Research

Summer Student Fellowship Grant

Students with a strong research interest are also given to the opportunity to dedicate their first summer to pursue research. The Summer Student Fellowship Grant program is a compensated, structured, university-wide program providing research exposure to motivated students. While the program occurs during the summer, applications are submitted in the early spring. Students interested in the program work closely with a faculty mentor to develop a research plan for the summer, either independently developing a research idea or committing to an on-going research project. At the end of the summer, invited students present their research at a university-wide symposium. Through their participation in this summer research program, students have gone on to be published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery and accepted to present at conferences such as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Annual Scientific Conference.  In recent years, nearly a quarter of first-year students at the College of Podiatric Medicine participated in the program.

Students electing not to participate in the summer program may also participate in research activities at essentially any point in their education. Generally, this occurs under the close direction of a faculty mentor, though relationships with researchers outside of the university has been facilitated as well. Additionally, should they be accepted, students can apply for financial compensation to present their research at an annual scientific conference.

For additional research information, please contact Rebecca Moellmer, DPM at rmoellmer@westernu.edu.