Boise State University Dr. Ralph R. Jones MD FACS Pre-Medical Summer 2026 Research Fellowship

Boise State University Dr. Ralph R. Jones MD FACS Pre-Medical Summer 2025 Research Fellowship

Boise State University annually awards competitive research fellowships for Boise State students to collaborate with research scientists. The pre-medical students selected for this fellowship award will receive a stipend for participating in bench research setting and assisting with research activities. A student award of $6000.00 is offered to facilitate student involvement in collaborative research on topics of interest to the student and as preparation for a future medical school application. Fellowships at Boise State are awarded in a combined Employee/Educational Experience format. Fellows will complete timesheets for hours worked, which is subject to payroll withholding. Fellows will also be required to attend mandatory progress checks and participate in some mandatory, non-compensatory educational opportunities. The recipient is expected to and should anticipate committing to typically a minimum of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks in the selected lab on Boise State campus during the summer of 2026.

ELIGIBILITY
● Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
● Applicants must be undergraduate pre-medical pathway students (any major will be considered).
● Applicants must be either Junior or Senior status and have at least half time enrollment for fall 2026.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
● Eligible students must currently be enrolled at Boise State (SP26) and completing a degree or prerequisite work on or after December 2026. Students graduating in May or August 2026 will not be eligible for this fellowship.
● Applicants must be available to participate in the program during the summer of 2026.
● Applicants who have previously participated in this fellowship will not be eligible.
● Applicants must have completed at least the following course work before starting the fellowship:
✔ General Chemistry – 2 semesters with lab
✔ Organic Chemistry – 1 semester with lab
✔ Biology – 1 year of college-level biology with lab
✔ Additional biology and chemistry background in courses such as microbiology, immunology, genetics, physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry are recommended.

Preference will be given to the most qualified pre-medical students, and selection is competitive. Appropriate applicants include students with a strong background in biological and physical sciences wishing to pursue medical school. Previous research experience is not required.

Credit can be awarded for participation in this research experience, but it is not mandatory to do so (summer school fee consideration, etc.). As part of this learning experience, awardees are required to submit a summary report describing their scientific experience. It is recommended that the report contains an abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Fellowship awardees will be encouraged to attend a research conference to present a poster of their research.

Participation in this hypothesis-based research experience will qualify the recipient to meet the specific research expectations at the University of Utah School of Medicine and other medical school applications. Such experience can assist all pre-med students in being more competitive. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work more closely with a faculty member whose relationship can support the student in medical school applications. Selected participants will be asked to meet throughout the fellowship with the Ralph Jones Pre-Med Advisor as well as participate in donor related activities.

STUDENT APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must submit the following information:
• Completed application form
• Transcripts of all college work (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).
• Essay – Applicants must submit an essay explaining their interest in research and how this fellowship aligns with their educational goals. The essay may be up to 5,300 characters (including spaces). Because this essay is given significant weight in the selection process, applicants should approach it as you would a personal statement. The essay should address: career goals, reasons for pursuing a career in medicine, motivation for conducting research, and how this fellowship would support the applicant’s academic and professional goals.