Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowships
Applications are now being accepted for 2025-2026.
Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowships
Applications are now being accepted for 2025-2026.
Welcome! The Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowships are designed to allow medical students to engage in clinical or translational research with mentorship by a UR Neurosurgery faculty member. The Rusyniak Research Fellowship awards are funded by an endowment established within the Department of Neurosurgery, and recognize the commitment of Dr. W. George Rusyniak to the education and inspiration of medical students with interests in neurological surgery.
Eligibility
Eligible medical students should have completed one or more years of medical school either at the University of Rochester or at an accredited program in the United States or Canada. Non-UR medical students are encouraged to contact Adrianna Robinson for information regarding research opportunities within the University of Rochester Department of Neurosurgery.
2025-26 Summer Fellowship
Award Amount: $6000
Summer fellowship awards of $6000 will be awarded to interested medical students who have completed one or more years of medical school. Research projects will be pursued under the mentorship of a UR Neurosurgery faculty member, and interested applicants are encouraged to connect with faculty mentors in advance of submission of the application.
2025-26 Year-Long Fellowship
Award Amount: up to $30,000
Year-long fellowships of up to $30,000 are also available to interested medical students with a demonstrated record of productive research in Neurosurgery who plan to spend a “year out” of medical school pursuing a research project with a UR Neurosurgery faculty mentor.
Application Deadlines
2025 Summer Fellowship
Fellowship Dates | June 1, 2025 –August 31, 2025 |
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Application Deadline | Thursday, May 15, 2025 |
2025 Year-Long Fellowship
Fellowship Dates | July 1, 2025 –June 30, 2026 |
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Application Deadline | Thursday, May 15, 2025 |
Application Requirements
The application for summer fellowships should include:
- A personal statement/why this is important to you;
- A 1–2 page scientific proposal crafted with guidance from your UR Neurosurgery mentor addressing title/topic, hypothesis, research methods, data analysis and expected outcomes;
- Your mentor’s letter of intent to provide mentorship and support of your research; and
- A letter of recommendation from your proposed Neurosurgery faculty mentor.
Apply Online for Summer Fellowship
Applications for the year-long fellowships should include:
- A personal statement/why this is important to you;
- A detailed research proposal including specific aims, background & significance with preliminary data, research design & strategy, itemized budget, discussion of available resources and the available research environment;
- Your mentor’s detailed letter of intent addressing mentorship and support and an evaluation of your detailed research proposal; and
- A letter of recommendation from your proposed Neurosurgery faculty mentor.
Apply Online for Year-Long Fellowship
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting your application, please contact Adrianna Robinson, Department Coordinator at the University of Rochester Department of Neurosurgery.