Research Selective Request Form

Third-year medical students who would like to undertake the third-year research selective (RS) may complete the following form for approval.

Description of Research Selective 

The goal of the RS is to help medical students develop and implement a rigorous research plan which can be used towards the development of a publication, conference presentation, or scholarship or grant proposal application. The RS gives the opportunity for M3 students who have an area of extracurricular concentration to further develop research skills and competencies as a continuation of prior project (i.e., previous identification of a problem, data collection, analysis), or have a solid new project idea that builds upon prior work. Areas of concentration include, but are not limited to: biomedicine, clinical medicine, global health, advocacy, urban health, population medicine, education, business and law, ethics, and quality improvement. Students are required to have a research mentor who will help develop a detailed study design and research plan. The mentor must agree to the terms of RS before the student enters the course into their third-year schedule.

Click here for  more detailed info on the Research Selective including learning objectives, grading, etc.

Scheduling Procedures for the Research Selective

  • Procedures for selective scheduling DURING the (January) optimization period:
    1. In January before the start of the third year, students will request the research selective during the optimization period (e*Value). After the selective is confirmed as part of the student’s third-year schedule, they must submit their project proposal using the form below.
    2. The student must submit the “Research Selective Request Form” (below) no later than six weeks before the start date of the selective.
    3. The project proposal submitted via the “Research Selective Form” will be reviewed by Isabel Dominguez, PhD  and the student will be informed of approval via email. Approval requires submission of a well-designed project (with all components clearly described in the form below), appropriate approvals (e.g., IRB), and a project that may reasonably accomplished in four weeks.
    4. Once the project is approved, Ana Gregory will add the student’s research selective details (evaluator, etc) into the student’s third-year schedule. At the end of the selective period, the student’s evaluator will automatically receive an evaluation and assign a grade (Pass or Fail).
  • Procedures for selective scheduling AFTER the (January) optimization period: 
    1. Students who would like to add the selective to their schedule after the optimization period must complete steps #2-3 above.
    2. Once the project is approved, they must complete the following steps to change/add the selective course to their third-year schedule:
      • Complete the Add/Drop Form twice: 1) First form: Complete the form and indicate DROP for the course being dropped. Obtain signature from the clerkship director for this form. 2) Second form: Complete the form and indicate ADD for the selective. Ana Gregory will sign the form once complete. 3) Submit both forms to Ana Gregory who will forward them to the registrar to have them placed on the student’s schedule.
    3. Once the forms are submitted, step #4 above will commence.

    Who to Contact with Questions

    • Isabel Dominguez, PhD, Research Selective Course Director. Dr. Dominguez can answer questions regarding project content and suitability, etc.
    • Ana Gregory. Research Selective administrative support person. Ana can answer questions regarding scheduling,  ADD/DROP functions, etc.

     

    Research Selective Request Form

    • 5. Mentor's email address

      If you are working with a BU or BMC mentor, you must provide a BU or BMC address for this person (@bu.edu; @bmc.org). If your mentor is NOT affiliated with BU or BMC, you must provide an institutional email address (e.g., university or affiliated hospital address). Personal email addresses (e.g., @gmail.com) are not acceptable.
    • Please ensure this address it is accurate. Your evaluation form will be sent to this address for your mentor to complete.
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    • 11. Student's Project or Grant Application Description

      In the space below, describe your project or grant application, as applicable.

      Project: Include the following sections: 1) Brief introduction 2) Hypothesis or research questions 3) Research plan (study design, methodology, data collection, management, and analysis) 4) Status of the project 5) Approvals (IRB, IACUC, IBC approvals as applicable) 6) Data dissemination (manuscript, poster, as applicable), and 7) Plan for the 4 weeks (milestones). Upload your manuscript outline or draft if you are developing a publication.

      Grant Application: Include your grant sponsor, confirmation of eligibility, grant application deadline, brief background and rationale, your hypothesis or research question, status of the project (including IRB, IACUC, IBC approvals as applicable), and a plan for the 4 weeks.

    • 12. Funding that supports the proposed project (federal, local, department, foundation, etc)

      Indicate name of funding organization, grant number, and whether funding was designated for the faculty mentor and/or student (as applicable).

    • Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.
    • Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.
    • Drop files here or
      Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.