James Scholar Program

Class of 2025 James Scholars on Match Day
Class of 2025 James Scholars on Match Day

The James Scholar for Independent Study Program (JS/ISP) focuses on supporting and refining research skills among medical students as they develop into clinical physicians. The James Scholar Program is designed to support medical student researchers during their M2-M4 years, with research projects culminating in high-level activities, such as publication of research papers, presentations at abstracted scientific conferences and academic meetings, the creation of posters at Departmental and College of Medicine events, and other significant contributions related to professional development.

James Scholar Program activities and student evaluations across all three of the University of Illinois College of Medicine regional campuses are designed to enhance student experiences at each campus, as well as combine efforts to create a tri-campus student and faculty learning community. It is expected that all JSP students will participate in these individual and tri-campus activities.

Benefits of Being a James Scholar

The James Scholar Program is designed to help high-ability students develop valuable skills in leadership, research, creativity, and service-learning. A James Scholar is an elite student designation identifying individuals with high-level research interest and abilities.

James Scholars:

  • Represent less than 10% of each class.
  • Represent diverse, stimulating medical student researchers.
  • Foster close relationships with research and clinical faculty members that enrich their education and lead to future opportunities.
  • Access to community-building quarterly activities
  • Access to a statistical seminar series with coding workshops
  • Eligible to receive credits for independent research.
  • Receive the James Scholar designation in the Commencement Program at graduation.
  • Conferred a JSP Medallion at graduation.
  • Receive special notation on the first page of their Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) in the Noteworthy Characteristics section.
  • Do not receive funding or stipends.

How to be a Competitive Candidate

Students interested in applying to be James Scholars should be actively engaged in research at the time of application and be in good academic standing. Research activities should be conducted with well-established academic faculty, beginning in the summer prior to their M2 year. Applicants should have an established relationship with a UI COM faculty member who can serve as the primary mentor throughout the program. Secondary mentors can reside at another academic institution.

Selection Criteria

  1. Good academic standing (promotion to M2 means most are in good academic standing)*
  2. Only Application Packets prepared as a single PDF document will be considered for review.
  3. Cover Letter (including title, statement against use of AI-generated text, and signature)
  4. Curriculum Vitae (CV), prior research experience should be mentioned, described
  5. Personal Statement (detail how being in the program will affect professional development)
  6. Project Abstract
  7. Research Project Summary
  8. Recommendation Letter

* In the event that students have considerations related to academic standing in the future (e.g., repeating a year), requirements to complete or continue in JSP will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Program Requirements

The James Scholar Program provides students with opportunities to establish relationships with faculty mentors who promote longitudinal research programs during the M2-M4 years. As such, the JSP has requirements for program participants.

  • Semi-Annual Reports. A structured project report should include research activities, program accomplishments, and other milestones, and is due November 1 and April 1 of the academic calendar year.
  • Scholarly Participation. As projects mature, participation in a peer-reviewed abstract/poster research event and/or the pursuit of research paper publication and presentation at scientific conferences is required.
  • A final report and presentation to the JSP committee and JSP peers in the student’s M4 year.

Informational Meetings

  • Information Session 1: Tues, Aug 25, 2026 @ 12:00pm via Zoom.
  • Information Session 2: Thurs, Aug 27, 2026 @ 12:00pm via Zoom.
  • Information Session 3: Fri, Aug 28, 2026 @ 12:00 pm in-person in CMWT 220.
  • JSP Application Q & A Session #1: Mon, Sept 21, 2026 @ 12:30pm via Zoom
  • JSP Application Q & A Session #2: Thurs, Sept 24, 2026 @ 12:30pm via Zoom

Important Dates

  • Request for Applications (RFA) Announced: Wed, Aug 19, 2026
  • Window of Opportunity for Optional Draft Application Review & Feedback: Sept 11-19, 2026
  • Deadline for Completed JSP Applications: Mon, Sept 28, 2026 @ 12:00pm CST
  • Initial Application Packet & Materials Review by JSP Leadership: Sept 29-Oct 5, 2026
  • Distribution of Application to Faculty Reviewers: Tues, Oct 6, 2026
  • Faculty Reviews Completed & Returned: Fri, Nov 13, 2026
  • Final Reviews Completed: Nov 19-23, 2026
  • Candidates Notified of Results: Wed, Dec 2, 2026

Application Process

Only complete applications, submitted as a single PDF document and containing all requisite components, will be reviewed by a committee composed of UIC faculty. Proceed to How to Be a Competitive Candidate Page for links to assistive tools to create your application and informational meeting recordings.

Application Scoring

This is a breakdown of the points system and how each applicant is measured.

Worth 1 point

  • Identifies title of proposed research project.
  • Acknowledges that the proposal was written by the applicant as primary author and that AI or other internet-based writing programs were not used in the development of the application.
  • Provides signature of applicant.

Worth 9 points

Limit 2 pages:

  • Prior research experience should be highlighted.

Worth 20 points

20 points total for these 3 topics, 1 page:

  • Summary of interest in research.
  • Detailing how participation will affect professional development.
  • Plan for continuity of research.

Worth 5 points

  • 150 words or less.

Worth 50 points

Materials not to exceed 5 single-spaced pages. References listed as the last page, does not count toward the 5-page limit. Margins not smaller than ½ an inch, and minimum 11-point Arial font. Recommended sections:

  • Literature Review
  • Current Level of Collaboration
  • Research Aims
  • Proposed Methods
  • Relevant Analytic/Evaluation Strategies
  • Anticipated Outcomes & Outputs
  • Planned Outputs (e.g., COM poster, paper, etc.)
  • Sustainability into Professional Career

Worth 15 points

Include letter of support from your research mentor within your pdf application packet: do not attach separately. Not to exceed 2 pages. The letter should cover:

  • Summary of Collaboration
  • Role in Supporting Student
  • How Project Extends Previous Work
  • Date of Letter Composition & Mentor’s Signature

Questions?

Feel free to contact:

  • Anand Srivastava, MD, MPH

    Director of the James Scholar Program
    Associate Professor of Medicine – Division of Nephrology
    asrivast@uic.edu

  • Kelly Lynn Hogan, MA, MFA

    Phase 2/3 Medical Education Coordinator
    klhogan@uic.edu
    (312) 355-0521