Not during. SMPs are usually a 'make-it-or-break-it' sort of situation, and considering how heavily they'll weigh your SMP GPA when considering you for admission, it's not worth putting your grades into jeopardy. The time commitment for research isn't worth it during that time and won't give you much of a leg up if you're hoping to get into the same institution for med school. Many people pursue research the year after if they're in a program where it's common to have a glide year afterwards (such as Georgetown).
