PITT/UPMC Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center (BMRC) Orthopaedic Surgery Research Fellowship 2025-2026 Application

Deadline: March 1, 2025 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh-UPMC invites medical students between their third and fourth years, to apply for the 2025-2026 BMRC Orthopaedic Surgery Clinical Research Fellowship. This paid position provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with distinguished faculty, gaining invaluable clinical and research experience that enhances the fellow’s ability to match into an orthopaedic surgery residency. The fellowship begins in Spring/Summer 2025. 

The selected fellow will work directly with Dr. Joon Lee, Orland Bethel Professor in Spine Surgery, and Dr. John Fowler, Associate Residency Program Director. The research fellow will coordinate projects across two primary research groups under the BMRC: The Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Spine Research (POSR) Group, led by Dr. Lee, and the Surgery of the Upper Extremity (SUPER) Group, led by Dr. Fowler. Research projects will span a variety of orthopaedic subspecialties, with a focus on spine and hand and upper extremity research. The fellow will work directly with residents and attendings on existing projects and initiate new ones, with the opportunity to observe both inpatient and outpatient clinical activities and gain exposure in the operating room.

The primary responsibility of the fellow will be to coordinate and organize ~60 ongoing clinical research projects. This includes managing multiple research teams, handling administrative tasks, managing IRBs, and overseeing inter-institutional collaborations. Key duties include:

• Coordinating other team members and assigning responsibilities
• Designing novel studies and contributing intellectual value to the BMRC
• Facilitating collaborations across institutions
• Managing IRB submissions and approvals
• Submitting abstracts and posters to regional and national conferences
• Preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals
• Conducting chart reviews and database management

Another crucial part of this fellowship will involve serving as the Biospecimen Facilitator for the BMRC BioBank, a multimillion-dollar funded biospecimen project. The fellow will work with multiple orthopaedic surgeons at UPMC across various specialties to manage tissue sample consents and coordinate OR schedules. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Managing consent acquisition across surgical specialties
• Coordinating with surgeons and their OR schedules
• Collaborating with the Pathology Department for tissue acquisition and proper handling
• Maintaining organized records of patient participation and surgeries

The fellow must be dependable, proactive, self-motivated, and highly organized, with exceptional communication skills to ensure the seamless coordination of multiple complex projects across clinical and research settings. Although not required, we would prefer a fellow with previous orthopaedic research experience

During your time in this fellowship, you will have the opportunity to publish 15+ articles in peer-reviewed journals and present multiple abstracts at conferences. You will also have access to weekly educational conferences, monthly Grand Rounds with leading orthopaedic experts, and networking opportunities with faculty and residents throughout the year.

Application Requirements

• Cover letter (including expected start and end dates)
• CV
• Unofficial transcript
• USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores (if completed)
• 1 letter of recommendation is required (preferably from an orthopaedic surgeon); 2 preferred.
• Demonstrated prior research engagement (can be non-orthopaedic) via either publications or presentations

Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and CC This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any inquiries regarding the fellowship.

This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for motivated individuals to strengthen their orthopaedic surgery applications, build a strong research portfolio, and gain exposure to all facets of academic orthopaedics. We look forward to reviewing your application and welcoming you to the Orland Bethel Family Musculoskeletal Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh-UPMC.

APPLY HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5ZMB-OSL_Plisesx6rk5vkwOesKmeXiezMvOx8m7LvDwKcQ/viewform?usp=sf_link