Research Live! Fairs
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine hosts two Research Live! Fairs each year—one held during the two-week POMI immersion course and a second offered later in the fall. These events are designed to help first-year VTCSOM medical students and TBMH students explore the wide range of research opportunities available at VTC.
Replacing the former presentation-based “Research Live!” format, the fairs emphasize informal, face-to-face interactions that allow students to meet research teams, ask questions, and learn about ongoing projects across the institution. This more conversational structure has been met with enthusiastic feedback, offering students a more engaging and personalized way to connect with potential mentors.
The fairs are open to prospective mentors from Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, as well as other research partners, including but not limited to the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, CHIP of Roanoke Valley, and Children’s National Medical Center.
These events play an important role in welcoming our new students and introducing them to the vibrant research community at VTC.
Year 1
Classroom-based course (biomedical research fundamentals, biostatistics, epidemiology, ethics)
Identify research mentor and project
Project proposal
3 weeks of fulltime research
Year 2
Minimum of 4.5 hours per week during each 6-week block
4 special studies weeks available after each exam week (assuming no remediation)
At least 8 weeks of full-time research during spring
Year 3
4 weeks of full-time research at some point during the academic years
Elective research time available
Year 4
2 weeks of full-time research at some point during the academic year
Medical Student Research Requirements
- Research proposal (oral and written) during spring of Year 1
- Research reports due at end of each Year 2 block
- Oral presentation during spring of Year 2
- Research rotation reports at end of Year 3 and Year 4 rotations
- Draft manuscript due in June of Year 3
- Final oral presentation in June of Year 3
- Submission of research abstract to a conference/meeting (travel funds available)
- Final manuscript due in February of Year 4
- Poster presentation at VTCSOM Student Research Symposium (spring of Year 4)
Medical Student Research Success
Publications with VTCSOM medical students
Presentations at regional, national, and international meetings
*From 2014-21, based on eight graduating classes with a total of 318 graduates.