DECIDING WHETHER TO TAKE A RESEARCH YEAR
Choosing to pursue a research year during or after medical school is a big decision that is driven by personal circumstances as well as short- and long-term career goals. Common reasons why many medical students choose this path include the desire to obtain basic science or clinical research exposure, to build a more advanced research skill set, or to strengthen their residency application.
WHEN TO TAKE A RESEARCH YEAR
Between M3 and M4 (Most common): Most students will opt to take a research year between their third and fourth years of medical school. The common reason for this timetable is that the third year of medical school is critical in terms of deciding on a final specialty and the research year often comes once the decision of specialty is made. Research should ideally be centered around the specialty a student ultimately plans to pursue, but a perfect coordination of research topic and specialty is not absolutely necessary.
Between M2 and M3: It should be noted that preclinical knowledge is important in terms of doing well on the core clerkships of third year and it's generally accepted that much of this core knowledge is forgotten over an interim year of research. In that sense, it is felt by many students that the second and third years of medical school should be uninterrupted in order to cement the preclinical knowledge in a clinical context during the third year. As a result, it is less common that students take a research year following the second year of medical school at the end of the preclinical phase.
After M4 (Often for unmatched students): Some students choose to participate in a research year following their fourth year, most commonly following an unsuccessful match in order to bolster their application with intentions to apply again in the future.
HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR RESEARCH YEAR
1. Choosing a mentor and project
When considering a mentor, look for those who have a track record of academic output in terms of poster presentations, oral presentations, and publications and also previous mentorship of medical students, in particular those taking a research year. If possible, it is also important to have a mentor who is reasonably well-known and highly regarded in the field of otolaryngology (provided they have the time).
Students should focus on choosing projects that are meaningful to them. While some may consider starting research in a field that they plan on pursuing later in their career, this is not necessary. Select research projects that can be accomplished reasonably within the time frame of the research year. Timing can be difficult to evaluate, but experienced researchers should be able to work with you to formulate goals that are achievable within one year.
Pick the right location. Do you plan on doing a research year at your home institution or elsewhere? At a home institution, your network of collaborators is generally more developed. It will likely be easier to settle into a research year and also to “plug in” to your home department. That said, going elsewhere may offer more robust opportunities which are not available at your home institution. Furthermore, it will give you the opportunity to network with a department and also observe the research environment and, to a lesser degree, the clinical environment at a different institution.
As with much of this process, decisions are context dependent. You should carefully evaluate the pros and cons and consult with others prior to making a final decision.
2. Funding for research fellowships
There are a handful of non-specific funding opportunities on the national level such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship and the Doris Duke Fellowship. In addition, funding opportunities can be found by exploring local resources, such as your research mentor or your department research director. Finally, there is a growing list of otolaryngology-specific research opportunities, which have been compiled below:
George Washington Research/Clinical Fellowship
Program length: Ideally 2-year but 1-year may be considered
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 1
Application materials:
- CV
- Cover letter
- Names of three references
Submit materials to Dr. Arjun Joshi (ajoshi@mfa.gwu.edu) and Tatiana Ferraro (tferraro@mfa.gwu.edu).
Center for Advanced Facial Plastic Surgery in association with Facial Paralysis Institute
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Application materials:
- CV
Submit materials to Dr. Mehdi Abouzari at info@facialplasticsbh.com.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
For more information, email leea21@mskcc.org.
UC Irvine Research Fellowship
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 2 (remote or in person)
Application materials:
- CV
- Brief statement of interest
Submit materials to Dr. Mehdi Abouzari at mabouzar@hs.uci.edu.
Special considerations: This fellowship is ideal for highly motivated medical students between their third and fourth year who wish to obtain additional clinical research experience in otology and neurotology before applying for residency.
Cleveland Clinic Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center
Program length: July 2024-June 2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 2
Application materials:
- Statement of interest
- CV
Submit materials to Tariq Syed at Tasyed@houstonmethodist.org and Dr. Omar G. Ahmed ogahmed@houstonmethodist.org.
Special consideration: for applicants who are either enrolled in or have completed medical school within one calendar year of applying to the program
Medical University of South Carolina Innovative Medicines and Outcomes Research Fellowship Program
Program length: June 2024-May 2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 15
Application materials:
- Cover letter
- CV
- Names of three references
Submit materials to Dr. Shaun Nguyen at nguyensh@musc.edu.
Special consideration: This fellowship is ideally suited to medical students seeking a research year between the 3rd and 4th years of medical school and recent graduates who are interested in training in Otolaryngology and are seeking to improve on their existing research experience in preparation for the Match in otolaryngology. Candidates must come from U.S. accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools.
