Medical Research Scholars Program at NIH

[Chemdude]

Anyone have experience with the MRSP at NIH? I'm considering taking some time off after third year to do basic science research. How competitive is admission to the program and how useful was the experience?

-chemdude

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[WaylonS]

Anyone have experience with the MRSP at NIH? I'm considering taking some time off after third year to do basic science research. How competitive is admission to the program and how useful was the experience?

-chemdude

The application is due in mid-January, then they announce semi-finalists in February, and then they pay for semi-finalists to come to the NIH for an interview. After the interviews, the announce the finalists a few weeks later.

The program is a combination of two previous programs: the HHMI Cloister fellowship and a former NIH clinical research program. In the MRSP, you are allowed to work at any lab in any department at the NIH's main campus (you are assigned an adviser who will help you find the right lab). The NIH is strong in almost every field, so you will have numerous labs to choose from (there are exceptions).

Besides working in lab, the program encourages participants to spend a half-day or one full day a week working in clinic with a physician in the field you want to go into. Not only does this give you more exposure to the field, it may also allow you to develop a clinical project, too. The program also has a lecture series and journal club, and participants have an opportunity to take up to one course per semester (ex. biostats). Additionally, the program provides housing and a stipend.

The program seems to strive for a diversity of schools. Instead of just interviewing students from the top schools, they try to get as many students from allopathic schools that are not research powerhouses.

 

[ducky13]

As someone in the MRSP program, I have found it to be a truly incredible experience. The research support is top notch, we are given freedom to pick our mentors and research projects, and have regular contact with pioneers in all fields of medicine. Further, as the previous poster alluded to, the administration has stated they do not really put much stock in using medical school as a proxy for competitiveness, and I believe our cohort of 43 students has something like 35 different medical, dental, and veterinary schools represented.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more specific questions about the program.

 

[DTiop]

I'm thinking of applying as well. I think there are over 1000 applications in there this year. But there's always hope right?