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The Biomedical Research Career Award Program (BMRCA) in the MGH Reproductive Endocrine Unit offers students a combined mentored research experience and educational program in clinical investigation within a group of world-class clinical researchers in human reproduction. The program’s ultimate goal is to provide students a background in research that will influence their subsequent career directions.
This competitive research experience is typically 12 months in duration but on occasion may last a second year when a project’s pace dictates. It may occur in the middle of college, between college and medical school, or during medical school.
It is anticipated that students entering this program will have a variable background; however, all will be required to have a certain number of basic science courses. The experience within the Reproductive Endocrine Unit will be tailored to the candidates’ goals and previous scientific background.
Since this is not a strict employment situation but rather an educational experience, no salary will be paid. However, on occasion a stipend may be available for some students, depending on the availability of resources and the chosen research project.
1. Mentored Research Project: Each student will be assigned to the personal tutelage of an established Clinical Investigator who is a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty and oversees a specific research project for which the Investigator will serve as the mentor. The mentor is responsible for the overall laboratory, clinical, and educational program of the student, and the one-to-one relationship between student and investigator will be a core component of the entire experience. The project will be part of the Unit’s ongoing investigations in the physiology and molecular genetics of male and female reproduction.
Students are expected to quickly become members of the appropriate clinical research teams in the Unit and to present their new findings, participate in team meetings, and assist in the preparation of manuscripts. In addition, each student will be expected to do a final presentation of their research, which includes the results and discussion of their work. If the student is also involved in the MGH Summer Research Training Program for minority students (SRTP) or the HMS Pre-matriculation Summer Program sponsored by Office of Recruitment & Multicultural Affairs, the presentation will occur in the context of this program. If not involved in this program, the mentor and student will arrange the appropriate forum for the presentation. Specific experiences will vary depending on the mentor and chosen project and will be tailored to the student’s interests and previous scientific and research experience.
2. Required Educational Opportunities: In addition to their research experience, each BMRCA student will be expected to participate in specified clinical, research, and/or educational conferences of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital that will round out the experience of the student in more didactic settings. These include:
The Students will be given a schedule of all such offerings on their first day to review with their mentor.
It is our experience that the educational experience is significantly diluted if students take other course work outside of the MGH. However, there may be specific instances in which courses in statistics or other research techniques may be appropriate. There is no additional stipend to support the tuition for any such courses. Course enrollment must be discussed in advance with the mentor, and time away from the lab during key working hours must be a serious consideration.
Applicants should contact Dr. Janet E. Hall, the Associate Chief of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit, enclosing a resume and a personal statement detailing why they believe the BMRCA program is appropriate for their career. Applicants will also be asked to furnish three letters of support from past teachers or research mentors outlining the suitability of the applicant for this competitive position. Qualified applicants will be invited to visit the Reproductive Endocrine Unit to interview with appropriate investigators, including Dr. William Crowley, the Chief of the Reproductive Endocrine Unit. The selection process will be rolling.
Minority students are actively encouraged to participate in the program. This program may be a part of or independent from the 8 -week (SRTP) summer experience that is administered separately by the office of Minority Affairs at Mass General Hospital or the Pre-matriculation Summer Program sponsored by the HMS Office of Recruitment & Multicultural Affairs.
Dr. Janet E. Hall
Reproductive Endocrine Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, BHX-5
Boston, MA 02114
Email : hall.janet@mgh.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-726-3038
Fax : 617-726-5357
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