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and the UH/CWRU Department of Otolaryngology
Program length: July 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 2 (remote or in person)
Deadline: Rolling basis
Application materials:
- CV
- Personal statement including goals for the one year position (comment in the statement if you have completed CITI training, and if you have experience with REDCAP and IRB submission processes)
- One letter of recommendation
Submit materials to ENTsocialmedia@UHhospitals.org.
Special consideration: Preference will be given to current or former students at US accredited osteopathic or allopathic medical schools. For fellows maintaining their current medical school affiliation, there will be an opportunity to complete in-person clinical rotations within the Otolaryngology department.
Mayo Clinic Florida Crawford Clinical Research Fellowship
Program length: July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 1
Deadline: rolling basis until March
Application materials:
- One-page personal statement highlighting your interest in the program
- Resume or CV
- Two letters of recommendation
Submit to Nicole Wright at wright.nicole@mayo.com.
Special considerations: Otolaryngologists trained outside the United States who possess either senior resident or junior faculty level experience and U.S. medical school graduates who seek additional research experience in the field of otolaryngology. Fourth year medical students who will complete their post-graduate education in the summer the program starts will also be considered.
University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Program Length: 2024-2025
Financial Status: Paid
Positions available: 1
Deadline: Rolling basis until March/April
Application materials:
- CV
- Medical School Transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement (1 page) describing why you are interested in the fellowship and what you hope to achieve in the next year
Direct questions to Deanne King, MD, PhD at DKing3@uams.edu.
Special considerations: MD or anticipated
University of California San Francisco Department of Otolaryngology
Program length: 2024-2025
Positions available: 1
Deadline: Mar 11, 2024
Application materials:
- CV
- Personal statement highlighting interest in fellowship (300 words max)
Submit materials to Josephine Hermoso at josephine.hermoso@ucsf.edu.
University of Kansas Research Fellowship
Program length: June 1, 2024-2025
Financial Status: paid
Deadline: Mar 15, 2024
Application materials:
- CV
- Cover letter
- Two letters of reference
Submit materials to Toni Holthaus at aholthaus@kumc.edu.
Special Considerations: M.D. degree (or anticipated) from an accredited institution, or 3rd year medical student planning a research year
University of Florida Rhinology Clinical and Translational Research Fellowship
Program length: June or July 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 2
Deadline: Mar 15, 2024
Application materials:
- CV
- Personal statement describing interest in position
- 3 letters of recommendation
Submit materials to nikita.chapurin@ent.ufl.edu.
Special consideration: The ideal candidates would be a medical student between 3rd & 4th year of medical school who are interested in pursuing Otolaryngology as a career, as well as recent medical school graduates seeking to improve their research experience while preparing to apply to an Otolaryngology residency program. Candidates must come from U.S. accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools and have valid work authorization.
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York) Otolaryngology Research Fellowship Program
Program Length: 2024-2025
Financial Status: Paid
Positions available: 4
Deadline: 2nd to 3rd week of March
Application materials:
- Letter of interest
- CV with current transcript
- One letter of recommendation
- Personal statement (<1 page) detailing your motivation to apply for the fellowship, what you hope to accomplish throughout the year, and how your prior research or other experiences qualify you as an outstanding candidate
Submit materials to Kerry Feeney at kerry.feeney@mountsinai.org.
Special considerations: The fellowships are available to students currently in their third year of medical school.
University of Washington Dick and Loraine Burger Head and Neck Surgery Research Fellowship
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: Paid
Deadline: rolling basis, Mar 29, 2024
Application materials:
- Letter of interest
- CV
- At least one letter of recommendation
- Personal statement, less than 1 page, detailing motivation to apply to UW, research interest, and goals for the year
Submit to Vanncy Crookes at poeuvv@uw.edu.
Special considerations: This fellowship opportunity is available to medical students in all years of medical school, though priority will be given to students in their third or fourth year. The fellowship will necessitate taking a year away from clinical activity that is sanctioned by their home medical school. This position is available only to those that are a permeant U.S. residents (Green Card Holder or U.S. Citizen) as the University of Washington will not be providing visa sponsorship.
University of Virginia Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Program length: June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025
Financial status: paid
Deadline: Mar 31, 2024
Application materials:
- CV
- Medical school transcript
- Brief cover letter describing research interests
- Three references
Submit materials here.
Special considerations: Qualified candidates must be have a bachelor's degree and enrolled in an MD training program.
Stanford Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Program length: 2024-2025, 9 months
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 2
Deadline: Apr 8, 2024
Application materials:
- Research Proposal (max 3 pages)
- Stanford Faculty Mentor Letter of Support describing training/mentoring plan, candidacy of applicant, and potential to become a physician-scientist
- CV
- Appendix (optional)
Submit materials to https://stanfordmedicine.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVStCWci6Oe4g8C.
