Summer Research Immersion Program

Available to first-year medical students

Contact the Office of Research & Scholarship team

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Summer Research Immersion Program (SRIP) is an eight-week program open to first-year medical students at Geisinger Commonwealth who are in good academic standing.

SRIP provides you the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience in basic science, clinical science, public/community health, behavioral health or medical education under the guidance of a research mentor. You’re also offered supplemental seminars on study design, institutional review board (IRB) protocol development, scientific writing and other topics in research. The experience includes an educational stipend once you fulfill program requirements.

Participants who complete the program and are not receiving another form of educational stipend support (i.e. Abigail Geisinger Scholar stipend) receive a $2,500 educational stipend provided by Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

SRIP 2025 will run from June 2 – July 25.

Student perspective

Program goals

To provide students with an immersive research experience under a mentor’s guidance
To enhance students’ knowledge of the scope and types of research relevant to improving health regionally, nationally and globally
To offer research opportunities that span the translational continuum, from laboratory-based biomedical studies to clinical and public health research conducted with community partners
To engage students in peer learning and networking
To grow students’ confidence and skills in oral and written scholarship

How to apply to our Summer Research Immersion Program

Program requirements

Requirements include 35 to 40 hours of effort per week throughout the program, submission of all required paperwork and project documents, attendance at orientation and program seminars, and presentation of research findings at the Summer Research Symposium. If you complete all requirements, you’ll receive a $2,500 educational stipend from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Program eligibility

You must be enrolled at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine at the time of application and program commencement. If you are required to remediate coursework over the summer, you won’t be eligible to participate in SRIP.

Apply

Interested in applying? Reach out to studentresearch@geisinger.edu or SRIP Director Elizabeth Kuchinski at eckuchinski@geisinger.edu. We’ll hold an informational presentation in October each year. The application cycle begins in December and ends in February.

Mentors

SRIP matches medical students interested in research with mentors with active or planned research projects. Projects should undergo review by Geisinger's institutional review board (IRB) before program commencement, and should provide students an opportunity to meaningfully contribute and describe results by the end of the eight-week program.
Students are expected to dedicate 35 to 40 hours per week to their research projects, on a schedule mutually agreed upon between student and mentor.

Mentorship offers numerous benefits, including:

Sharing knowledge/expertise with learners
Helping trainees succeed and become colleagues
Developing and enhancing professional networks
Extending professional and scholarly contributions

Become a SRIP mentor

If you’re a faculty member interested in participating in SRIP as a research mentor, sign up and add your research project information. Questions? Reach out to studentresearch@geisinger.edu or SRIP Director Elizabeth Kuchinski at eckuchinski@geisinger.edu.

For me, the Summer Research Immersion Program was more than an eight-week summer research project. It was an opportunity to apply the skills I learned throughout my first year of medical school and, most importantly, it connected me with mentors who I’ll continue to work closely with on future projects.

Trenton Husick, MD Class of 2026

Mentor perspective

SRIP team

Meet the team who administers our Summer Research Immersion Program. Contact us at studentresearch@geisinger.edu.

Elizabeth Kuchinski, MPH

Instructor of Family Medicine
SRIP Director
Medical Sciences Building
525 Pine St.
Scranton, PA 18509
570-687-9696

Email

Sonia Lobo, PhD, RYT

Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship
Professor of Biochemistry
Summer Research Immersion Program Administrator
Medical Research Honors Program Director
Medical Sciences Building
525 Pine St., Office 2026 – 2 West
Scranton, PA 18509
570-504-9629