Medical Student Summer Research Program
Welcome to the Summer Research Internship Program webpage!
This program has succeeded in providing over 400 students with a meaningful research
experience.
About the Program
The Summer Research Internship Program was founded in 2003 to provide opportunities for medical students in basic science or clinical research. The 8-week summer program works to cultivate students' interest in pursuing medical and research careers. Interns are matched with mentors in laboratories or clinics in New Orleans (LSUHSC-New Orleans campus, Stanley S. Scott Cancer, University Medical Center, or Children's Hospital of New Orleans), and throughout the state (e.g., Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge).
Students learn laboratory and clinical research techniques used in medical research. Required seminars are on topics such as responsible conduct in research and professional development, including how to prepare and present their research results and how to write an abstract. All of the summer interns present their research results at the annual Medical Student Research Symposium which is routinely held in the fall semester.
After completing their summer internship, many student interns present their data at medical or scientific conferences, or have their research published in medical or scientific journals. Those students who wish to continue working on their summer research project throughout their academic education may apply to the Honors Program. The Honors Program allows students additional time to pursue their research goals, have their Honors status included in their transcript, write a manuscript, and to graduate with "Honors in Research" .
This program is funded by the LSU School of Medicine for research in the basic and clinical sciences, the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI), the Robert A. Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP), and the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) for research on alcohol abuse.
Program Directors
Dr. Fern Tsien
Director
Dr. Jovanny Zabaleta
Co-Director
Dr. Angela McLean
Co-Director
Dr. Kelly Jean sherman
Co-Director
Resources
Please refer to the previous years Research Symposia on this webpage for project ideas and potential mentors.
Medical Student Research Committee Research Faculty Database
Faculty Interests Database lists both clinical and basic science faculty throughout the School of Medicine and their research interests
Contact
Please direct all inquiries to SummerResearch@lsuhsc.edu and reference the program for which you are interested in.
Upcoming Research Opportunity
2026 Summer Nationwide Children's Hospital Injury Research Program
The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is offering an exceptional 8-week virtual research program for medical students interested in injury prevention, epidemiology, and scientific publishing. From June 8 – July 31, 2026, selected students will work full-time under the mentorship of internationally recognized faculty to conduct an independent research project, perform data analysis, and complete a first-author manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Participants will also attend weekly team meetings and seminars, receive tailored methodological support, and gain foundational skills in research design and injury science.
The program selects four students each year and provides a scholarship award to each participant. The application deadline is Monday, January 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Required materials include a personal statement, transcript or registrar letter, CV/resumé, and two faculty recommendation letters. More details, including application instructions, can be found here.
Symposia poster & abstract archive
Click here to view abstracts and posters from the 2025 Medical Student Research Symposium
Click here to view abstracts and posters from the 2024 Medical Student Research Symposium
Click here to view abstracts and posters from the 2023 Medical Student Research Symposium
Click here to view posters and presentations from the 2022 Poster Symposium
Click here to view posters and presentations from the 2021 Poster Symposium
Click here to view posters and presentations from the 2020 Poster Symposium
2025 Medical Student Research Day Winners
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
CATEGORY
1st Place Winner
Mitzie Hano Wittliff Research Travel Award
Ainsley Morgan
Co-Authors: J. Nicholas Poché MD, MS1; Stephen Hernandez MD; Katie Melder, MD; Daniel
Nuss MD; Michael Dunham MD,MS
LSUHSC Department of Otolaryngology
2nd Place Winners
Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)
Jack Menard
Co-Authors: Tabitha Quebedeaux
LSUHSC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)
Hamza Islam
Co-Authors: Sophia Liang, Hui Lyu, Bolin Liu
LSUHSC Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology and Department of Genetics
3rd Place Winners
Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)
Zachary St. Pierre
Co-Authors: Madison Wolf, Jacob Chaisson, Ellery Hayden MD, Cole Lewis MD
LSUHSC Department of Neurosurgery
Dean's Research Travel Award (tie)
Farrell Chatelain
Co-Authors: Ayushi Patel, Huijing Xia, Dr. Eric Lazartigues
LSUHSC Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Travel Award for Cancer Research Award Winner
Abigail Rink
Co-Author: Suresh K. Alahari, PhD
LSUHSC-Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Steve Nelson, MD Award for Excellence in Alcohol Research Winner
Anna Leyrer
Co-Authors: Meagan Donovan, Riley Haydell, Davin Gardner, Claire Martinez, Janos Paloczi,
Dr. Stefany Primeaux
LSUHSC Department of Physiology,
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence
JUNIOR/SENIOR
CATEGORY
1st Place Winner
Margaret Raiford Hano Research Travel Award
Alexandra Bartholomew
Co-Authors: Tara Castellano, MD; Pui Cheng, MD; Amelia Jernigan, MD; Julia Cazabon;
Audrey Marsh, MD; Counti McCutchen; Ronja Bodola, PhD; Jason Mussell, PhD
LSUHSC Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy
2nd Place Winner
Dean's Research Travel Award
Madelaine Pickens
Co-Authors: Dongjoon Kim, Goreth Leite, Glenda Vargas, Mona Hijazi, Thales Guimaraes,
Wadih M. Zein, Michel Michaelides, Maria Reinoso, Robert K. Koenekoop, Jennifer J.
Lentz
LSUHSC Neuroscience Center of Excellence; Department of Otorhinolaryngology
3rd Place Winners
Dean's Research Travel Award (Tie)
Mary Robichaux
Co-Authors: Anne Caffery, MPH; Lauren Blasen, DO; Chelsey Sandlin, MD
LSUHSC Department of Pediatrics
Dean's Research Travel Award (Tie)
Daniel Vicknair
Co-Authors: Dr. Ian Hodgdon, MD, FACS
LSUHSC Department of Surgery
LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center Travel Award for Cancer Research Award Winner
Brionna King
Co-Authors: Zhi Huang, Laura Naldi, Lucio Miele and Giulia Monticone
LSUHSC Department of Genetics
