2023 Program Dates: 6/3/2024 - 7/25/2024

Applications for the 2024 BWH STARS Program are currently closed.

BWH STARS Program

The Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship (STARS) Program is a distinguished summer research opportunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for underrepresented in medicine (URiM)* undergraduate rising juniors and seniors, and first-year medical students with a strong interest in pursuing advanced careers as research scientists, physicians and/or health care professionals. The program recruits students from around the US into an eight-week mentored summer program. Students participate in intensive hands-on training in research methods and practice directly in the labs of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School’s leading researchers.

 

*Per AAMC guidelines, at BWH, underrepresented in medicine (URiM) includes individuals who self-identify as African American/Black, Alaskan Native, Native American, Hispanic/Latinx and/or Native Hawaiian.

Our Mission

  • To provide URiM medical and undergraduate students an opportunity to engage in basic, clinical & translational research projects under the mentorship of experienced researchers at BWH and HMS. 
  • To enhance the research capabilities of URiM medical and undergraduate students. 
  • To encourage these scholars to pursue advanced medical and graduate education and training. 

Our Goals

To provide students with tools, information and opportunities on their journey to becoming physicians, researchers and public health professionals; as well as role models and teachers in the academic community.

Our History

The BWH STARS Program was founded in 2008 and has brought over 100 students to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School with the support of the Office for Research Careers(ORC).

Location

Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Center for Diversity & Inclusion
Thorn 13 Suite 1304
20 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115-6054

Hours

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm

Contact Us

Email: bwhstars@bwh.harvard.edu
617-525-8363

Watch: 1st Generation Journeys at Harvard Medical School

Program Features

Features

  • Eight-week research experience. Students work with their lab mentor to submit an abstract of their summer research project and share their research findings during a final research presentation day.
  • Clinical shadowing. Students will shadow clinicians spanning a wide range of disciplines at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
  • Professional  and Career Development Workshops. Students meet regularly with faculty from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to discuss topics such as MD/PhD programs, clerkships, medical school admissions, health policy, interviewing and presentation skills.
  • Social & Networking Events. Group dinners and barbecues, sight-seeing around Boston, networking events with Harvard Medical Students and more. 

Financial Support

  • Transportation to and from Boston. Our team covers the complete cost of travel to and from Boston. This includes your flight/bus to and from Boston Logan Airport as well as your travel from Boston Logan Airport to your housing residence, and vice versa upon departure. 
  • Housing. Our program provides housing free of charge for the entire length of the eight-week program. We also provide pots, pans and other utensils for meal preparation.
  • Living stipend. STARS and ORC provides each student a stipend ($5,000 USD for undergraduate students and medical students) for the eight-week program.
  • Select program meals and social activities. Includes light breakfasts and lunches during workshops; food, transportation and tickets for program-specific social activities.
  

Program Team

Imoigele P. Aisiku, MD, MBA
Associate Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

Dr. Aisiku is an Associate Professor and Vice-Chair for Diversity and Equity and the Director of the office of IDEaS in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Aisiku is also the Chief of the Division of Emergency Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Aisiku also serves as a BWPO Board of Trustee member. As a clinician scholar, Dr. Aisiku has many interests and has served in numerous leadership roles at BWH but has a passion for diversity and community service that spans before his BWH years. In particular he has a passion for being involved in the community and helping to develop young minds from different backgrounds and in particular disadvantaged backgrounds and give them an opportunity to succeed. He is committed to advancing DE&I efforts in his department and through collaborations with the BWH CDI throughout the hospital as well.

How To Apply

Prepare & Submit Online Application

  • Write your Personal Statement
    Please describe in 400-750 words your educational and professional goals, and how your participation in the BWH STARS Program will assist in meeting your goals. Be sure to articulate your qualifications and reasons for wishing to participate in the program. Please upload your personal statement to the application as a word document or PDF file. Be sure to include your last name as a header on all pages.
  • Send your Unofficial Transcript
    Please have an unofficial transcript sent to: bwhstars@bwh.harvard.edu.
    First-year medical students only: please have a Letter of Good Standing sent to bwhstars@bwh.harvard.edu.
  • Request 2 Letters of Recommendations (you must make these requests).
    Recommendation letters must be submitted via Email to bwhstars@bwh.harvard.edu.

    Letter should be emailed as a PDF document and include an official letterhead at the top. Letter must be emailed DIRECTLY by the letter writer.

    For any questions please contact bwhstars@bwh.harvard.edu.

      

  • Complete the Online Application here.
  • Wait for application confirmation screen.

Important Dates & Deadlines: 

Application Opens: November 15, 2023
Application Closes: 
January 15, 2024

Program Dates:
Monday, June 03, 2024 – Thursday, July 25, 2024

FAQ

How much is the research stipend?
The research stipend for the eight-week program is $5,000 USD for undergraduate students and first-year medical students. You will receive the first half of the stipend in the amount of $2,500 USD at the beginning of the eight-week program, and the second half at the end of the program.

 

Where are we housed during the program?
 STARS students are housed at the MassArt School of Design Artists’ Residence for the eight-week program. The Artists’ Residence is apartment-style housing with individual rooms and a shared kitchen area. The Artists’ Residence is walking distance to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, making it easy to get to and from lab each day. 

 

How do I arrange my travel for the program?
Our team books your travel internally and covers the complete cost of travel to and from Boston. This includes your flight/bus to and from Boston Logan Airport as well as your travel from Boston Logan Airport to your housing at MassArt Artists’ Residence, and vice versa upon departure.

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