Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Physician-Scientist Research Fellowship Program Guidelines

The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Physician-Scientist Research Fellowship (Fellowship) fosters a strong research culture at the Heritage College by providing students with meaningful experiences in basic, clinical, and translational research. These experiences enrich medical education, advance knowledge within their fields, and support the health and wellness of the communities they serve. 

The Fellowship will include mentored research, participation in research supporting activities (e.g., research seminars, journal clubs, conferences), online research training, didactic sessions, and dissemination (e.g., oral presentations, publication in peer-reviewed journals). Students who successfully complete the Fellowship will be formally recognized for their sustained research training and experience with the title “Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Physician-Scientist Research Fellow”.

Acknowledgement of participation in the Fellowship will be noted in the student's Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) Letter, contingent upon satisfactory progress towards program requirements as determined by the Office of Research and Grants. Successful completion of the Fellowship will be recognized by a “Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Physician-Scientist Research Fellow” acknowledgement in the Heritage College commencement program. Most importantly, students will acquire research skills that last a lifetime, strengthening patient care, and supporting scientific engagement across their careers.

Heritage College students may begin prerequisite activities during Year 1 but must formally apply to the Fellowship by January 31^st of Year 2 or Year 3 of their medical school training. Students enrolled in the DO/PhD program are not eligible for the Fellowship. 

Students who are accepted into the Fellowship are permitted to discontinue the program with written notice to the Office of Research and Grants at any time during the program. Students who withdraw must provide notice as far in advance as possible to allow for an orderly transition of any ongoing research activities.

Any awarded funds not yet disbursed at the time of withdrawal will be forfeited. Any funds already disbursed that have not been used in accordance with the program's intended purpose (e.g., research dissemination activities such as travel to present research or publication costs) must be returned to the Office of Research and Grants within 30 days of withdrawal. Students who withdraw after having completed and appropriately documented use of disbursed funds for their intended purpose will not be required to return those funds.

The prerequisites for the Fellowship program include:

Academic Standing:

• Students must be in good standing as outlined in HCOM Policy 2.18 from the time of application through the conclusion of the Fellowship program. Heritage College Office of Medical Education and others may be contacted to evaluate the student’s suitability to participate in the Fellowship prior to the conclusion of the proposal review process and periodically throughout the program.

Research Experience:

• Prior research experience is required. This could include engagement in a research experience during undergraduate, graduate, or medical school training through a summer research fellowship/program, completion of a research project, or other relevant research activities.

Mentor Identification:

• Applicants must identify a Heritage College or Ohio University faculty mentor or affiliate faculty member who will guide their research. This mentor must hold an affiliation with Ohio University, hold a terminal or earned doctoral degree, and have expertise in the field in which they are planning to mentor the student demonstrated through recent (within the last three years) peer-reviewed publications, extramural funding, additional training, and research mentorship roles.  Potential mentors who do not currently hold an affiliation with the Heritage College or Ohio University must apply for and be granted adjunct clinical faculty status with the Heritage College prior to serving as a Fellowship mentor. Exceptions to the Heritage College or Ohio University faculty mentor or affiliate faculty member requirement may be granted for external research opportunities; however, in these cases in addition to the primary external research mentor, students must identify a Heritage College or Ohio University faculty mentor who will serve as a secondary mentor throughout their research experience. Mentors must provide a letter of support describing their commitment and mentorship plan.

Commitment to Research:

• Demonstration of a commitment to conducting research throughout medical school, often evidenced by a plan for ongoing research activities, participation in related seminars and workshops and submission of abstracts or manuscripts.

The Fellowship program is designed to provide Heritage College students with an in-depth research experience alongside their medical education.

Program Goals:

• Encourage meaningful participation in research.
• Develop skills in scientific thinking and research methodologies.
• Provide formal recognition for research efforts.

Program Requirements:

• Follow the highest scientific and ethical standards and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Ohio University/Heritage College research policies on human subjects, animal welfare, and laboratory safety.
• Completion of a significant research project, often involving a minimum of 200-400 hours of extracurricular research.
• Attendance at/participation in didactics/courses addressing various types of translational research as outlined by the Office of Research and Grants.
• First or corresponding author of a peer-reviewed manuscript.
• Internal (within Ohio University) and external (national or international) presentations of research (e.g., poster presentation, podium presentation). 
• Submission of an internal or external grant application as principal investigator (pending program availability) or co-principal investigator.
• Attendance and participation in research seminars, workshops, etc.
• Completion of all program requirements by due dates.

Application Requirements:

Submission of application materials, which include all the following components compiled in a single PDF, via the application portal by the deadline date. (Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.): 

• Personal Statement (Limit: 1 page, 12-point font, 1” margins, single spaced): Explain your motivation for applying, your research interests, how your work fits with your mentor, and how the track supports your career goals. Highlight any previous research experience and what you hope to achieve through the program.
• Student CV: Include any previous research activities, including publications, presentations, or other relevant research experiences.
• Letters of Recommendation: Include two letters of recommendation from past or current faculty, previous or current research mentors, or others who can speak to your research experience and/or potential as a researcher.
• Project Description (Limit: 1 page, 12-point font, 1” margins, single spaced): Project abstract outlining the planned project, including background and significance, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. If the project involves human or animal subjects, the abstract must also include a statement regarding the status of Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval or exemption.
• Mentor Support: A letter of support from your research mentor(s), detailing their commitment to guiding you through the project, their assessment of your potential as a researcher and a specific plan for mentorship.
• Mentor CV or NIH Biosketch (for each mentor)
• Timeline and Milestones: A clear timeline that includes key milestones (e.g., initial data collection/analysis, midpoint review, dissemination preparation, final preparation/submission) for your research project.

Selection Process: A faculty committee will review the proposals and make program acceptance recommendations to the Associate Vice President of Research, Health Affairs.

Program Acceptance:

• Students will be notified of program acceptance status no later than March 31^st immediately following their application submission.
• The Heritage College will provide the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation with a list of selected students.
• Awardees will receive up to $5,000 during their participation in the Fellowship to support program requirements such as research dissemination activities (e.g., travel to present research, publication costs). Funds must be used in compliance with University travel and purchasing policies and will be managed and monitored by the Office of Research and Grants.