Current UNMC Medical Student Opportunities

Research Opportunities

Our faculty can post research opportunities for UNMC medical students on our faculty research site. Please check this site regularly for research openings.

Medical Student Summer Research Program

This paid program, designed for rising UNMC M2s, provides students within the College of Medicine the opportunity to seek out information and apply it to the solution of a defined problem. Students accepted into the program will spend eight weeks in their research endeavor and are expected to spend a significant number of hours (40/week) conducting research.

Learn more about the MSSRP

Enhanced Medical Education Tracks

Enhanced Medical Education Tracks offer current UNMC medical students an opportunity to perform an in-depth study of an interdisciplinary field of medicine that enhances the required curriculum without extending the time needed to graduate from medical school. Tracks consist of longitudinal activities in which students work closely with faculty mentors, residents and advanced students. The tracks are challenging for students and address specific topics in greater depth than is available through the required curriculum. Although participants must maintain good academic standing, applicants are selected for the enhanced tracks based on their interest in the topic and their motivation to complete work above and beyond the primary MD curriculum.

Interested students apply to an enhanced track during the first semester of their M1 year. Accepted participants then complete the designated track activities, such as seminars, preceptorships, or research, throughout their M1, M2 and M3 years. During the M4 year, students produce a capstone project such as a poster or conference presentation with guidance from their mentors. Recognition for students who complete enhanced tracks includes documentation of performance in their MSPE, acknowledgment of completion on their transcript, and recognition at the 'hooding' ceremony.

Note: Dual degree students, such as MD-PhD, are ineligible for the EMET program.

Learn More About the EMET Program | All Approved Tracks | Apply

If you don't see a topic you're looking for, you may propose a new track.

Interested in previous EMET track work? View Previous EMET Capstones.

Annual Medical Student Research Showcase

Every year during medical school orientation, M2s, M3s and M4s are invited to present their research via an in-person, e-poster session in the Davis Global Center. Calls for abstracts are generally sent out in the spring and acceptances communicated by early summer.

View previous presentations

Students and presenters at the Medical Student Research Showcase August 22nd, 2025.

Research topics covered a variety of subjects, including asthma screening of children at a homeless shelter, a medical workup for Typhoid fever, among many others.

Through this event, incoming medical students can see what is possible and some of the research opportunities that are available.

Student Travel Funding

Medical students who have an abstract accepted for a presentation may be eligible for conference-related travel funding from the college. Importantly, the medical student must be a presenter and must also receive some funding for the conference from the faculty mentor (PI) or their department. Once the medical student has an abstract accepted for a presentation and has secured funding from their PI or the PI’s department, please reach out to Dr. Kari Nelson to request the link to apply for College of Medicine funding.

Research Travel Policy

MD Honors Thesis

The MD honors thesis for medical students is one of the mechanisms that allows students to graduate with honors. Medical students may submit their proposals anytime up to the first Monday of January of their Junior year. To be eligible to participate in this program, students must rank in the upper 50% of their class. Academic eligibility is determined by the Scholastic Evaluation Committee. After completion of an approved research project, a thesis is written and is due on or before the first Monday of January of the senior year.

A student whose thesis receives an honors designation will be eligible for graduation with honors on that basis. Students eligible for honors based on academic performance may receive higher Honors designations (e.g. Distinction, High Distinction, Highest Distinction) based on the Honors thesis.

Each student must find a faculty sponsor who will closely supervise the research project and oversee the preparation and submission of the thesis proposal and the preparation and submission of the thesis itself. A letter must accompany both the proposal and the thesis from the faculty sponsor indicating that they have read, approve and support the documents. Unlike some student research, the thesis must be the student's own work and cannot represent solely technical participation in an ongoing research project. The goal of this program is to encourage students to engage in scientific research during medical school. Success of the program relies heavily on the critical oversight and guidance by the faculty sponsor.

If you have questions, email Mary Anne Phillippi.