The Stroke Research Associate Program within the University of Minnesota Stroke Division focuses on the longitudinal development of research and clinical skills applicable to future clinicians and researchers.
The first-year Stroke Research Associate program consists of foundational experience within teams conducting impactful clinical research.
The Senior Research Associate program builds upon this framework incorporating in-hospital experience that includes conducting pivotal clinical trials and working directly with the stroke team.
Although typically geared towards highly motivated pre-meds and medical students at the University of Minnesota, all students with an interest in clinical neuroscience and stroke may apply.
Research Associates participate in stroke clinical research under the mentorship of the Stroke Research Lab leading to conference presentations and manuscript publications. The dedicated research curriculum and guided mentorship support the development and advancement of essential clinical research skills.
Minimum commitment: An average 5 hours/week for 12 months.
Training, Onboarding, and Research Project
- Guided Clinical Research Onboarding: Human Subjects Protection (CITI) training and NERS application process (including electronic medical record training and learning modules)
- Join clinical research project under the mentorship of our Lab including: Individual Faculty, Research Coordinators, Stroke Research Fellows, and Senior Research Associates
- Research Associates' primary roles include data abstraction, chart review, and analysis.
- Research Associates with meaningful contributions to their projects will have authorship on conference presentations and manuscript publications
Additional Academic Opportunities and Recognition
- May attend UMN Stroke Program didactic conferences and neuroradiology conferences
- Join the UMN Stroke Program for community outreach and education
- Present research at the UMN Neurology Department Kennedy Research Symposium and/or the UMN Center for Learning Health Sciences Symposium
- Submit research to local, national, and international conferences
- Letters of recommendation
- Stroke Research Award
Stroke Research Award Requirements
In recognition of their clinical research skills and valuable contribution to their research projects, Research Associates will receive a Stroke Research Award from the UMN Stroke Research Lab upon meeting the following criteria:
- Complete the University of Minnesota’s research onboarding modules
- Complete the Lab’s Research Associate training curriculum
- Attend monthly Stroke Research Lab meetings and individual project meetings
- Fulfill all programmatic expectations
- Uphold the highest standard of integrity
- Complete 12 months of research on a Stroke Research Lab project
Stroke Research Associates who have received their Stroke Research Award may apply to the Senior Research Associate Program. In addition to more advanced roles on research projects, the Senior Research Associate Program features additional research training that includes clinical research in the hospital with the UMN Stroke Program, incorporation into our clinical trial coordinator team, and mentorship roles within our lab.
Minimum commitment: An average 5 hours/week for 12 months on a clinical research project, scheduled shifts conducting clinical trials for patients who are critically ill or have medical emergencies, such as stroke.
Training, Onboarding, and Research
- Guided Clinical Research Onboarding: Learning modules for in-person clinical research, in-person/on-site NERS application, dedicated reviews of active clinical trials including physiology, clinical evidence, and inclusion/exclusion criteria.
- Continue previous clinical research projects started as a Research Associate.
- Senior Research Associates' primary roles include data abstraction, chart review, data analysis, abstract preparation, conference poster design, and manuscript drafting.
- Senior Research Associates with meaningful contribution to their projects will have authorship on conference presentations and manuscript publications
- Serve as a peer-mentor for incoming Research Associates to help them onboard, develop their research skills, and integrate into the Lab
- Join our nationally-recognized Acute Care Research Coordinator (ACRC) team to screen and enroll patients in pivotal clinical trials of medical emergencies
- Round with the Stroke Team to screen and enroll patients in stroke clinical trials while observing interventional stroke treatment, learning neuroimaging, and experiencing inpatient clinical care
Additional Academic Opportunities and Recognition
- May attend UMN Stroke Program didactic conferences and neuroradiology conferences
- May attend NIH StrokeNet Grand Rounds
- Join the UMN Stroke Program for community outreach and education
- Present research at the UMN Neurology Department Kennedy Research Symposium and/or the UMN Center for Learning Health Sciences Symposium
- Submit research to local, national, and international conferences
- Stroke team inpatient rounding experience as above
- Mentorship in operationalizing and implementing successful clinical trials from the ACRC
- Apply for Travel Grants and Young Investigator Awards
- Letters of recommendation
- Honors Thesis in conjunction with Stroke Faculty Advisors
- Advanced Stroke Research Award and stipend to attend a national stroke or neurology conference
Advanced Stroke Research Award Requirements
In recognition of their advanced clinical research skills and valuable contribution to their research projects, Senior Research Associates will receive an Advanced Stroke Research Award (including stipend to attend a national academic conference) from the UMN Stroke Research Lab upon meeting the following criteria:
- Complete the Lab’s Senior Research Associate training curriculum and onboarding to participate in in-person clinical trials research
- Attend monthly Stroke Lab meetings and individual project meetings.
- Fulfill all programmatic expectations
- Uphold the highest standard of integrity
- Complete 12 months of research on a Stroke Research Lab project
- Participate in in-person clinical trial recruitment for 12 months