2025 Program Dates: 6/2/2025 - 7/25/2025
Applications for the 2025 BWH STARS Program will open in fall 2024.
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 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.
All are welcome to apply and we especially encourage those from historically underrepresented in medicine backgrounds*.
*Underrepresented in Medicine: The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) defines underrepresented in medicine (URiM or UIM) specifically as racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population and include people who identify as the following: Black or African American, Latinx, Native American, Alaskan Natives, Hawaiian Natives, or Pacific Islander. Other historically underserved populations within medicine deserve space and recognition in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), including women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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 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.
Our Mission
- To provide 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 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 Research Administration at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
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
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 for half a day across 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. We provide the students with a subway pass and transportation to and from the airport.
- 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
Sharlay Butler, MD, MPH
Faculty Director, BWH Summer Research Programs
Dr. Butler is an academic generalist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She played collegiate basketball in Nebraska and attended medical school at the University of Washington. After completing her OBGYN residency at Northwestern, she finished a fellowship in Reproductive Infectious Disease and Master of Public Health in Infectious Disease Management, Intervention and Community Practice at Magee Women’s Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Butler enjoys mentoring and teaching all learners and practices full spectrum general OBGYN centered in health equity, cultural humility, and respect. Her research interests are in implementation science as it pertains to STI/HIV prevention and treatment, medical education, and community informed healthcare delivery.
Josine Uwase
Project Coordinator, CDI
Josine Uwase is the project coordinator for the BWH Summer Research Programs. She is responsible for planning, implementation and delivery for the STARS and the Four Directions programs. Prior to her role at the CDI, Josine worked for the international office at Massachusetts General Brigham as an immigration coordinator for 2.6 years. Josine has an undergraduate degree from UMass Boston in international relations and a minor in Spanish.
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 1st, 2024
2025 Program Dates:
Monday, June 2nd, 2025 – Friday, July 25, 2025
All STARS Required Supporting Materials must be received by our office by: January 3rd, 2025
FAQ
How much is the research stipend?
The research stipend for the eight-week program is $5,000 USD. Stipends will be delivered the 3rd or 4th week of the programs please note that you should bring some funds to cover cost the first few weeks.
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.
Photo Gallery
