Research Opportunities

"The Jacobs School offers a wealth of research opportunities and quality mentoring to help students achieve their goals," says medical student Gary Iacobucci.

Whether you find the concept of research intriguing, want to enhance your career prospects by exploring a specialty from a different angle, or are driven to make a difference from bench to bedside, we’ll support you with a unique experience matched to your goals.

Ongoing Mentored Research

During your first year of medical school, we’ll explain the broad range of research opportunities available at the Jacobs School. If you want to pursue research, we’ll connect you with a dedicated faculty mentor whose work aligns with your professional interests and objectives.

You can start conducting research during the summer between your first and second years of school — and many of our students do.

You may continue researching during your second year, provided it doesn’t interfere with your studies.

In your third and fourth years, you may select research as an elective.

Internal Summer Research

Our medical students can conduct summer research in several of our departments, divisions and programs, including:

External Summer Research

As a rising second-year student, you also may choose to conduct summer research outside UB.

We have helped identify summer research opportunities for our students at, among other institutions:

  • Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Harvard Medical School
  • St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
  • Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program    
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA
  • MD Anderson Cancer Center

Year-long Fellowship Programs

MD-PhD Program

If you’re committed to caring for patients and making breakthroughs that improve their quality of life, we’ll fully prepare you for a rewarding career as a medical scientist.

Our combined MD-PhD Program tightly integrates a clinical and research curriculum, equipping you with the skills to conduct basic science and translational research, advance health care and make a difference.