The Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) offered by the Research Office at the Faculty of Medicine hosts a competition for summer research positions for first- and second-year medical students. 

With the recognition that medical students who learn in and with communities are more likely to go on to practice in alignment with patient, community and population needs upon graduation. The Social Accountability Priority Area supports student summer projects in two streams. 
 

Stream 1: Faculty-Initiated
Faculty members submit project applications for the MSSRP and may request consideration under the Social Accountability Priority Area. Applications undergo merit evaluation by the Research Office, and, if relevant, subsequent social accountability review by the Social Accountability Adjudication Committee. 

Supervisor application: APPLY HERE
 

Stream 2: Community Partner-Initiated 
Community partners submit project applications that will address their own research priorities. Both merit and social accountability reviews are evaluated by the Social Accountability Adjudication Committee. Faculty members with relationships with community partners are invited to encourage their partners to apply.

Community application: APPLY HERE

Resources

• Terms of reference - MSSRP
• Learn more about the MSSRP program through the Research Office

The Social Impact Funding Program SHARE stream is designed for any learner at the Faculty of Medicine.

Successful applicants may use the funds to increase the social impact of an ongoing research project at any stage of the research cycle, such as:

• Establishing or strengthening a partnership with a relevant community or stakeholder
• Mobilizing knowledge to impact the community-ies or stakeholders most affected by their work

Who can apply?

Any undergraduate student, graduate student/postdoctoral fellow, or resident/clinical fellow at the Faculty of Medicine.

Application requirements

1. Brief overview of underlying research project
2. Description of the impact initiative
3. Statement reflecting how SGBA+ considerations apply to the initiative
4. Letter from the project supervisor confirming good academic standing and support for conducting the proposed initiative activities
5. Justified budget proposal (PDF, 221 KB)

Available funding

Each applicant may request up to $2,000 for their project with a total of $20,000 available for this competition.

Submission deadline: May 31^st, 2024

APPLY HERE

Resources

•    Terms of reference - SHARE
•    Budget template

The competitive Summer Studentship Award Program offered by the Research Office of the Faculty of Medicine provides adjudicated summer research positions for approximately 50 first- and second-year medical students every year.

In 2022, eight of these studentships were allocated to Social Accountability priority areas, four to faculty members working in collaboration with community stakeholders, and four directly to community stakeholders themselves.

These awards provide postgraduate trainees the opportunity to incorporate community engagement into resident scholarships and promote the development of “change agents” – graduates who prioritize the community context in the execution of their role as physicians. The program also serves as an accessible introduction to the grants experience from application to completion. 

These awards provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to bring the social accountability perspective to their research. MED8166 students have the opportunity to earn course credits for the TOGETHER application process. The program also serves as an accessible introduction to the grants experience from application to completion.