Research Support Specialist/Med Research Student

This position is open to medical students who have completed at least two years of medical school and can dedicate a year to research (as part of their medical school program between MS3 and MS4 years).  The Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery Medical Student Research Fellowship at the University of South Florida (USF), Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM), is a one-year, mentored research position offered annually to one qualified medical student pursuing a dermatology residency.

This position is time limited.

• Participate in onboarding and complete required training in ethical research conduct and data management
• Collaborate with assigned faculty mentor within the department
• Work with research staff to develop and execute a year-long plan for clinical research projects and reporting
• Contribute to the design, coordination, and implementation of clinical research studies
• Submit progress reports on a quarterly basis, including a mid-term and final report
• Participate in clinical observation activities as directed and attend departmental educational sessions (e.g., Grand Rounds, journal clubs, professional society meetings)
• Assist with preparation of research materials, including abstracts, manuscripts, and presentations

Position Expectations and Outcomes:

• Contribute to the completion of approximately 5–10 clinical research projects and support submission for conference presentation and/or publication
• Participate in additional ongoing research initiatives, contributing to both individual and team-based projects
• Support development of reproducible, high-quality research in a collaborative environment
• Deliver presentations during departmental meetings to enhance communication and presentation skills
• Submit at least one abstract to USF Health Research Day
• Present a summary of research activities and key findings at the conclusion of the appointment
   

Minimum Qualifications:
•    Current enrollment in an accredited medical school program
•    Expected to be entering or completing the third year of medical school
•    Applicants must have demonstrated a career interest in dermatology. 

Required Documents/Materials:
•    Step 1 report
•    Medical school transcript
•    Current CV in MCOM format
•    Letter of good standing from home medical school 
•    One faculty letter of recommendation from home medical school 
•    Letter of Intent (maximum one page) describing your career goals, research interests, and motivation for applying
•    Short proposal (≤200 words) for a potential research project of interest (feasibility to be assessed at fellowship start)

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Prior research experience (academic or clinical)
 

Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.

 SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an
alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration
required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the
advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the