Wondering if research is right for you?
Participating in research is optional for medical students at Washington University, yet the great majority of students—many of whom are focused on careers in clinical practice—choose to participate in a research project while pursuing their MD. Goals vary, but most students recognize that participating in the scholarship of discovery is an important experience for those who wish to engage with the future of cutting-edge medicine. If the below possibilities excite you, you might want to pursue a research project at WUSM.
Satisfy curiosity. Are you driven to explore the unknown? Undertaking a research project allows you to contribute to the environment of curiosity that underpins scientific advancement.
Make a contribution. If you don’t ask the question, it might not get answered. A research experience gives you a chance to make a contribution to scientific knowledge; to lay your brick in the foundation of our understanding of nature and medicine.
Get published. Hundreds of program alumni have published their research in peer-reviewed journals, joining generations of renowned physician-scientists at WUSM.
Get experience. The research experience at WUSM offers students well-rounded training in scientific scholarship that can help with finding a residency, enhance life-long learning, and provide a deeper understanding of the changing landscape of medicine.
Get paid. Students completing a some programs receive a stipend through our office. Others have tuition waived to earn additional credentials.
Explore specialties and careers. Research programs allow you to try out different medical specialties and network with faculty in departments that interest you. They also give you a sense of ‘the path’ of a physician-scholar. From bench work in the lab to clinical work with patients, you can choose from a broad range of research projects in any medical specialty.