Numerous external summer research opportunities are available for medical students across a variety of specialties. Explore the list below to discover summer research fellowships, grants, and funding opportunities that match your interests and career goals.
American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Summer Research Scholarship
The AATS offers a summer research opportunity for first- and second-year medical students to gain hands-on research experience in cardiothoracic surgery through an eight-week summer placement in the department of an AATS member.
Learn more https://www.aats.org/foundation/summer-intern-scholarship
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Summer Medical Student Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
This fellowship offers medical students an opportunity to explore careers in child and adolescent psychiatry through 12 weeks of clinical or research training under a child and adolescent psychiatrist mentor. Recipients receive up to $3,500 in fellowship funding and support to attend AACAP’s Annual Meeting to present their research poster. The 2027 application period is expected to open in Fall 2026.
Learn more : https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/osa/opportunities/m1-summer-opportunities.html
American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) Jack and Fay Netchin Medical Student Summer Fellowship
The ABTA offers $3,000 summer fellowships to medical students interested in conducting brain tumor research under the mentorship of experienced scientists. This opportunity aims to encourage medical students to pursue careers in neuro-oncology research.
Learn more and explore the fellowship opportunity https://www.abta.org/medical-student-summer-fellowships/
American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program
The AFAR MSTAR Program offers medical students the opportunity to explore aging-related research and geriatrics through mentored research experiences with leading experts in the field.
Learn more: https://www.afar.org/grants/mstar
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Medical Student Fellowship Award for Underrepresented Populations
This fellowship introduces medical students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM) to radiation oncology early in their medical education, helping them explore the specialty and potential career opportunities in the field.
American Society for Nutrition Foundation Clinical Nutrition Internship Program (CNIP)
The CNIP offers medical students an opportunity to explore the role of nutrition in clinical practice and medical research. Through educational experiences focused on health promotion, disease prevention, and medical nutrition therapy, students can strengthen their understanding of how nutrition contributes to patient care and overall health.
Learn more: https://nutrition.org/foundation/awards/clinical-nutrition-internship-program/
Endocrine Society Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students (REGMS) Program
The REGMS Program supports medical and graduate students interested in pursuing endocrine research. It provides an opportunity for students who have demonstrated a commitment to the field to further develop their research experience and strengthen their professional development skills.
Learn more: https://www.endocrine.org/awards/research-experiences-for-graduate-and-medical-students
Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF)
The FAER MSARF program offers medical students summer funding to conduct anesthesiology research, gain hands-on experience with scientific methods, and explore how research can be integrated into their future medical careers.
Learn more: https://www.asahq.org/faer/programs/medical-student-fellowships/msarf-summer-program
Harvard-Longwood Short-Term Research Training in Vascular Surgery (NIH T35)
Sponsored by the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), this fellowship offers medical students an opportunity to participate in 8–12 weeks of summer research training in vascular surgery. Students can explore areas such as molecular and cell biology, biomechanics, coagulation and thrombosis, and angiogenesis, with an emphasis on clinically relevant vascular diseases and surgical challenges. The program aims to introduce students to vascular surgery research and encourage future contributions to scientific innovation and advances in patient care.
Learn more: http://www.longwoodvascularsurgery.com/t35/
HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Research and Mentorship Program (RAMP)
The HVTN RAMP supports medical students from NIH-defined underrepresented groups who are interested in pursuing careers in HIV prevention or vaccine research. In collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the program offers structured mentorship, research project and salary funding, hands-on research opportunities, specialized training, and professional development to help prepare the next generation of HIV prevention researchers.
Galen V. Henderson, MD Medical Student Summer Program in Organ Donation and Transplantation
This eight-week, stipend-supported program offers medical students an immersive experience in organ and tissue donation and transplantation through clinical and community activities, engagement with field experts and donor families, and optional mentored scholarship. Full-time students in good standing at accredited U.S. medical schools who meet the program’s citizenship or residency requirements
Learn more: https://neds.org/henderson-program/
(MSTAR) Program - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Student Training in Aging Research
The UNC MSTAR Program offers medical and osteopathic students mentored research experiences in aging and geriatrics, introducing them to opportunities in basic science, clinical research, and health services research. Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the program aims to encourage students to pursue academic careers focused on improving health and care for older adults.
Learn more: https://www.afar.org/grants/mstar
NIDDK Medical Student Research Program in Diabetes and Obesity
Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), this summer program provides medical students with mentored research opportunities at one of 13 diabetes centers across the United States. Students work with established scientists on projects related to diabetes, obesity, hormone action, physiology, public health, and islet cell biology. The program is designed for students between their first and second or second and third years of medical school.
Learn more: https://medsites.vumc.org/niddkprogram , https://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship (MSSRF)
The NREF offers $2,500 summer research fellowships to medical students in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who have completed at least one year of medical school. Fellows conduct mentored research with an investigator who is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). The program aims to support future neurosurgeons and advance research focused on understanding, treating, and preventing neurological disorders while improving patient care.
