Summer Research Exploration Program

The Mayo Clinic Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery's Summer Research Exploration Program is a paid internship for undergraduate students who are interested in careers in medicine, science or healthcare. The program supports undergraduate students who may have faced limited access to resources or opportunities commonly available to others pursuing careers in the healthcare field. The program aims to improve participants' postgraduate program application competitiveness through dedicated research experience, clinical and operative exposure, embedded mentorship, graduate school exam preparation, and career development.

The program includes a 10-week on-campus program in addition to, on average, two years of mentorship and career development — from completion of the summer experience until matriculation into medical or graduate school.

Through the Summer Research Exploration Program, students gain exposure to a wide breadth of the medical field. They also gain research experience with close one-on-one mentoring by a resident physician and faculty team. Students have the opportunity to shadow Mayo Clinic otolaryngologists one day a week in the clinic and operating room. In addition, students may shadow experts in fields outside the department, including but not limited to specialists in:

• Cardiology.
• Emergency medicine.
• General surgery.
• Hematology.
• Obstetrics and gynecology.
• Medical oncology.
• Pathology.
• Radiation oncology.
• Radiology.
• Urology.

Students gain valuable experience assisting throughout the department with basic science projects, clinical research projects or both. The Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery offers students the opportunity to see many different career paths in medicine, tailoring the experience to each student's specific interests.

For the first week of the summer, students participate in a research boot camp to gain insight into the research process. In addition, they participate in an on-site graduate school exam preparation course for the MCAT or GRE through The Princeton Review, except for students who have already completed their chosen exams. Students participate in weekly didactic sessions and are invited to attend all applicable departmental events. During the final week of the program, students give presentations of their work, complete draft abstracts and work with their mentors to identify target meeting deadlines for their abstracts.

The ultimate goal of the program is to help students create competitive applications for their postgraduate education programs of choice. To support this goal, faculty, near-peer and program director mentors identify opportunities to submit the team's work to a regional or national conference. The program provides funding for each student to attend as either a presenter or member of the research team and to finalize manuscripts.

Mentors prepare students to take their graduate exams, including helping create study schedules, identifying supplementary tutoring opportunities, and providing frequent debriefs and encouragement. Before students submit their graduate applications, the program works with them to review their applications, facilitate mock interviews and help financially support applications. Finally, the program engages alumni to provide insight and guidance to younger students.

Preparation for success

Mayo Clinic's Summer Research Exploration Program is distinguished by careful attention to key elements in students' career development, including a strong focus on the creation of a highly competitive application to graduate school. Faculty and resident mentors are incredibly committed and successful in creating projects that our students can support or drive, resulting in tangible representation of their work through presentations, abstract submissions and publications that strengthen participants' CVs.

The program's high publication rate is a testament to faculty mentors' and students' deep commitment. In addition, the high-quality graduate school preparatory coursework provided through The Princeton Review ensures that students are able to block out the necessary time and commit to studying and taking their graduate school exam.

Mentorship

Each Summer Research Exploration Program student is paired with a primary faculty mentor and near-peer mentor — such as a medical student, resident, fellow, postdoc or junior faculty member — and meets weekly with the faculty research mentor. The program also connects students with nonacademic mentors to provide additional support as students navigate professional and academic career pathways.

Availability and funding

Mayo Clinic's Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery offers up to five positions within the department and five within partnering departments. Funding includes:

• Stipend.
• Relocation stipend.
• Professional clothing.
• The Princeton Review graduate school exam preparation course.
• Research project.
• Attendance at a regional and national conference.
• Support for applications to graduate school.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for the Summer Research Exploration Program are as follows.

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. undergraduate school or have graduated within one year before the program start. Preference is given to those in their third year of undergraduate education.
• Applicants must be interested in medicine, science or healthcare as a career.
• All students are encouraged to apply, including those who may have faced limited access to resources or opportunities commonly available to others pursuing careers in medicine, healthcare or science.
• Applicants must be permanent U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. This appointment does not provide visa sponsorship, including F-1, F-1 OPT or F-1 OPT STEM extension.
• Applicants must be willing to commit to a 10-week program that begins the first week of June and ends in early- to mid-August.
• Applicants must complete background checks and screens before the program start date.
• Each applicant must complete a postoffer placement assessment at least 10 business days before the program start date. This may require arrival in Rochester, Minnesota, before the start date.

Application checklist

To apply, provide the following:

• Personal statement. Include a one-page statement introducing yourself and sharing why you would like to pursue the Summer Research Exploration Program.
• Resume or CV.
• One letter of recommendation. This does not need to be from a physician, but a letter from a mentor, scientist, or educator or professor who knows you well is preferred.
• Current college or university transcript. This can be an unofficial transcript.

Alumni

2025-2026

Vivian Agugo
Carleton College

Alex D. Allen
Fayetteville State University

Katherine G. Bragg
Emory University

Jayla L. Curtis
Arizona State University

Amir S. Etemadi
Carleton College

Kayla Joseph
Barnard College

Farhiya Khalif
University of Minnesota

Manny Uzobuife
University of Notre Dame

Hernan A. Vargas
University of Nebraska

Renthony Wilson Jr.
Xavier University of Louisiana

2024-2025

Hafsa Aden
University of Minnesota

Nadia A. Andrews
Alabama A&M University

Abraham Babalola
Tuskegee University

Mikylah Blackshire
Prairie View A&M University

Kezia Dentley
Bethune-Cookman University

Lydia Ekama
Ohio Wesleyan University

David Hernandez Montealegre
New Mexico State University

Romaissa Khaldi
Middlebury College

Aja Leatherwood
Case Western Reserve University

Andrea Maraone
Florida International University

2023-2024

Ivonne Arguelles
University of Notre Dame

Juan Bayona
University of Texas

Faith Hodo
Spelman College

Tafadzwa Mapiki
Youngstown State University

Andre Nichols
Virginia Commonwealth University

Tiffany Nyamao
Carleton College

Gloria Rodriguez
University of California

Amadou Toure
Carleton College

2022-2023

• David Aka
• Yesmeen Elgabori
• Ralph Fleuranvil
• Aniya Keaton
• Ronsard Mondesir
• Jayla Schoffner

2021-2022

• Ivie Arasomwan
• Ahmed Eltahir
• Amaka Lebechi