University of Michigan Medical Scientist Training Program

Considering a career in academic medicine? UM-SMART can help you explore the physician scientist pathway

The goal of the UM-SMART program is to help students decide if a career as a physician-scientist is right for them, and to enhance competitiveness when applying to MD/PhD programs.  The UM-SMART has helped 101 undergraduate participants learn about MD/PhD training since 2008.  After graduation, 77% of past participants entered MD/PhD, PhD, or MD programs.  This 10-week program is aimed at students who have some amount of basic and mechanistic research experience related to medicine and are interested in gaining more experience to advance their career goals.  UM-SMART is not intended for students seeking clinical research experience on human subjects.  Additionally, we do not offer opportunities in public health, the social sciences, or humanities.

Application deadline:  January 19, 2024
Program dates:  May 28 - August 2, 2024

Program Highlights: (visit the program website or view the brochure below for more information)
Students participating in a lab receive a stipend of $4,700 plus residence hall housing and a meal allowance. The summer program provides full-time laboratory biomedical research, as well as:

  • Two half day clinical shadowing experiences
  • Online MCAT preparation accessible for 12 months
  • Oral and Poster presentation and relevant seminars
  • “Big Sib” Mentoring Program 

Eligibility: 
Applicants belonging to groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research are strongly encouraged to apply. This includes:  Individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, such as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds such as family annual income below established low-income thresholds, or an educational environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to develop and participate in a research career.

In addition, applicants must 

  • Be a US Citizen or permanent resident of the US
  • Complete sophomore year by June 1, 2024
  • Maintain a minimum 3.2 grade point average
  • Complete 100 hours of research lab experience by June 1, 2024
  • Submit two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a research mentor or the instructor of a laboratory course.

To apply to the UM-SMART program, follow this link:  https://umms-omse.smapply.io/prog/um-smart_summer_undergraduate_research_program_2024/