MD with Special Training in Research (STIR) Guidelines

How is this Special Training in Research Recognized?

Successful completion of the program results in the notation, MD (With Special Training In Research) appearing on your U of A transcript and medical diploma.

  1. APPLY TO ENTER THE MD WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN RESEARCH (STIR) PROGRAM.

    A completed application must be submitted by February 1st prior to the student's final summer of eligible research. The application includes:

    1. Research Proposal

      To participate in the STIR Program, you must find a supervisor who is willing to spend the time needed to direct an agreed upon research project.

      Having decided upon a suitable project, with guidance from the supervisor, you will write a short proposal. A suitable proposal is one for which the research can be carried out over the course of the summer, although it likely will form a small part of a larger project or clinical trial. It needs to provide suitable opportunity for exercising research skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and/or statistical analysis. Projects that require Ethics approval must have this in place before the proposed projects starts. The requirements for this proposal are specified on the STIR Application Form. Briefly, the proposal will include:

      • A description of the specific research project, differentiated from the supervisor's overall research program. This will include the rationale and specific objective(s) for the proposed research, with reference (journal format) to the most relevant literature. If you are continuing on with the same research group as the previous summer, the progress of the earlier summer's research experience might be summarized. The candidate should be prepared to improve any perceived weakness in his/her proposal if requested to do so by the Committee.

      NOTE: Any changes to the project you are accepted into the program with, must be submitted to the Chair of the MD with Special Training in Research Program by the end of May, prior to starting the project. If your project changes and you have not had your new project reviewed and approved by the Chair of the Program, you will no longer be considered enrolled in the STIR Program.

    2. Past Supervisor's Appraisal

      As part of the application process, we require a confidential evaluation of your performance from your supervisor. Please print the evaluation form MD with STIR Supervisor's Evaluation Form (PDF, 10 KB) and ask your most recent research supervisor to complete and return the form in confidence by February 1 to: STIR, Office of Research, 2J2.11 WMC.

    3. Non U of A, Non U of C Supervisors

      Although most of the students in the STIR Program carry out their research at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary, we recognize that there may be circumstances in which a student wishes to perform her/his summer of research at another academic institution. In this case, we require a CV from the proposed supervisor in order to ensure the research setting will provide the appropriate level of academic excellence. The CV should not exceed five pages and should include:

      1. publications from the last five years only,
      2. trainees during the last five years only, and
      3. current sources of funding.

      Alternately, the CIHR or NSERC CV Modules or the NIH Biographical Sketch may be used. Approval from the Chair will be granted as part of the application process and does not require prior notification.

    4. Completed Application Form

      Submit your completed application package (original plus three copies) to the Office of Research, 2J2.11 WMC before 4:00 p.m. on February 1. If February 1 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is 9:00 a.m. on the next working day. Late applications will not be considered except in the most extenuating circumstances.

      N.b. The applications are reviewed by the members of the MD Research Committee and notification regarding whether a proposal is acceptable or not will be provided by the beginning of April.

  2. COMPLETE THE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS

    In addition to completing the 24 weeks of eligible research experience, you must make at least one oral presentation of your research during the summer of your acceptance into the program. This presentation must be made prior to submission of your final report. The presentation is to be at least ten minutes in length and will be followed by a question period of not less than 5 minutes. .This obligatory presentation is usually made to your research group or department. A letter from the PI outlining the details (date/place/audience/length of presentation) is required.

  3. SUBMIT THE FINAL REPORT OF YOUR RESEARCH TO THE MD RESEARCH EVALUATION COMMITTEE

    The final written report to the MD Research Committee must consist of:

    • the original plus three copies of the final written report
    • the original plus three copies of your report of your contributions to the research
    • a supervisor evaluation form. (mailed and signed over the seal by the supervisor)

    These documents must be submitted by the before 4:00 pm on the last Monday in September of the year that the research requirement is completed. This deadline is firm and late reports will not be accepted.

