We are seeking faculty who are interested in mentoring and partnering with students for Summer Research Assistantships (SRA) programs, sponsored by the Warren Alpert Medical School and Brown University Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

 We invite proposals for projects involving clinical research, basic and translational research, public health research, medical education, advocacy, medical humanities, and more; all projects must be related to health or medicine. We are also seeking faculty who are open to mentoring student-initiated projects.  

Deadlines:  Faculty proposal forms should be submitted by November each year.  Project information will be included in a list of research opportunities available for our students to review.  Students’ project applications are due in mid-February with funding awards announced in March.

SRAs provide faculty with many benefits - including the dedicated and full-time summer assistance of motivated students to support their research, medical education, or scholarly projects, and also a unique opportunity to mentor and shape the next generation of physician scholars in their fields.  .  Many faculty find these experiences highly rewarding and are energized by the fresh perspectives and ideas students bring - while students often report research as being one of their key priorities for medical school, and SRAs as one of the most impactful experiences during their medical school years.

There must be a faculty member in the Division of Biology and Medicine, School of Public Health, or affiliated clinical faculty named as a mentor for an SRA. Residents, fellows, other Brown-affiliated faculty (from related fields in humanities, sciences, engineering, etc.), and mentors from external institutions can serve as a co-mentor, however there must be a Brown BioMed, clinical, or SPH faculty named to serve as a co-mentor.  Mentors with an available project should post their project on the submission form.

While most faculty have only one SRA student per year, faculty members may sponsor more than one medical student for an SRA per year.  However, we advise thoughtful consideration and planning to ensure that faculty mentors have the bandwidth and availability to provide strong mentorship for each student, and that SRA mentees working with the same mentor have distinct projects to allow them to exercise their independence.

Note: If you are also planning to mentor a PLME SRA student, the PLME programs has a maximum of ONE PLME student per summer per mentor.

Mentors are expected to provide a productive, educational, and supportive research experience for medical students during the summer assistantship. Faculty should work with the student to plan a well-defined project with clear, attainable goals that can be accomplished within the program timeline. This includes outlining the project’s scope, establishing a realistic work plan, and ensuring the student has access to necessary data, resources, and training.

Throughout the summer, mentors should provide regular guidance, feedback, and supervision. This includes meeting with the student at least once every 1-2 weeks (on average), offering timely responses to questions, and actively supporting their development in research skills such as literature review, study design, data collection, analysis, and scientific communication. Mentors are also encouraged to foster an environment that supports curiosity, professionalism, and independent problem-solving.

At the conclusion of the program, mentors are expected to assist the student in preparing at least one research product that reflects the work accomplished— poster, abstract, presentation, or manuscript. They should also provide constructive feedback on the student’s performance and help identify opportunities for future scholarship, dissemination, or continued involvement in the project when appropriate.

Students should not be expected to work independently for long stretches without adequate mentoring. Applications must show evidence of collaboration between the student and mentor. It is the mentor’s responsibility to ensure that the student has clearly defined roles, responsibilities, short- and long-term goals, and is aware of expected work hours. 

Supporting Materials

Faculty Cover page template and Letter of Support instructions

Note: Students with global health projects requiring international travel must have a second letter of support from a mentor at the international site/institution, in addition to the primary (Brown) faculty mentor letter of support.  For all other projects, only a single LOS from the Brown primary mentor is required, although if applicable, a secondary mentor may also submit or co-sign a LOS.

Faculty Conflict of Interest Form

The Warren Alpert Medical School is committed to pursuing its mission and conducting its affairs in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards. This commitment includes the avoidance and management of potential conflicts of interest. This policy applies to all persons who serve as a mentor to a medical student as part of the Summer Assistantship Program.

Policy: Persons who agree to serve as a mentor to a medical student under the auspices of the Summer Assistantship Program should not use their positions, or the work of the medical student mentee, for personal gain or for the benefit of an entity in which the faculty member has a financial interest.

It is the policy of Warren Alpert Medical School to require that mentors disclose business practices or conduct that could constitute a conflict between their research interests and the interests of the medical student mentee and Warren Alpert Medical School. As part of the Summer Assistantship application, faculty must complete and submit a Faculty Conflict of Interest form.