Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowships

The Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowships are designed to allow medical students to engage in clinical or translational research with mentorship by a University of Rochester Neurosurgery faculty member. The 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 interested in neurological surgery. Dr. Melissa LoPresti is the Department of Neurosurgery Director of the Rusyniak Memorial Medical Student Research Fellowship.

Eligibility

Students are eligible for the Rusyniak Summer Fellowship if they are actively enrolled medical students in years 1-3 at accredited North American medical schools in the United States or Canada. To inquire about eligibility or express interest in applying, students are encouraged to contact Rusyniak_Fellowship@URMC.rochester.edu. 

Students are eligible for the Rusyniak Year-Long Fellowship if they are actively enrolled medical students in years 1-3 at accredited North American medical schools in the United States or Canada with an established relationship with our Department of Neurosurgery who plan to spend a “year out” of medical school pursuing a research project with a UR Neurosurgery faculty mentor. To inquire about eligibility or express interest in applying, students are encouraged to contact
Rusyniak_Fellowship@URMC.rochester.edu.

2026–2027 Summer Fellowship

Award Amount: $6,000

Summer fellowship awards of $6,000 will be granted to medical students who receive the award. Award stipends are intended to support fellows while conducting a 6-12 week summer research project  at the University of Rochester. Research projects will be conducted under the mentorship of a UR Department of Neurosurgery faculty member. Students interested in applying should first express their intent by contacting Rusyniak_Fellowship@URMC.Rochester.edu. Applicants will receive a brief survey to aid in pairing them with a departmental mentor. Once mentorship is established, applicants are encouraged to connect with faculty mentors to draft their research proposal and application. Once applications are reviewed, awards will be announced. Students will then be contacted by our department for onboarding with anticipated summer research projects to be completed for at least 6 weeks between May 15-August 15, 2027.

2026–2027 Year-Long Fellowship

Award Amount: Up to $30,000

Year-long fellowships of up to $30,000 are available to 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. Award stipends are intended to support fellows while conducting a year-long research commitment at the University of Rochester for the academic year 2027-2028. Research projects will be conducted under the mentorship of a UR Department of Neurosurgery faculty member. Students interested in applying should first express their intent by contacting Rusyniak_Fellowship@URMC.Rochester.edu. Applicants must share intent to mentor from their established departmental mentor. Once mentorship is established, applicants are encouraged to connect with faculty mentors to draft their research proposal and application. Once applications are reviewed, awards will be announced. Students will then be contacted by our department for onboarding with anticipated fellowships to be completed for the academic year 2027-2028.

Application Deadlines

2027 Summer Fellowship

2027 Year-Long Fellowship

Application Requirements

Summer fellowship applications should include:

1. A personal statement explaining your interest in the fellowship.
2. A 1–2 page scientific proposal developed with guidance from your UR Neurosurgery mentor addressing the title or topic, hypothesis, research methods, data analysis, and expected outcomes.
3. Your mentor’s letter confirming their intent to provide mentorship and research support.
4. A letter of recommendation from someone outside of your mentorship pairing.

Year-long fellowship applications should include:

1. A personal statement explaining your interest in the fellowship.
2. A detailed research proposal including specific aims, background and significance with preliminary data, research design and strategy, itemized budget, and discussion of available resources and research environment.
3. Your mentor’s detailed letter addressing mentorship, support, and evaluation of your research proposal.
4. A letter of recommendation from someone outside of your mentorship pairing.

Contact

If you have questions or need assistance with submitting your application, please contact Rusyniak_Fellowship@URMC.rochester.edu or 
Dr. Melissa LoPresti, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester.

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