    This report usually covers only one research topic - that of your second summer of research, which should be the research described in the proposal you submitted in February. Completion of the requirement includes submission of the final written report and a final oral presentation, which will be scheduled for later in the fall (for STIR students, not MLS students).

    THE FINAL WRITTEN REPORT

    1. Your Report on Research Completed

      The written report is to be no longer than five double-spaced, paginated, titled and typed (font size 10 or greater with margins of 1 inch on all sides) pages (excluding charts, figures, references, and tables), on 8-1/2" x 11" paper. This does not include your report on your contributions to the research. The report will include:

      Click here Sample Abstract for a sample abstract.

      Including background information and the specific objectives of the research;

      Including the Methods used and the Results obtained. Selected tables and figures may be appended;

      Of the Results in context of the current literature;

      A list of all references

      (please ensure your name and project title are included)

    2. Your Report on Your Contributions to the Research

      Your Contributions to the Research summary should not exceed one double-spaced, typed page, and should be appended to the Report.

      Because a supervisor may conduct many interrelated research projects, it is important that you define your specific contributions to the project. Keeping in mind that research is an intellectual as well as physical undertaking, you should:

      • list the day-to-day work associated with the project
      • indicate your role in such activities as the selection of the research topic, the methodologies to be used, the actual development of a protocol or method, the evaluation of data, and the preparation of the results in abstracts, papers, etc. Include here the title of any poster or oral research presentations made (e.g. to research group, Summer Student Seminar Sessions, Student's Research Day, at a particular national or international scientific meeting).

      Please include titles of any papers in preparation, submitted, in press, or published. Also acknowledge here all significant assistance from others including the source of financial support for the research and for your personal support.

    3. Supervisor's Evaluation of Your Contributions to the Research

      The supervisor who you were admitted into the program with is required to complete an evaluation form MD with STIR Supervisor's Evaluation Form (PDF, 10 KB). At the conclusion of your final summer of research, make certain that your supervisor has this form and is aware that it must be forwarded in a sealed envelope by the last Monday in September of the year that the research requirement is completed to:

      • STIR, Office of Research
        Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
        2J2.11 WMC

  4. THE FINAL ORAL PRESENTATION

    The final oral presentation to the MD Research Committee will be scheduled in October or November of the year that your 24 weeks of eligible research is completed. The subject of your oral presentation should be the same research described in the written report. This should also be the same research described in the original proposal used for the application to the program. The Committee will review the written report before the oral presentation. Your Supervisor will be invited to attend the presentation to the committee.

    Note: This presentation may be delayed only under highly extenuating circumstances and the advance consent of the Chair of the MD Research Committee.

    The oral report should be ten minutes in length and should provide an overview of your research. You should be prepared to answer questions on any aspect of the work you have described, and to demonstrate a good practical understanding of the scientific process in general (see item 5 below). The oral defense will be evaluated by members of the MD Research Committee. The final report, oral presentation and oral defense are the equivalent to the defense of an honours thesis and there are therefore no re-examinations.

    Final decisions on completion of the program will be made by the MD Research Committee after all program requirements (items 1 through 6) have been met and after all STIR presentations are completed. All STIR students and their supervisors will be notified of the outcome by mid-December. Any appeals should be directed to the Associate Dean, Research.

  5. DEMONSTRATE PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROCESS

    To successfully complete the STIR program, the student must be able to demonstrate a good practical understanding of the entire scientific process, including development, formulation and testing of hypotheses, experimental design, and validation, presentation, analysis and interpretation of results (in the context of all other available scientific information).

  6. CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE ACADEMIC STANDING BY THE END OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR IN THE MD PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE COMPONENT.

    Upon graduation, a student who has successfully completed the Program will have the MD (With Special Training In Research) notation entered on both the official U of A transcript and diploma. The failure of a student to complete the requirements for the STIR Program will in no way affect his/her MD degree.

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