Medical Student Research Fellowships
M1/M2 Summer Research Fellowship
This program, designed for UNMC M1 and M2 medical students, provides students within the College of Medicine the opportunity to perform research in the field of dermatology and to enhance their ability to seek out information and to analyze and apply it to the solution of a defined problem. The student will spend 8-10 weeks in their research endeavor and is expected to spend a significant number of hours (40/week) working on research. A mentor will be identified in the UNMC Department of Dermatology. To receive funding through the UNMC MSSRP (Medical Student Summer Research Program), contact Jen Brady at jen.brady@unmc.edu
The Karle Cordova Olnes UNMC Dermatology URiM Summer Medical Student Research Fellowship is an award available to Underrepresented Minority Students in Medicine (URiMs) interested in dermatology to perform basic, translational, clinical or outcomes research during the summer between M1 and M2 years in medical school. This award is open to UNMC and outside medical students, however, preferences will be given to UNMC medical students. This research fellowship is typically performed in June, July, and August each year. Applications should be sent to Sushmita Adhikari, Research Associate & Coordinator: susadhikari@unmc.edu by April 1st each year.
- Students must belong to a group currently considered underrepresented in medicine: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian
- Application materials include: CV, medical school transcript, one LOR, personal statement (<1 page)
During summer rotation, students will complete:
- AAD Basic Dermatology Curriculum Modules found at: https://www.aad.org/education/basic-derm-curriculum#undefined
- Coursera: Understanding Clinical Research-Behind the Statistics:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/clinical-research
- 23 hours to complete
- Coursera: Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/systematic-review?
- 17 hours to complete
- Attend monthly UNMC Department of Dermatology Journal Club the first Friday of every month at 7am in the Dermatology Library
- Attend Grand Rounds the first Tuesday of every month
- Attend weekly research meetings
- Have regular one-on-one meetings with your mentor to discuss status of projects and to trouble-shoot any issues that may have arisen
Prior Summer Research Fellowships:
- 2020 - Aubree Ford, UV dosimetry in Transplant Patients with Dr. Adam Sutton
- 2020 - Heng Jiang, Statins in High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong
- 2020 - Jacob Middleton, Analysis of an Inpatient Dermatology with Dr. Ashley Wysong
- 2019 - Taylor Uhlir, Educational E-Modules with Dr. Adam Sutton
- 2019 - Jacob Kingsley, Cutaneous Fungal Infections with Dr. Ryan Trowbridge
- 2019 - Joshua Abels, High Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong
- 2019 - Blake Haas, Genetic Sequencing of BCC in Patients with Skin of Color with Dr. Ashley Wysong
Year-Long Research Fellowship
Yearlong research fellowships are offered through the UNMC Department of Dermatology and are both funded and unfunded in the areas of high-risk SCC, skin cancer, rheum-derm/autoimmune skin diseases, and more. Medical students interested in a yearlong research fellowships should reach out to Sushmita Adhikari, Research Associate & Coordinator: susadhikari@unmc.edu
PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
We have a year-long, funded PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position that is available beginning in July of each academic year. This is a unique postdoctoral position with responsibilities in clinical care, translational and outcomes research and student mentorship opportunities. This position is intended for applicants who have completed a PGY-1 internship and who have demonstrated a strong commitment to further training and research in the field of dermatology.
Applications are reviewed annually between February and March each year. To apply, please email Sushmita Adhikari, Research Associate & Coordinator: susadhikari@unmc.edu
- Curriculum Vitae
- USMLE Step 1/2/3
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation
Application Deadline: March 1, 2020
Meet Our Current Fellow
Dr. Erica Lee
2020-2021 UNMC Dermatology Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Erica Lee is our 2020-2021 PGY-2 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNMC Department of Dermatology. Dr. Lee graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a degree in neuroscience and health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Lee was a USC Presidential Scholar. She attended medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, where she was a scholarship recipient and was heavily involved in service, leadership and research. While a medical student, Dr. Lee completed an advanced research experience with Dr. Jashin Wu at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, Department of Dermatology. She completed her intern year of residency in internal medicine as a prelim at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Lee has published extensively in the medical literature including over 42 research manuscripts and 2 book chapters.
Past Fellows
Dr. Dillon Clarey
2019-2020 UNMC Dermatology Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Dillon Clarey was our 2019-2020 PGY-2 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNMC Department of Dermatology. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Business Administration. He attended medical school at UNMC, where he earned a Regent scholarship and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his intern year of residency at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. While there, he was very active in medical student mentorship and teaching.
His research interests include increasing dermatologic access to care in underserved areas, teledermatology and complex medical dermatology. He is currently completing his residency in dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center residency program July 2020-June 2023.
Dr. Shauna Higgins
2018-2019 UNMC Dermatology Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Prior to coming to UNMC, Dr. Higgins served as the Post-Doctoral Skin Cancer Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Southern California. While at USC, she authored 32 publications, 3 book chapters and presented over 30 abstracts via poster or oral presentation. Dr. Higgins went to Brown University for her undergraduate education where she studied Human Biology and Business Economics while simultaneously studying Photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. She was an exceptional medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her internship at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program. She has a special interest in complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology as well as in studying dermatologic conditions in skin of color. She is currently completing her residency in dermatology at the University of Southern California + LA County Hospitals residency program July 2019-June 2022.
