To complete the program, you must submit a research project proposal, write a thesis and deliver an oral defense. You’ll also write abstracts, present posters and publish findings while building your thesis defense. 

Eligibility

All first-year Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students are eligible to apply to The Medical Research Honors Program (MRHP). You must remain in good academic standing throughout the program in order to meet the requirements and graduate with the honors distinction.

Benefits

Research experience is integral to creating medical practitioners that reflect the mission and values of Geisinger Commonwealth. Matching into competitive residencies also requires research experience, presentations and publications.

Through the MRHP, you will gain independent responsibility for hypothesis formulation, data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of a mentored research project. You’ll also:

• Advance fundamental scientific knowledge
• Strengthen critical thinking skills
• Refine scholarly communication through scientific writing and presentations
• Gain a mindset of continual growth and learning
• Stand apart when applying to competitive residency fields

Apply

We’ll invite you to apply to the MRHP program in April of your first year of medical school. To apply, you’ll need to submit:

• MRHP application form
• Letter of support from your research mentor
• Your CV
• Acknowledgement of mentor expectations
• Project proposal: Project title, specific aims, hypothesis, background, preliminary data (if available)

Finding a research mentor

Be sure to find a research mentor who aligns with your research interests. Use Geisinger's Find an Investigator tool to search for Geisinger investigators and filter by research interest. 

Mentors are expected to: 

• Provide a supportive research environment, facilities to conduct research and financial support (if necessary)
• Guide your student though the proposed research project until graduation
• Establish a mutually agreed-upon schedule to meet project aims and ensure research progress
• Provide financial support required for the completion of the proposed research project
• Act as principal investigator on any new IRB protocol(s)
• Attend your student’s mentoring committee meetings twice a year in February and August
• Review and give input on your student’s project proposal and final thesis, along with other scholarly writing such as abstracts, presentations or manuscripts

Become a MRHP mentor

If you’re a faculty member interested in participating in MRHP as a research mentor, sign up and add your research project information. Questions? Contact us at mrhp@geisinger.edu.