Special considerations: Applicants must be medical students (from any US medical school), and must be sponsored by a Stanford faculty member. Applicants will be considered based on 1) their research proposal and relevance to communication disorders, 2) strength of their training and mentoring plan; and 3) potential to pursue academics and become a physician-scientist. Trainees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, as required by the NIH-NIDCD.
NYU Lab for Translational Auditory Research (LTAR) within the Department of Otolaryngology
Program length: 2024-2025
Financial status: paid
Positions available: 1
Deadline: rolling basis, May 1, 2024
Application materials:
- CV
- Cover letter
- Contact information for two references
Submit to Mario Svirsky (mario.svirsky@nyulangone.org) and Nicole Capach (nicole.capach@nyulangone.org).
PLANNING FOR 4TH YEAR (Applicable to MS3 Students)
It is important for students participating in a research year to ensure they make the necessary preparations for their return to fourth year clinical rotations. This includes planning the MS4 schedule. You should make your medical school aware of your plans but remain plugged into academic announcements and class registration. “Off-line” medical students can easily be overlooked during class registration or for match-related events. It is important to remain proactive and conscious of what is going on at your home institution during the research year.
Some additional points to consider:
During your year away from the clinical arena, it is helpful to keep your clinical skills sharp. While you will most certainly lose a step compared to students going straight through, participating in activities such as volunteering at a student run medical clinic may help stave off some of the rust.
STEP II CS/CK. It is generally advisable to get these exams out of the way during the research year and as soon as possible. Going with the above point, it is likely you will see a decline in clinical knowledge during the research year. See other discussions on this website regarding expectations for scores.
Consider that some research fellowships are strict on beginning and end dates. The sooner you start thinking about how these will affect your fourth year planning, the better.
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE DEPARTMENT
For students taking a research year, it is worthwhile to utilize extra time to network within the ENT department. This may entail resident or staff shadowing, going to the OR, or helping on call. Use this opportunity to expose yourself further to the field and maintain some semblance of clinical involvement during the research year. This may also provide new opportunities for involvement in ongoing clinical research projects. It is advisable to prepare and act during these experiences as you would during an actual audition rotation. These impressions will, positively or negatively, influence how the department views you as a candidate. It is also important to recognize that you should defer to clinical students who may be on service or rotation given your own flexibility and ability to pursue other opportunities with shadowing.
RESEARCH YEAR EXPECTATIONS
Some students may decide to take a research year because they “want to take a break from the pressure and lifestyle of the hospital.” If you are planning on taking a research year, it is important to realize that there is a big difference between a research year and taking a year off. While the pace of a research year is generally more relaxed than the hospital wards or the operating room, it should not be used as a year to simply relax. Students approaching the research year with this mentality will harm themselves due to lack of productivity, leaving residencies asking, “what exactly did you do during this year?” A “research year” implies research productivity. To that end, students should look to the research year as an opportunity for academic growth and should aim to be involved in several projects that result in oral presentation and journal publication. While it is difficult to predict which projects may lead to publication and which will dead-end, students should aim for manuscript submission by the end of the year from their core research project, or at very least have a manuscript in the works.
Stepping into the research world from the hospital can be a bit of a culture shock. Where the needs of the hospital/patients can dictate life on the wards, in the research world one is generally given much more flexibility and autonomy regarding daily routine and deadlines. This lack of rigid structure may be deceptive, appearing as though there is less work to be done. However, in reality, the burden to succeed often rests directly on the student. Therefore it is important to carefully keep track of projects by working closely with mentors and planning the progress of research work in order to ensure productivity.
Production during the research year cannot be stressed enough. The bar for production will be held higher for students taking a research year than those who have not. Further, when on the interview trail your work during the research year will most certainly come up. Anecdotally, it has been reported that there are certain members of departments whose role is to “sniff out” low quality research or exaggerated claims. Be ready to talk about your work intelligently and at length while demonstrating a clear interest in your work. Not being able to do so would be detrimental to your application.
OTHER OPTIONS FOR A GAP YEAR
While a research year is probably the most common option chosen by medical students electing to take a gap year, there are many other opportunities such as completing another advanced degree (MPH, MBA, JD, or MEd) or involvement in global health initiatives. Regardless of your pursuit, it is important to think critically about how the gap year will fit into both your short- and long-term goals. As with the research year, you should be able to clearly and convincingly articulate how the gap year fits into your career path in ENT and what you accomplished during this time. If you do pursue an advanced degree, you may find yourself with more bandwidth than you are used to during medical courses. While the focus of your gap year should be the additional degree, it may be possible to pursue research or additional activities during this time as well. You may also find the discussion on Resident Research valuable and an associated podcast episode.