International Research Fellowship

Overview

The approved applicant will hold a Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School (HMS) appointment as a research fellow. Applications from non-U.S. candidates are encouraged. The program involves clinical and laboratory research activities, allowing the fellow to participate in single- and multi-center studies as well as multiple clinical research projects related to retrospective, prospective and randomized controlled studies. The fellow will also participate in basic science research at the Trauma Research Laboratory and the animal operating rooms. The precise balance between clinical and laboratory research will be decided on a case-by-case basis according to the fellow’s preference and the divisional needs.

The research fellow will be assigned to one faculty member of the division and become actively involved in clinical and laboratory research. The research fellow will attend all educational programs of the division and participate in an observational capacity in clinical activities. At the end of the fellowship, the fellow is expected to have rich knowledge in trauma, emergency surgery and surgical critical care research as well as have completed multiple studies, which can be presented at major surgical meetings and published in major surgical journals.

Note: Direct contact with patients is not allowed within this program.

Requirements

Individuals interested in applying for a research fellow position must meet the following criteria:

• Fluent in English, both spoken and written
• Medical degree (MD equivalent)
• Minimum two-year commitment

Although United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores are not an absolute prerequisite for admission to the Research Fellowship Program, applicants who have taken their USMLE's are preferred. 

The research program of the division is funded by multiple federal agencies and industry. Financial support is possible through grants, but limited, and therefore cannot be promised. Evidence of external institutional financial support is highly desirable. Decisions about financial support are made on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability of funds, nature of research and performance of the fellow.

The fellow is expected to be familiar with study design and methodology as well as simple statistical analysis (univariate analysis, t-test, chi-square).

How to Apply

To apply for a research fellow position, interested individuals should submit:

• Application Form, including current photo
• Letter of intent (one page) describing the applicant's goals and expectations from the research fellowship. The statement should clarify whether the candidate requests full, partial or no financial support, and clearly state the intent (or lack of intent) to pursue residency in the U.S. upon the completion of the program
• A curriculum vitae that is detailed and chronologically organized
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from professors or directors at the applicant's institution (from the past 12 months)

This material should be properly ordered and compiled into one (1) PDF and emailed to mghtraumaresearchfellowship@partners.org. The applicant will be notified via e-mail within five (5) business days upon receipt of the requested documentation.

Important Dates

Start dates are normally in/around July. The selection committee—chaired by George Velmahos, MD, PhD, Division Chief and John Hwabejire, MBBS, MPH, Director of Trauma Research—will review all applications and select fellows based on need and funding availability (usually, two to four fellows are selected each year). Zoom interviews will be arranged during the selection process. Important dates in the application and selection process are approximate:

• Deadline for applications: October 14, 2024
• Selection Committee meeting: November 18, 2024
• Notifications to applicants: December 30, 2024

Appointment Process

If accepted, the fellow will receive a research fellow appointment package, which should be promptly completed and returned. Delays on receiving a completed appointment package may compromise the appointment. Please note that the appointment and visa process can take three to four months.

Among other forms, the package includes:

• Application for initial appointment to professional staff of Mass General and HMS
• Doctoral degree diploma, translated to English and notarized
• Letter verifying source and level of any external institutional financial support
• Visa application

Note: As part of the appointment process, candidates are required to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) background check.