Program Description

The Summer Scholars Program is a competitive summer research internship to work with an EVMS or Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) faculty member on one of their current projects.

Program dates are:

For EVMS Medical Students: Monday, June 3, 2024 - Thursday, August 1, 2024.
For all other applicants: Monday, May 20, 2024 - Thursday, August 1, 2024.

The Summer Scholars Program Application Form must be completed by Monday, January 29, 2024.

Five basic research areas

Laboratory

These projects are offered by EVMS faculty and typically require prior laboratory experience and knowledge of basic laboratory procedures. Topic areas may include obesity/diabetes, reproductive health, cancer, cardiovascular health, neuroscience, and inflammatory disease.

Clinical Medicine/Quality Improvement

These projects are offered by EVMS/CHKD physicians and may involve chart review or patient/parent interviews in topics such as obesity, diabetes, maternal and infant health, oncology, autism, allergies, psychiatry, and other health related fields impacting children and adults.

Behavioral Health

Projects in this category are offered by EVMS faculty in partnership with physicians. These projects may involve chart review, patient interviews, or behavior observation in topics such as substance abuse, mental health or wellness promotion.

Educational Research

These projects offered by EVMS faculty members and may involve systematic literature review, student or faculty surveys and interviews, curriculum development or change, or educational program evaluation.

Public/Community Health/Global Health

These projects are offered by EVMS/CHKD faculty focused on regional/international communities and may involve community member interviews, population level data collection and surveys. Topics include health disparities, environmental exposures, population health, disease prevention, and health policy and wellness promotion.

Eligibility

Students eligible for this program:

• Undergraduates: Students entering their senior undergraduate year for the Fall 2024 term, or students graduating before May 20, 2024.
• Graduate or Medical Students: Students entering their first or second year of graduate or medical school for the Fall 2024 term.
• Students who have completed their senior undergraduate year (or post baccalaureate courses) and are preparing to apply to graduate or medical school in the near future. Former Summer Scholars are welcome to apply but will not be given priority acceptance.

Time commitment

Students must be available full-time (40 hours per week) for the entire program. There are usually no program obligations during weekends or EVMS holidays, although each project is unique. Scholars should clarify required work hours with their Mentor before accepting placement in the program.

In general, vacation leave is not available during the summer session.  Any request for vacation or leave during the Summer Scholars Program must be must be submitted in writing (email) by the Scholar and approved in writing (email) by the Mentor prior accepting an offer to participate in the program. This agreement must include a description of how the Scholar will make up the vacation/leave time during the summer session.  The Scholar is responsible for submitting a copy of the agreement to the Summer Scholars team at summerscholars@evms.edu.

Housing

Students are responsible for their own housing in the Norfolk area. Summer Scholars will provide rental leads from EVMS students who are willing to lease or share their apartments. Most of these rentals are within walking distance of our campus.

Stipend

Students receive a $2,800 stipend.

Additional requirements

In addition to a research project, students will be required to:

• Participate in a lecture series on various aspects of conducting and presenting research
• Give an oral research presentation under the mentor’s guidance
• Write a scientific abstract describing their research
• Present a poster of project outcomes at the closing reception