Harvard/MIT Equitable Access to Research Training

About HEART:

The Harvard/MIT Equitable Access to Research Training (HEART) MD-PhD Summer Program was established by Harvard/MIT MD-PhD students in 2022 in response to a need for increased diversity in the physician-scientist career path. The HEART Program is a fully-funded summer program for undergraduate students interested in pursuing MD-PhD training. It is a track of the Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine—broadly defined—are especially encouraged to apply.

Program Highlights

Over the course of ten weeks, HEART Scholars will:

• Live with other HEART/SHURP Scholars in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, MA
• Work on a research project under the mentorship of a Harvard faculty member
• Learn how to prepare oral, written, and poster presentations of their research
• Present a poster at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium
• Present an oral presentation at the Annual SHURP Symposium
• Gain longitudinal mentorship with HEART Program leadership and a current MD-PhD student mentor
• Participate in weekly seminars and workshops
• Shadow clinicians at Harvard teaching hospitals
• Gain hands-on experience in clinical simulations and skills workshops

Financial Support:

HEART Scholars receive a competitive stipend (typically $5,000), housing near the Harvard Medical School campus, and reimbursement for travel expenses to/from Boston.

Important Dates:

Applications for the HEART Summer Program must be submitted before February 1, 2025. The 2025 program will be 9 weeks and run from Sunday, June 8 to Saturday, August 9.

Additional Application Information

Applications for Summer 2025 are now open until February 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PT.

The HEART Summer Program application process includes two components: (1) the Leadership Alliance SR-EIP application, and (2) the HEART supplementary application. Each year, applications open on November 1st and close on February 1st at 11:59pm PT.

You must submit an application through the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) and designate Harvard University Division of Medical Sciences as one of your application recipients. Required SR-EIP application materials include the following:

A personal statement explaining your goals, research interest and experience and why you want to participate in the summer program (no more than 1,000 words)

Two strong letters of recommendation that speak to your work in the lab and in the classroom

A demonstrated commitment to scientific research, as shown by coursework, research, and recommendations

Unofficial transcript(s) in PDF format

Link to SR-EIP Application

Link to HEART Application