[PRE-MED] Clinical Research Assistant 2026-27
Position Title: Clinical Research Assistant
Positions Available: 1
Duration: 1 year
Who: Upcoming pre-med graduates who plan to attend medical school, and seeking a gap-year to complete research in orthopaedic sports medicine. Please note, we are unable to sponsor any international applicants at this time.
Where: Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Sports Medicine. Chicago, IL.
When: Beginning May 2026
Salary: A monthly stipend is provided
Position Overview
Brian J. Cole, Acting Chair and Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center and Section Head of the Cartilage Restoration Center, invites motivated pre-medical students to apply for a clinical research assistantship at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.This position provides immersive exposure to high-volume clinical research in orthopaedic sports medicine, with particular emphasis on cartilage restoration, orthobiologics, knee and shoulder pathology, and outcomes-based research. The fellow will work within Dr. Cole’s established research infrastructure alongside medical students, residents, fellows, and research staff.The position is designed for highly motivated, self-directed individuals who are strongly considering a career in medicine and are seeking rigorous preparation through meaningful research productivity, mentorship, and exposure to academic orthopaedics.
Current Areas of Active Research Include
- Cartilage restoration and preservation techniques
- Orthobiologic therapies (BMAC, PRP, cell-based and scaffold-based approaches)
- Patient-reported outcomes and longitudinal clinical follow-up
- Procedure-specific outcomes and comparative effectiveness studies
- Knee and shoulder sports-medicine pathology
- Clinical decision-making algorithms and treatment frameworks
Responsibilities
The Clinical Research Assistant will work closely with Dr. Cole’s research team and assist with:
- Coordination of multiple concurrent clinical research projects
- IRB submissions, amendments, and regulatory tracking
- Data collection in clinic and operating room settings
- Patient follow-up and outcomes data management
- Data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation
- Drafting and editing manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters
- Assisting with literature reviews and study design
- Participation in weekly research meetings with faculty and trainees
- Research related patient communication
Prerequisites & Applicant Characteristics
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Clear motivation for a career in medicine, with interest in orthopaedic surgery
- Strong academic performance and work ethic
- Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and reliability
- Ability to self-manage and work independently in a fast-paced environment
- Comfort handling multiple projects simultaneously
- Prior research experience preferred but not required
- Experience with data analysis or statistical software (Excel, SPSS, STATA, R) is a plus
Benefits of the Position
- Significant authorship opportunities on peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters; Expected minimum output= 10-20 items
- Meaningful mentorship and guidance from Dr. Cole and senior members of the research team
- Close collaboration with medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty
- Exposure to clinical decision-making and operative cases
- Opportunities to attend Orthopaedic Grand Rounds and conferences
- Opportunities to present research at regional and national orthopaedic meetings
- Substantial strengthening of medical school applications through academic productivity and mentorship
Application Instructions
Dr. Cole fully expects his research assistant to gain admission into medical school at one of their preferred schools. Interested applicants should send the following items to current research assistant Brian Caplan at
[email protected] with the subject "2026-27 Research Assistant Application"
- A brief cover letter detailing your interest
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume highlighting any relevant research experience, publications, presentations, etc.
- Unofficial academic transcript
- Potential start date for the position
ROLLING ADMISSIONS will occur. The application deadline is February 28, 2026. Selected applicants will be contacted for a phone/video interview. Thank you for your interest in this position.
