Project Resources
The first step in the ISP process is finding an interesting project that may be accomplished in the time available. Students may wish to identify a project in a field in which they plan to specialize, but this is not essential. Some students may already have a project in mind. For others, choosing a project means choosing a faculty person with whom the student would like to work. Students are encouraged to look at previously completed projects to improve their understanding of the ISP requirements and to avail themselves of the resources listed below.
Resources for Getting Started
- A limited number of National Institutes of Health (NIH) short-term research grants are available for the summer following the first year. The work students do during the summer may serve as the foundation for the ISP. Please note that a separate proposal for the ISP must be submitted before the ISP component is begun. For more information on grant opportunities, please visit: http://meded.ucsd.edu/adpst/sum_research_ms.html
. - Grant and fellowship opportunities from other campus departments and outside organizations are often available (ex. In the past, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation has offered a summer fellowship program during which fellowship recipients undertake a research or service project focused on community health and cultural competency issues.). As with the NIH grants, these opportunities may serve as the foundation for an ISP (acceptance as an ISP is not automatic - a proposal must be approved in advance). Be sure to check your email and the WebPortal forums for announcements.
- The Electives Committee has compiled a list of faculty who have agreed to act as ISP Department Liaisons. These UCSD faculty are available to assist you if you are interested in doing an ISP in their department and need more information about faculty research interests.
- The members of the Electives Committee are also available to help. Their suggestions can help students focus on a workable approach and clarify the procedure for writing a proposal.
The current members are:
Electives Committee Department Contact Phone Pediatrics Susan Phillips, M.D., Chair 858-966-4032 Pediatrics Joyce Adams M.D., Vice Chair 619-543-3743 Medicine Richard Clark, M.D. 619-543-6463 Medicine Michelle Devor, M.D. 858-552-8585 x2811 Medicine Neil Farber, M.D. 858-657-8000 Pediatrics John Fontanesi, Ph.D. 619-471-0685 Radiology Thomas Kinney, M.D. 619-534-6768 Psychiatry Athina Markou, Ph.D. 858-534-1572 Reproductive Med Jamie Resnik, M.D. 619-543-6777 Family / Prev Medicine Gordon Saxe, M.D., Ph.D. 858-822-2002 Reproductive Med Douglas Woelkers, M.D. 619-543-6906 Medical Education Jess Mandel, M.D., Ex-Officio 858-822-4565 Medical Education Babbi Winegarden, Ph.D.,
Ex-Officio858-534-0362 - An on-line ISP - Student Research Opportunities Database (Web Portal account required) describes research and areas of interest for faculty members who are willing to work with students on their Independent Study Projects.
- The UCSD General Clinical Research Center website, http://gcrc.ucsd.edu , details its resources, services and provides a list of faculty and their active protocols.
- UCSD SOM Department websites, http://som.ucsd.edu/departments , often contain their own faculty research areas/interests.
- An ISP orientation is offered early in the calendar year. Here, students have the opportunity to ask questions about the ISP, as well as meet one-on-one with the ISP Liaisons.
- The UCSD Biomedical Library is a repository of the ISPs that have been submitted by each student since the inception of the UCSD School of Medicine. The index is at the Circulation Desk.
- Most of the projects will require a comprehensive review of the current literature. The librarians at the Biomedical Library are available to help construct expert search strategies for UCSD licensed databases and web resources. Contact the reference librarians at biomed@ucsd.edu to set up an appointment.
- Samples of ISP proposals are viewable within this handbook and a list of all previous ISP titles is available for perusal in the UGME office (Click here for past years' project titles and chairs).
- There are also student representatives from each class on the Electives Committee who are available to help you. The Independent Study Project Coordinator, Catherine Doran (858-822-2014), in the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME), has all of the necessary ISP forms and is available to answer preliminary questions. Dr. Jess Mandel, Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, is also available for advice. In addition, you may want to speak with fourth-year medical students who have completed their ISPs or are working on them.
- To assist with expenses involved in doing an Independent Study Project, the School of Medicine allows $50 for each student. There are two ways to access this money: (1) you may have funds added to your student ID for making copies at campus machines, and/or (2) you may submit receipts for other authorized expenses which will be reimbursed. See Catherine Doran in the UGME office when this need arises.
- Additional funding may be available for ISP-related expenses. Please contact Catherine Doran for more information.
