dates during the program are reasonably flexible. The number of students selected will depend on the financial resources available but usually ranges from 25-30. We encourage all interested students who will be entering their second or third year of medical student to submit one of the two applications found on the navigation bar. [Please, Print and Fax or Mail to the address below.]

Note: You must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident to participate in this program.

Vanderbilt Reporter article about the program »

Any questions regarding the program should be directed to:

Student Research Training Program
Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Room 7465 Medical Research Building IV
2213 Garland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232-0475
Phone: (615) 936-1760
Fax: (615) 936-1667
E-mail: stu.res@vanderbilt.edu
Website: www.vanderbiltsrtp.org
Online Application: www.vanderbiltsrtp.org/students-app/application.php

The Medical Student Summer Research Training Program is supported by the Vanderbilt Short Term Research Training Program for Medical Students (NIH grant DK007383) and the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (NIH grant DK20593).