MD Student Research

A proud tradition training world-renowned physician-scientists

You will be given outstanding opportunities to contribute to scientific discovery and be exposed to our world-renowned faculty whose ever-evolving innovations and groundbreaking research inform scientific and medical thought around the globe.

Students can engage in exciting research projects for periods of time that could last a summer or a lifetime. The following describes the research opportunities available to David Geffen School of Medicine students over the course of their medical school years.

Articulated/Concurrent Degree Program

Including UCLA’s MD/PhD or Medical Scientist Training Program and a few dual degree programs such as MD/ MBA, MD/MPH, and MD/MPP. The length of an MD/PhD program is 8 years while adding a master’s degree to your MD makes it a 5-year program.

See programs

Research Electives

Up to 6 weeks of research electives either as part of a master’s program or as a standalone research project.

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Global Health Pathway

Mentorship and longitudinal support for global health and health disparities activities that leads to a “certificate of completion of the global health pathway.

See pathway

Options after Third Year

This could be an external summer opportunity or a year-long mentored research project. Options may include Doris Duke-Yale International Clinical Research Program or Medical Research Scholars Program with the NIH.

Review options

Opportunities at CTSI

CTSI offers a Summer Fellowship and Translational Science Fellowship to medical students as part of their TL1 program.

See program

Medical Research Scholars Program at NIH

A year-long residential research immersion program at the NIH for medical students seeking careers as clinician-scientists.

Explore program

American Physician Scientist Association

An association dedicated to physician-scientists with great resources for training programs, advocacy, and networking.

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“A true appreciation for curiosity can’t be taught in a classroom. Our students and trainees develop it while working alongside mentors who possess decades of experience and numerous accolades but nevertheless demonstrate a fierce openness for exploring new possibilities and testing prior assumptions.”

Shamar Jones, Advisor for MD Student Research and Scholarly Activities