Medical Student Summer Research Programs
For 2026, there are three Medical Student Summer Research Programs:
- College of Medicine General Summer Research Program.
- Department of Surgery Summer Research Program of Excellence.
- Department of Surgery Howard R. and Marilyn B. McCollister Memorial Fund Rural Surgery Research Program.
The 2026 application is open for UNMC M1s. The deadline for applications is Feb. 7, 2026.
Medical Student Summer Research Program Abstracts
See below for the top 5 MSSRP abstracts from 2025:
- Sterling Cloet, Claudia Berrondo, MD, National Trends in Post-Operative Length of Stay After Pediatric Robotic Pyeloplasty and Ureteral Reimplantation
- Drew Hedstrom, Emmett Gannon MD, Post Operative Outcomes Comparing Drain vs. No Drain Placement Following Single and Multilevel Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Surgery
- Wyatt Mach, Hesham Basma, PhD, Filamin C Mutations and Susceptibility to Chemotherapy-Induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Exploring the Role of Genetic Predisposition in Adriamycin Toxicity
- Karissa Nichols, Kayley Anderson MPH, Mapping Durable Medical Equipment Access for Tracheostomy and Ventilation in Nebraska
- Morgan Owens, Sara Bares, MD, Adherence to STI screening in pregnancy and missed opportunities
Post program, when asked if students felt their summer research experience was valuable, 93% responded, “yes”, 5% responded "maybe" and 2% said "no".
Growing Demand
- 60 applicants in 2022
- 93 applicants in 2023
- 73 applicants in 2024 (first year of limiting to rising M2s)
- 92 applicants in 2025
The 2026 application is open through Feb. 7, 2026.
If you have questions, email Kari Nelson, PhD.