The UNC-Chapel Hill Medical Students Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program

The UNC-Chapel Hill Medical Students Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) summer program is now accepting applications for Summer 2025. The UNC-CH MSTAR program provides medical students with an enriching experience in aging-related research and geriatrics. As a nationally-recognized NIH training center for aging research, The UNC-CH MSTAR program has an outstanding track record, with many students publishing first author manuscripts and winning awards at national meetings. With more than 55 research mentors across the School of Medicine and the schools of the health sciences, this program is able to offer a diverse array of potential research projects for students. Potential projects may include research conducted specifically in older populations, as well as research on health-related conditions that intersect with aging (e.g., cardiology, oncology, ophthalmology, etc.).

An important program priority is to equitably support a pipeline of medical students with an interest in becoming a clinician scientist committed to advancing fields on aging including aging-related and geriatrics research. Medical students who are members of groups underrepresented among medical researchers will be key in addressing health disparities for older adults in our medical system. Therefore, students who are members of underrepresented ethnic or racial groups, students with disabilities, and students from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

First-year medical students in good academic standing are eligible to apply if they have 8-weeks during summer block (mid-May through mid-August) available to dedicate to research in Chapel Hill. Students receiving non-program federal funding during summer block, those on temporary or student visas are not eligible, per NIH requirements. MS2, MS3, or those conducting a gap medical research year who can meet the same availability may also be eligible.

Interested students must email the program for further information at MSTAR@med.unc.edu. Applications due by January 20, 2025, 8:00 AM EST.