Curricular and extracurricular research

Secondary research

Research that involves the use of existing sources of information and does not require patient contact or access to the clinical environment (e.g. literature reviews, systematic reviews, secondary/open-source data analysis, process improvement and medical education etc). 

Lab-based research (internal)

Research that is undertaken at a UQ controlled research facility (e.g. School of Biomedical Sciences laboratories, UQCCR, Frazer Institute). 

Lab-based research (external)

Research that is undertaken at an external research facility (e.g. QIMR, QH research labs and institutes). 

Clinical research

Research that occurs in the clinical environment and/or includes access to identifiable patient data. 

There are numerous opportunities for you to engage with research within the UQMD curriculum.

These will ensure you develop skills in applying the theoretical knowledge you learn in the Research and Evidence in Practice curriculum area of the program. 

^ The Ochsner Clinical School may be able to support clinically based research during the Year 4 elective. For more information, contact med.ocsStudentAdmin@uq.edu.au.

Extracurricular research may be undertaken at various times throughout the UQMD program.

Based on our evidence from students over several years, we recommend engaging in extracurricular research in the second semester and between years of the program.

Extracurricular research does not form part of the UQMD program and is therefore considered work experience.

In Australia, work experience is regulated though the Education (Work Experience) Act 1996 (Qld) which imposes several conditions including measures to ensure students are not exploited and comply with anti-slavery legislation. 

Status of research opportunities by type

Below is a curated list of current research opportunities available to medical students. We will update this list two times each year, around April and September, as new projects become available.

Once you identify a project of interest, we recommend that you follow the suggested project engagement process outlined below.

If you're interested in research opportunities beyond our curated list, we encourage you to take a proactive approach:

• Begin by exploring the UQ Experts website to identify research groups and researchers working in your areas of interest.
• Review their published papers, current projects, and research profiles to understand their focus and methodologies.
• Once you've identified potential supervisors, follow the Suggested Project Engagement Process.

When discussing your potential involvement in a research opportunity, we encourage you to follow these steps:

1. Status: Check the status of research opportunities by type above to ensure it can be supported. If clinical or lab based (external), the project cannot progress at this time.
2. Initial contact: Reach out to the supervisory team via email, expressing your interest in their specific project, include your CV, your year of study, relevant experience, and why you're interested in that particular project.
3. Preliminary discussion: Arrange a meeting (in-person or virtual) with the supervisory team to discuss:
   1. Project aims and methodology
   2. Your potential role and contributions
   3. Skills you'll develop and how they align with your career goals
   4. Preliminary timeline for the project 
4. Define scope of work: Collaborate with supervisors to clearly define:
   1. Specific tasks you'll be responsible for
   2. Expected deliverables
   3. Your exact contribution to the overall project
   4. Confirm your understanding of the above via email to the team
5. Formal confirmation: Obtain written confirmation from the supervisory team that they agree to take you on for the project. This should be documented via email.
6. Time commitment agreement: Establish and document:
   1. Total estimated hours required (remember the 240-hour annual limit)
   2. Weekly time commitment (hours per week)
   3. Project start and end dates
   4. Key milestones and deadlines
7. Documentation submission: Complete the appropriate form based on whether this is a self-arranged or project from the curated list:
   1. For self-arranged projects, complete the MD Student Self-Arranged Research Form
   2. For projects from the curated list above, complete the Unpaid Work Experience Form (PDF, 352.6 KB), following instructions on the form for submission
8. Ongoing check-ins: Schedule regular check-in meetings with your supervisors to discuss progress, challenges, and any necessary adjustments to your role or timeline. 

Maintain a research journal

Document your experiences, challenges, and learning outcomes throughout the project. 

Seek mentorship

Consider finding a senior student or faculty member (outside your supervisory team) who can provide additional guidance. 

Balance academic priorities

Create a semester schedule that balances research commitments with coursework responsibilities. 

Professional development

Identify specific skills you want to develop through the research experience and discuss these with your supervisors. 

Publication planning

Discuss authorship expectations and publication possibilities early in the process. 

Please let us know of any research you are currently undertaking using the MD Student Self-Arranged Research Form.

Please complete the MD Student Research Achievement Form to let us know of your research achievements, such as publications and presentations.

These will be acknowledged on our webpage, and you will receive a certificate in acknowledgement.