For Students:

1. What paperwork does each student and mentor need to complete?

Each student and mentor must complete the student "Commitment Form" posted on the Medical Student Research Page. At the time of appointment, a listing on the current "Potential Projects" page must be identified for each student.

2. If I do not have a mentor, what should I do?

Examine the postings for  potential projects ("Project Index" pages). A new one of these listings (for 2006, 2007, etc.) is created each year. These are put up usually beginning in late January or early february each year. In addition to the posting for the current year, additional ideas can be gleaned from looking the listings from prior years. These can be found as left navigation links on the Medical Student Research Page. Please contact Dr. McPhaul if you need help.

Most mentors participating in one year will be interested in participating in subsequent year. Recognize that the posting of these projects each year is an active process, requiring the submission of a project description by a prospective mentor. If you see a listing from a prior year, but not one for the current year, contact the prospective mentor and see if they are interested in having a student. If so, define a project and submit (with your prospective mentor) a description of the project to Dr. McPhaul electronically, using the forms provided on the website.

Please note that there may be limitations in the number of spots that can be supported in any given summer period. In these instances, awards will be made after an assessment of the quality of the proposed project and consideration of the proposed mentor. Paperwork completed and submitted after all of the 'slots' are allocated may not be eligible for stipend support.

3. What are the appointment dates?

In 2008, students will be appointed from June 2 - August 8. Students are permitted to take a week off during the ten-week period.

4. When are students paid?

Students are paid at the end of each month. A $3000 stipend is provided for the entire period.

5. Is there an orientation?

Yes. The orientation for the summer of 2008 will be on June 2, 2008 at 7:30 AM in room D1.600.

6. Are there other requirements of the program?

Yes. Each student must submit a summary of their research experience at the conclusion of the program. The description should include 1) the question asked, 2) the methods employed, 3) the results obtained, and 4) the conclusions drawn. Note that with proper formatting, a variation on this summary would be acceptable for submission as an abstract to the Annual UT Southwestern Medical Student Research Forum (abstracts submitted to the research forum are published and can be listed on your curriculum vitae).

7. How are students judged?

There is no precise criteria by which students are judged. The more energetic and productive a student is, the better they will be held in the estimation of their mentor. Such regard is invaluable and can form the basis for a lasting relationship that can hold the key to assisting in the advancement of a student career. If at the end of a summer, the student has achieved a tangible measure of productivity (e.g. submitted an abstract or manuscript detailing their work) and has forged an excellent relationship with their mentor such that the mentor can be relied on to write supportive letters of recommendation, the student can feel that they have really achieved something worthwhile.

For Mentors

1. How can I attract a student to work with me?

Post a clear project description that identifies the areas in which you are working. Be sure to identify successful student mentoring experiences that you have had.

2. What details do I need to provide in the "Project Description"?

The "Project Description" is designed to serve two purposes. As a posting on the Potential Projects" page, it is deigned to alert potential students to the opportunities that are available for potential students in a particular laboratory / research group. Although mentors may submit more than one project description, all projects for an individual mentor must be submitted as a single Word document. Those requiring additional formatting will be given lower priority for posting and may be delayed in their posting and review.  

Prior to posting, each project will be reviewed to ensure that the description clearly outlines what problem the student will be approaching and the role that the student will play in the project (note that submissions from prospective 'first time' mentors will be subjected to greater scrutiny than those submitted by mentors that have successfully supervised students in the past. At the time of finalizing the paperwork needed for the appointment process (the "Commitment Form"), the project listed on the Commitment Form should match a project listed on the Project description for that investigator. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that a specific project has been identified for each student.

In like fashion, information pertaining to either IRB or animal subject protocol approvals must be provided prior to student appointment.

3. What can I do to be a successful mentor?

Mentoring students - particularly those without prior research experience - can be a demanding role. By the same token, the impact that an effective mentor can have on the subsequent career of a student can be profound.

I encourage all mentors to define the project that a student will approach as early and precisely as possible. Provide as much background and direction in advance as is possible.  Try to meet with your student as frequently as possible. The happiest students are consistently those that feel that their efforts are toward a worthwhile goal and are appreciated. Students are most productive when associated with a well-defined project, are given the requisite knowledge/tools, and provided abundant opportunities for feedback and discussion. Generally, students are unhappy when associated with a poorly defined project and that they feel unprepared to approach.

4. How many students can be associated with a single mentor?

In order to provide the most meaningful learning experiences possible, in most instances only a single student will be assigned to an individual mentor. Unless compelling reasons can be presented, no more than two students will be associated with a single mentor. 

Please note that there may be limitations in the number of spots that can be supported in any given summer period. In these instances, awards will be made after an assessment of the quality of the proposed project, the number of students associated with an individual mentor / division, and consideration of the proposed mentor. Paperwork completed and submitted after all of the 'slots' are allocated may not be eligible for stipend support.

5. How are mentors judged?

The health and viability of the summer research program depends on the continued demonstration that this program has an important effect in the training of physicians to understand and conduct research. At a minimum, mentors should recognize that they are evaluated 1) by each of their students and 2) by measures of their impact on student productivity. These latter measures relate to the tangible outcomes, such as abstract submission to the UT Southwestern Medical Student Research Forum, abstract submissions to regional and national meetings, and manuscript submission / publication.