The ASCI PSSF Fellowship is a fully funded, medical school gap-year opportunity for MD-only students to engage in rigorous, immersive training with research mentors. Previously known as the Physician-Scientist Support Foundation Medical Scholars Research Fellowship (PSSF MSRF), the ASCI PSSF Fellowship continues to offer a 12-month training experience in biomedical research under the supervision of a principal investigator mentor.
The Fellowship will be overseen by the ASCI Council and supported by the former PSSF board members, who will continue their role as stewards and ambassadors of the Fellowship, now serving as the ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee.
The ASCI awards five PSSF Fellowships annually. Candidates propose research projects and, if selected, conduct laboratory research under the close guidance of their respective mentors. Fellowships are awarded based on the applicant’s potential to maintain their research trajectory and become a physician-scientist.
To ensure continued excellence and diversity among applicants and awardees, ASCI welcomes applications from all qualified students and encourages applications from women and members of groups underrepresented in medicine and science.
With these awards, the ASCI seeks to encourage and inspire emerging physician-scientists through participation in the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting, and virtual community activities throughout the year.
Nominations for the 2025-2026 ASCI PSSF Fellowship are currently open, details can be found here.
An eligible ASCI PSSF Fellow nominee:
- is a single-degree allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medical student interested in a dual career in research and patient care. They may not be enrolled in a combined MD/PhD program, a PhD program, a PharmD, an ScD program, or have completed a PhD, PharmD, or an ScD in a laboratory-based science.
- may apply during any year of their medical school studies; applicants in the last year of school must defer graduation until the completion of the fellowship year.
- can commit to 12 months of continuous, full-time laboratory research with minimal interruptions.
- is a United States citizen and U.S. permanent resident currently enrolled in a medical school in the United States.
- is not required to have prior laboratory research experience.
The ASCI PSSF Fellow Nominee must:
- secure a mentor with active research programs, sustained external grant support, a strong record of training students, and the time and interest to train the applicant. Mentors need not be ASCI members.
- develop a research plan in consultation with their mentor – who will directly supervise the proposed research – and make arrangements to work in the mentor’s laboratory. The ASCI will not make these arrangements.
- propose a research project in the basic, translational, or applied biomedical sciences. The ASCI PSSF Fellowship does not fund clinical, health services, or health policy research at this time.
- submit all application components online by February 3, 2025. Materials include: a brief biographical statement, comprehensive research plan, and a research mentor recommendation (250-word limit).
- choose an academic or non-profit research institution in the United States as their fellowship institution. It need not be the student’s medical school, but cannot be a government laboratory.
ASCI PSSF Fellowship Nomination and Selection Process:
- ASCI PSSF Fellowship cycles are annual, and typically begin in mid-fall.
- The Fellowship’s 12-month term is consecutive, and will begin no earlier than June 1 and end no later than September 1.
- Applicants must be nominated by their medical school dean, who can submit only one applicant per competition year.
- Medical school deans will send the applicant’s name and email address to programs@the-asci.org. A brief statement of support is encouraged but not required.
- Quality of training is evaluated through the research plan and information provided in the mentor’s endorsement, including the mentor’s research qualifications, e.g. expertise and publication record in the research area, and external grant support to fund the research project for the entire proposed fellowship term.
- The review committee will evaluate the impact of the research experience and how it would further the applicant’s development in relation to the level of any previous research experience
The ASCI PSSF Fellowship Includes:
- a $42,000 stipend and an additional allowance of $8,000 for health insurance and travel expenses.
- access to a monthly seminar series with ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee mentors and special guest speakers.
- a mid-year celebration to present fellowship research findings.
- complimentary registration to AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting including invitations to our:
- Small Group Dinner with the ASCI PSSF Advisory Committee,
- Early Career Award Welcome Reception,
- ASCI Dinner and New Member Induction Ceremony,
- Food & Science Evening, and
- ASCI/AAIM/BWF Research Pathway Directors Workshop.
- Access to ASCI’s virtual community programming, including our:
- Scientific-Sessions – a virtual spotlight, held every two months, on distinguished investigators and their contributions to the field of biomedical research,
- peer review groups and near-peer mentoring opportunities, and
- activities on various biomedical topics led by established physician-scientists.
Important Program Dates:
- Online Application Opens: November 25, 2024
- Dean Nomination Deadline: January 6, 2025
- Application Deadline: February 3, 2025
- Finalist Interview Period: March 10, 2025 – March 14, 2025
- Award Notification Date: March 17, 2025
- Award Acceptance Deadline: March 25, 2025
Contact
For information or questions, contact us at programs@the-asci.org.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay for this program?
No. In addition to tuition, fellows are provided funds for health care and conference travel
Note — The mentor’s institution can choose to supplement the stipend with internal funding, for example, if they are located in a high-cost-of-living city.
How will the funds be transferred from the ASCI?
$42,000 of funds will be transferred as a grant to the fellow’s host institution and the remaining $8,000 stipend for health insurance and travel expenses will be disbursed to the fellow in a lump sum. The total grant amount is $50,000 per year..
Is a 12-month commitment required?
Yes, you must commit to 12 concurrent months of your time.
Is health insurance provided?
No, fellows will be awarded $8,000 for health insurance and travel to the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting.
Is travel required?
Yes, complimentary registration and program access to the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting is included in the fellowship. The Joint Meeting will take place in Chicago, April 24-27, 2025.
Can I apply if I am not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States?
No, you must be a United States citizen, and a permanent resident currently enrolled in a medical school in the United States.
Can the fellowship institution be located outside the US?
No. You must choose an academic or non-profit research institution in the United States as your fellowship institution. It need not be the student’s medical school, but cannot be a government laboratory.
Am I eligible to apply if I have no laboratory research experience?
Yes. We recognize the journey to becoming a physician-scientist is long and often needs an accelerator to begin. To be eligible for this program, applicants must propose a mentored research project in the basic, translational, or applied biomedical sciences and discuss why they are interested in biomedical research in their personal statement.
Who should write my letter of recommendation?
You and your research project mentor may assist your dean in preparing their 250-word letter of recommendation, which they will upload to begin the application process. Your research project mentor will have an opportunity to provide a separate 250-word statement of support.
How will applications be evaluated?
Your fellowship candidacy will be evaluated based on the feasibility and scientific rigor of your proposed research project, as well as the strength of your commitment and your potential to successfully advance into a career as a physician-scientist.
Quality of training is evaluated through the research plan and information provided in the mentor’s endorsement, including the mentor’s research qualifications, e.g. expertise and publication record in the research area, and external grant support to fund the research project for the entire proposed fellowship term.