School of Medicine

Office of Student Affairs

REQUESTING EPIC ACCESS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES: contact Dr. Fern Tsien (fmille@lshsc.edu) and Ms. Andante He'bert (aheb11@lsuhsc.edu)

EXTRAMURAL MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

While this list is not comprehensive, it is relevant to LSUHSC medical students.  

NIH Medical Research Scholars Program  (Year Long Research Training)

Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Fellowship ( Year Long Research Training) 

Sarnoff Fellowship Program in Cardiology Research (Year Long Research Training)

New Orleans Schweitzer Fellowship Program for Leadership and Community Service

Student Research Accomplishments

Jake Dorion receives 2022-23 Predoctoral Clinical/Translational Research (TL1) Fellowship from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS)

His project will investigate therapeutic interventions targeting abnormalities seen in Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)-related heart failure.

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Victoria Huynh NIH 2021-2022 Medical Research Scholar

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Aliyah Pierre's Cancer Research featured in 2021 NIH National Cancer Institute Newsletter  

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Benjamin Bonner  Receives 2021-2022 Sarnoff Fellowship in Cardiology

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Layne Rayborn 2019-2020 NIH Medical Research Scholar

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WINNERS OF 2021 MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH VIRTUAL POSTER SYMPOSIUM

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE CATEGORY

1st Place Winner,  $1500 Mitzie Hano Wittliff Research Award 
Eden Gallegos
Mentors: Patricia Molina and Liz Simon
Department of Physiology, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence

2nd Place Winners, $1000 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Lana Thaljeh
Mentor: Dr. Sunyoung Kim
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Mark Maier II
Mentor: Dr. Frank Lau
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

3rd Place Winners, $400 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Caitlyn Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Deidre Devier
LSUHSC Department of Neurology

Peter Issa
Mentor: Dr. Luis Marrero
LSUHSC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Kashyap Koul
Mentor: Dr. David Lefer
LSUHSC Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Kierany Shelvin
Mentors: Dr. Ludmila Belayev and Dr. Nicolas Bazan
LSUHSC Neuroscience Center of Excellence

 

JUNIOR/SENIOR CATEGORY

1st Place Winner, $1500 Margaret Raiford Hano Research Award
Ryan Hoffman
Mentor: Dr. Robert Allen  
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

2nd Place Winner, $1000 Dean's Research Award 
John Waldron
Mentor: Dr. Diptasri Mandal
Department of Genetics

3rd Place Winners, $400 Dean's Research Award (tie)
Robert Quiring
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Hilton
LSUHSC Department of Dermatology

Ada Tusa
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Moreno-Walton
Department of Medicine, Section of Emergency Medicine

OFFICE OF MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH

 

Fern Tsien, Ph.D. is the Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research in the School of Medicine.   

The Office of Medical Student Research offers research training and resources to medical students, resident and fellows as well as faculty who are involved in research training. Our goal is to make getting involved with research as easy as possible.  Dr. Tsien guides students to research opportunities and helps facilitate the research component of the curriculum.  This office coordinates the Summer Research Opportunities, the research electives, the Medical Student Honors Program and opportunities for year-long research experiences.  


Medical Student Research Opportunities                                                                        

LSUHSC Medical Student Summer Internship Program

Dr. Fern Tsien is the Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research and directs a summer internship program.  The program is designed to provide medical students with an experience in clinical and translational research during their summer break.  This program is critical to students who are considering careers in academic medicine, because it allows them to see first-hand what research entails. They are exposed to the excitement, rewards, trials and tribulations of biomedical research.  Approximately 30 medical students spend up to 8 weeks in this program each summer.

Students choose a mentor and research project based on their particular interestsand learn to conduct clinical or basic science research. The mentors conduct research in laboratories or clinics at LSUHSC, UMC, Pennington Biomedical Research Institute or Children's Hospital of New Orleans.  In addition, they receive training in the responsible conduct of research, oral and poster presentation skills that prepare them to attend scientific meetings.  All students present their research results at the Medical Student Research Day in the fall.  

 A. Duration - The medical student must make a commitment to work with their mentor for 8 weeks.

B. Qualifications - Applicants must be registered at LSU School of Medicine                                                                                                                                         and be in good academic standing. Research experience is not required

C. Application - Summer Research Fellowship application packet must include:

      A cover letter describing your research and career goals

  •       A completed application form
  •       A resume describing schools attended, previous job experience, etc
  •       Candidates can apply online. 

D. Deadline - February 1st  

For more information click here.

Questions? Contact the program coordinator (SummerResearch@lsuhsc.edu).

    

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School of Medicine Dean, Steve Nelson, with medical student researchers Ashley Henderson and George Jeha.


MEDICAL STUDENT HONORS RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Honors Research Program in the School of Medicine supplements the regular curriculum and is designed to challenge the exceptional student with an independent research program that encompasses basic and/or clinical sciences in the pursuit of a problem of scientific interest. Students who have performed well academically during the 1st year of medical school and are interested in continuing their summer research are invited to apply to the Honors Program during their second year. Research is performed part-time in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of medical school. In the spring of their 4th year, students are required to have a published manuscript or submit a thesis. 
 
Although not required, students may suggest potential mentors and/or research specialties. Alternatively, the directorship will recommend potential mentors based on the student's research interests. 
 
At Pre-commencement, the Honors Program candidates are acknowledged and their achievements become a part of their permanent academic record. Upon completion, students will graduate with "Honors in Research."
 
Eligibility:
  • LSUHSC medical students currently enrolled in their 2nd year (L2s) 
  • Past research experience via the Summer Research Internship Program, Research Elective MCLIN198, or equivalent 
  • Good academic standing by the LSUHSC School of Medicine
Expectations of the program include:
  • Conducting part-time research under the supervision of a faculty mentor throughout medical school
  • Presenting the research project at the LSUHSC Medical Research Symposium
  • Submitting an annual report with research updates and accomplishments
  • By the spring pf the 4th year, students are required to have published the results of their project or submit a written thesis of a quality which can be submitted for future publication
  • Good academic standing throughout the length of the program
Applications to the 2024 Honors Program are due by 5:00 on September 4, 2024. Click here to apply. 
 

For more information, contact the program director, Dr. Fern Tsien (FMille@lsuhsc.edu) or the program coordinator (SoMHonorsProgram@lsuhsc.edu)

 

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         Associate Dean Robert Maupin with medical student Adrienne Murphy, First Place (tie) Research Day 2019

 

 


COMBINED MD, PhD PROGRAM -There is also an MD/PhD training program at LSUHSC.  The traditional course for the program is the first two years of medical school followed by 3-5 years in graduate school to complete the Ph.D.  Students then return to the 3rdand 4thyears of medical school to complete the the MD degree.  Students are provided a tuition waiver for the first two years of medical school through the school of medicine.  During the graduate school portion of the program, students receive both a tuition waiver and a stipend, through the department in which they complete their dissertation research.  Information on the program:  http://graduatestudies.lsuhsc.edu/md_phd.aspx               http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/admissions/Programs.aspx

 

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Kyle LaPenna - First Place presentation, Medical Student Research Day

tsien_fern

Dr. Tsien, Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research