Some medical students becoming excited about a career in academic research only after experiences in the first year of medical school. All such students should seek research mentors amongst the faculty and also apply to the available First year Summer Research Programs

There are multiple options for further research experiences:

1. Apply to be admitted to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in competition with new applicants


2. Seek funding for a "one-year-out" research experience typically following the second year


3. Pursue an independent pathway to a combined MD/PhD degree by applying directly to any of the UCSD Bioscience-related PhD-Granting Programs


4. Apply to some of the same Departments to do a 1-2 year Masters Programs.

If you wish to pursue the first option, please contact the MSTP office for more information. If you want to discuss options 2-4, please review the web site information and then set up an appointment to meet with Dr. Varki through Jesus Vera, adpstadmin@ucsd.edu

* For the Fredrick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School PhD Program, please contact: Dr. Carolyn Kelly at ckelly@ucsd.edu