Research Electives

The elective for M1 students runs longitudinally from late March through the end of July. In March-May, students attend eight weekly seminars (including the Medical Student Research Symposium) that introduce them to the Research Learning Community (RLC) at Boonshoft School of Medicine. Seminars include training in basic research skills that will prepare students to contribute to a faculty research project. Topics cover the responsible conduct of research, library and reference tools, human subjects research regulation and strategies for participating in scientific meetings. Students who enroll in SMD 616 are responsible for finding a faculty mentor prior to the beginning of the elective. The student and mentor will develop a suitable plan for the elective  research experience involving at least 40 hours of contact time. Research experiences are completed in June-July. Enrollment in SMD 616 is limited to 15 students. The admission application deadline is Dec. 5.

Course Description

Department: Research Affairs

Course Director & Faculty: Amber McCurdy. Other faculty to be determined

Time & Location: March-May: weekly seminars in White Hall. June-July: research experience, location to be determined

Prerequisites: MS 1 in good academic standing

Course Description:

In March-May, students will attend eight weekly seminars (including the Medical Student Research Symposium) that introduce them to the Research Learning Community (RLC) at Boonshoft School of Medicine. The RLC includes students and faculty engaged in a wide range of biomedical, clinical, translational and medical education research.

The seminars will include training in basic research skills that will prepare students to contribute to a faculty research project. Topics will cover the responsible conduct of research, library and reference tools, human subjects research regulations and strategies for participating in scientific meetings. Seminars will include written assignments, oral presentations and discussion in a learning community  environment.

Students who enroll in SMD 616 are responsible for finding a faculty mentor prior to the beginning of the elective. The student and mentor will develop a suitable plan for the elective  research experience involving at least 40 hours of contact time. Plans must be finalized by the end of May. Research experiences will be completed in June-July.

For the purposes of this elective, a research experience means participating in some meaningful aspect of a faculty mentor’s research project. The research experience might include: conducting a literature search, drafting a human subjects or lab animal protocol, obtaining informed consent from patients, conducting retrospective chart reviews and other kinds of data collection and analysis or observing and learning specific research procedures. While the experience is not expected to be a fully developed and independent research project, it could provide a pathway for developing such a project later in medical school.

Learning Methods:

1. Participate in weekly seminars and skills training activities. (20 percent)
2. Share and discuss assignments in an online learning community. (30 percent)
3. Plan and complete a summer research experience under the supervision of a faculty mentor. (50 percent)

Learning Objectives:

1. Survey the kinds of research conducted at WSU Boonshoft School of Medicine,
2. Acquire basic skills and certifications for participation in a research project. 
3. Participate in an online learning community
4. Plan and complete a faculty-mentored research experience.

Evaluation:

1. Students will receive a grade of Pass/Fail.
2. Students will be required to attend monthly seminars.
3. Students will be evaluated by the course director related to completion of assignments, level of engagement with the learning community, and development of the research experience.
4. Students will be evaluated by the faculty mentor related to completion of the proposed research experience.

This elective counts as one of the two required elective experiences.

If you have questions about the research elective, contact Amber McCurdy, amber.mccurdy@wright.edu.

The elective for M2 students builds on the concepts and activities established in SMD 616 (Research Learning Community 1). The M2 elective provides a supportive environment for continuation or completion of research projects begun in SMD 616, but SMD 616 is not a prerequisite. The M2 elective also supports students who continue to participate in extracurricular or SIE (student initiated elective) research projects. SMD 617 runs longitudinally from October-April; the enrollment deadline is Sept. 30.

Course Description

Department: Research Affairs

Course Director & Faculty: Amber McCurdy. Other faculty to be determined

Time & Location: October-April; monthly seminars and workshops in White Hall

Prerequisites: MS 2 in good academic standing

Course Description:
The research elective for M2 students builds on the concepts and activities established in SMD 616 (Research Learning Community 1). The M2 elective provides a supportive environment for continuation or completion of research projects begun in SMD 616, but SMD 616 is not a prerequisite.* The M2 elective also supports students who continue to participate in extracurricular or SIE (student initiated elective) research projects.

Admission to SMD 617 is based on the following options:

• Option 1: Ongoing participation in a faculty mentored research project during the second year of medical school. Students will document this work with a research plan, quarterly activity reports, and a final report including future research directions. Student work leading to presentation/publication of research findings is strongly encouraged.
• Option 2: Ongoing leadership in the Research Learning Community during the second year of medical school. In addition to taking leadership roles in the Medical Student Research Club and Journal Club, students will plan and complete a faculty-mentored project based on organizing research meetings and publications. Students will document this work with a project plan, quarterly activity reports, and a final report including future directions for the learning community.   

SMD 617 will have monthly meetings including class seminars and workshops, Research Learning Community seminars, the BSOM Central Research Forum (held in October) and the annual Medical Student Research Symposium (held in April). Students are required to make an oral presentation and lead a discussion at one of these RLC venues.

* Students who have not taken the CITI course on the protection of human subjects (included in SMD 616) will need to acquire this certification to be enrolled in SMD 617.

Learning Activities:

1. Participate in a faculty-mentored research or leadership project. (50 percent)
2. Participate in a research-focused learning community organized around monthly seminars, lectures, and other meetings. (30 percent)
3. Prepare and lead a seminar or Journal Club discussion on  recent research. (10 percent)
4. Write timely project management reports. (10 percent)    

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain further experience with research project management.
2. Learn collaboration strategies and skills through engagement with a research-focused learning community.
3. Develop skills in effective oral presentation and discussion.
4. Develop skills in writing project plans and reports.

Evaluation:

1. Students will receive a grade of Pass/Fail.
2. Students will be evaluated by the faculty mentor related to ongoing research or leadership projects.
3. Students will be evaluated by the course director related to level of engagement with the Research Learning Community.
4. Final evaluations for the BSOM records management system will be submitted by the course director.

Elective Credit: One elective (80 hours)

Enrollment in SMD 617 is by permission of the course director. Please contact Amber McCurdy, amber.mccurdy@wright.edu., to schedule an interview. The enrollment deadline is Sept. 30.