Once you have a mentor and have a project in mind it is time to set up some time to get the work done. Not only should you have a project and proposal set up but you should also have your regulatory training done so that you can hit the ground running once you start your elective.

Below is a overview of things to have done prior to starting your elective:

  • Meet with mentor and come up with a possible project

  • Complete a formal project proposal

  • Meet with Dr. Dan Schauer, MD to develop a timeline and plan when to take the elective time. Complete this form prior to your meeting

  • Once timing is determined, talk with the Chiefs to get it scheduled

  • Complete appropriate regulatory training (CITI Training)

  • If you need an IRB, work on it with mentor and submit

Examples of Research Elective Months

Interns may only choose one-month option.  Residents in years 2-4 may choose either the single month option, or multiple months. The maximum number of research months during three years of residency is four months.  For Medicine-Pediatrics residents, the maximum number during four years of residency is two months.

One-Month Elective

  • Learn Lab Technique

  • Small Case Series Report

  • Short Project

  • Meta-Analysis

  • Write protocol/submit to IRB

  • Review Article

    **Case Reports are not included in the research elective

 Two-Three Month Electives

  • ??

Process for Developing a Research Elective

  1. Talk to the Research Residency Director - Contact Dr. Dan Schauer, MD at least 4-6 months prior to the start of your research elective rotation to develop an individualized timeline. He has office hours on Tuesdays from 1:00-3:00 and Thursdays from 10:00-12:00.  Contact Jillian Nolte (jillian.nolte@uc.edu) to set up a time to meet with him during these office hours or if you need to meet with him outside of the usual office hours.

  2.  Select a mentor - You should select a faculty member who has the expertise, the time and the commitment to supervise the project.  Dr. Schauer can help you identify potential mentors.

  3.  Develop a research project

    1. Choose an existing project of your mentor

    2. Develop a new project

  4. Formal Protocol - Submit a formal protocol two months prior to the start of the research elective rotation.

  5. Approval by Research Residency Director/Schedule time with Chief Resident

    1. Approval contingent upon completing application and training

    2. Approval is contingent upon having an IRB-approved project prior to starting your rotation.

    3. Failure of approval will result in resident doing a clinical rotation

  6. MedHub – All research projects and scholarly products must be entered into MedHub under the “Resident Portfolio” tab.