Research Training Opportunities

All residents are automatically enrolled in R25-supported research for one year followed by 3 months of institution-supported research. Visit the R25 Research Training and Education Program page for details.

We offer an NIH-funded opportunity (R25) for medical students who have:

• completed their first year of clinical training (MS3)
• are intending to apply for an otolaryngology residency
• are seeking a career as a surgeon-scientist; and
• are a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident.  

This 9-month long research training and education period takes place on the Seattle campus. It involves both mentored research and structured research didactics, discussions, and workshops, including training in grant writing. We provide a stipend and funds for travel to present your research, as well as support for your research project, training, and education. We may also offer clinical clerkship/sub-internship training in otolaryngology at either the start or the end of the 9-month period, as available. Visit the R25 Research Training and Education Program page for more details. 

Medical Students: All medical students interested in the R25 program must complete this intake survey. Upon receipt of your survey response, our staff or program directors will respond to discuss your interests and potential opportunities. Please reply to the survey well in advance of the application deadline. 

Deadline for application to the R25 program: March 1. 

As Head and Neck Research Fellows at the University of Washington Department of Otolaryngology, medical students will have the opportunity to engage in a year-long research project with a faculty mentor in head and neck surgery. This opportunity provides one year of funding and can be tailored to meet the interests of the selected candidate, though there are ongoing research projects to choose from. Current projects pertain to cancer epidemiology, tumor microbiome, functional genomics, drug discovery, bioengineering, and clinical outcomes. Research will be conducted within the Division of Head and Neck Surgery with all head and neck faculty.

Students also have the opportunity to be involved in clinical activities (including scrubbing in the OR), attend departmental educational activities, head and neck tumor board, and become acquainted with other Otolaryngology department members.

The Dick and Loraine Burger Fellowship is an endowed program established by Dick Burger and his late wife Loraine Burger. Dick has had a long-term interest in advancing the field of head and neck surgery to improve patient quality of life during and after treatment, following his own experience with head and neck cancer. His life reflects a deep commitment to advancing the field of head and neck cancer treatment.

Eligibility
This fellowship opportunity is available to medical students in all years of medical school, though priority will be given to students in their third or fourth year. The fellowship will necessitate taking a year away from clinical activity that is sanctioned by their home medical school. This position is available only to those that are a permanent U.S. resident (Green Card Holder or U.S. Citizen) as the University of Washington will not provide visa sponsorship.

Fellowship Awards
This award is funded with a stipend of $55,000 for the year to support living expenses with additional funding provided to support health benefits.

Application
Students interested in this opportunity should prepare and submit the following:

• A letter of interest
• A CV with an updated transcript
• At least one letter of recommendation
• A personal statement under one page detailing motivation to apply to UW, research experience, research interest, and goals for the year

Deadline
Applications for the position are due Friday, March 28, 2025. Interview invitations will be sent 2 weeks following the deadline with members of the faculty by invitation only. It is recommended that tentative approval from the home medical school program be sought prior to applying.

Please send completed applications to Vanncy Crookes at poeuvv@uw.edu.

Most of our department’s faculty are engaged in research projects and research training. Medical students and graduate students interested in exploring additional research opportunities with our department are encouraged to search individual faculty profiles as well as our Research Areas pages to investigate the research ongoing in our department, and then reach out to faculty via email to initiate a discussion. We also encourage you to complete this intake survey describing your background, interests, and availability, which we will make available to selected faculty.