Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Research and Scholarship Geisinger Commonwealth students have many opportunities to engage in research and scholarship throughout their education. The Office of Research and Scholarship offers short- and long-term research programs, like the Summer Research Immersion Program (SRIP) and the Medical Research Honors Program (MRHP). In addition, SRIP gives stipends to 65 preclinical students to engage in summer research each year. Projects are conducted over eight weeks in the summer after the first year of medical school. Throughout SRIP, students work directly with a faculty mentor and a research team on specific projects that include scientific research aimed at improving health in the laboratory setting or, in a community setting, doing public health, community and clinical research that solve problems like access
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to care. As part of SRIP, students must submit an abstract and share their research findings with the community as an oral or poster presentation at the Summer Research Symposium. MRHP is a long-term research program that advances a student’s fundamental scientific knowledge, refines their scholarly communication and fosters a mindset of lifelong learning. Program participants submit a research project proposal, write a thesis and deliver an oral defense to complete the 4-year program. The research experience is guided by a research mentor, a thesis advisory committee and the program manager. Additionally, students write abstracts, present posters and publish findings while building their thesis defense. Participating students who meet all program requirements will graduate with an honors distinction.