Learn more : https://nref.org/research/medical-student-fellowships/
Oncology at Anderson Research (Med Students SOAR) Program
Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the Med Students SOAR Program offers first-year medical students an 8–10-week summer research experience focused on cancer research. Students work with experienced faculty mentors on individualized projects while developing laboratory and research skills. The program also includes lectures, workshops, clinical observations, and simulation training to introduce students to multidisciplinary and personalized cancer care and encourage careers in basic, translational, and clinical oncology research.
St. Jude Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Summer Program
The POE Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital offers summer internship opportunities in laboratory and clinical research for students interested in biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, and public health. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, the program provides valuable research experience in pediatric cancer and related fields.
Learn more: https://www.stjude.org/education-training/research-training/undergraduate/poe.html
Rehabilitation Research Experience for Medical Students (RREMS)
Supported by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAP) and the Physiatry Foundation, RREMS is a competitive, funded eight-week summer program that introduces medical students to research in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). Participants gain mentored research experience and learn from experienced academic physiatrists. Although first-year medical students are particularly encouraged to apply, students from all medical school years are welcome. The program aims to increase awareness of PM&R and support the development of future physicians and researchers in the specialty.
Learn more: https://www.physiatry.org/programs/medical-student-programs/research-based-rrems/
Rheumatology Research Foundation Medical and Graduate Student Preceptorship
The Rheumatology Research Foundation offers medical and graduate students mentored clinical or research experiences with established rheumatology professionals. Students may choose a four- or eight-week clinical preceptorship or an eight-week research preceptorship. The program aims to encourage students to explore careers in rheumatology.
- Award: $2,000–$4,000, plus $1,000 in travel support and complimentary registration to ACR Convergence
- Duration: 4 or 8 weeks
- Application deadline: Varies by award
Learn More : https://www.rheumresearch.org/preceptorships
Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) Summer Research Program
This 10-week summer program provides undergraduate and medical students with research experience in cardiovascular science, with a focus on translational research and medicine. The program aims to support students with diverse levels of research experience and encourage future careers in cardiovascular research and physician-scientist pathways.
Eligibility: Medical students must be enrolled at a U.S. medical school and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Undergraduate eligibility includes additional visa and residency categories, subject to specific requirements.
Learn more : https://med.stanford.edu/cvi/education/cvi-summer-research-program.html
Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF) Program
The NIH-supported SORF Program offers medical students, particularly those between their first and second years, an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cancer research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Students work with faculty mentoring teams on projects spanning pediatric, adolescent, and adult oncology, including clinical, translational, laboratory, bioinformatics, precision medicine, and population-based research. The program also provides training in research methods, career development, scientific communication, and responsible research conduct, with opportunities to present findings through posters, reports, and oral presentations.
Learn more: https://www.chla.org/fellowship/summer-oncology-research-fellowship
Northwestern University Summer Externship in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
Sponsored by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and hosted at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, this six-week summer program provides first-year medical students with clinical exposure to inpatient rehabilitation and hands-on experience in rehabilitation-related research. Students complete two three-week clinical rotations, participate in educational sessions, and develop a research paper and presentation under faculty guidance.
Learn More : https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/pmr/education/medical-students/summer-externship.html
Thomas Jefferson University Summer Student Research Program in Radiation Oncology
Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals offers a summer externship for medical students interested in radiation oncology. Participants work with faculty mentors on a research project, attend educational seminars, and gain clinical exposure through shadowing radiation oncology faculty. The program provides an interdisciplinary perspective on cancer care and research. Students are expected to return in the fall to present their research posters at the department’s annual research symposium, where projects are judged and awards are presented. One or two students may also be selected as Simon Kramer Scholars, honoring a pioneer in radiation oncology research.
Harvard Medical School Visiting Research Immersion Program (VRIP)
The VRIP is an eight-week, paid summer research program designed to introduce medical and dental students to research and health-related careers, with a particular emphasis on clinical and translational research. Participants conduct mentored research on a topic of interest and attend weekly seminars led by Harvard faculty covering research methods, health equity, and career development.
- Program dates: June 1–July 23, 2027
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Benefits: Paid summer experience, individualized research mentorship, and weekly faculty-led seminars
Learn more : https://occe.hms.harvard.edu/paths-opportunity/visiting-research-immersion-program
Other Specialty Associations/Societies Research Grant/Funding for Students
A collection of specialty-specific research grant and funding opportunities offered by medical specialty associations, societies, and academies is compiled and listed in this attached document.
📄 Specialty Associations/Societies ; Student Research Grant Document This document page will be regularly updated as new opportunities become available.
Students are encouraged to visit the websites of these organizations directly for the most up-to-date information, application deadlines, and additional resources.