Research Elective Guidelines and Forms

CHM students in the LCE are eligible to take research electives during their third and fourth years. Please see your community's Student Programs Administrator (SPA) to register and to determine the number of electives you are eligible to take and the length (in weeks) of available electives.  Research Electives are full-time clerkships, with a 40 hour per week commitment. The research elective provides students with an opportunity for intense hands-on, research experience during which they can learn about conducting research through involvement in either an established or student-initiated research project. If you are interested in taking a research elective, please contact your community's Student Programs Administrator and Research Director.

You must have a Research Mentor in place in order to enroll in a Research Elective.  If you have a research mentor and project, please read the instructions and complete the forms below.

*Students taking a Research Elective in summer before LCE must pass Step 1 in order to receive credit.

Applying for a Research Elective
The CHM Research Elective requires the filling out of an Application Form (see link below), and the submission of a Research Proposal and Plan (see instructions and sample below). These items are due thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of the elective. Please turn these forms and a copy of the research proposal and plan in to the Community Research Director or the Student Programs Administrator at your campus (or their delegate). Poorly written Research Proposals will not be approved. Please contact the community Student Programs Administrator for questions.

Completion of the Research Elective
Completion of the Research Elective requires submission of an Evaluation Form by your mentor (see link below) and a Final Research Summary (see instructions and sample below). Please turn this form (with signatures) and a copy of the final research summary in to the Community Research Director or the Student Programs Administrator (or their delegate). The Final Research Summary can include the original Research Proposal and Plan, with appropriate modifications, along with a results and discussion section and/or summary of research activities performed by the student. The Final Research Summary will be critically evaluated, and may require revisions before a passing grade will be assigned. Posters, abstracts, and other research deliverables may also be submitted along with the Summary, but are NOT satisfactory without the Summary.