2025-2026 University of Utah Year Long Sports Orthopaedic Research Student

Dr. Travis Maak invites 3rd and 4th year medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery to apply for a one-year sports medicine research fellowship. At this time, we are only considering students from United States accredited MD programs. This is a full-time, paid position with the University of Utah. This fellowship is focused on sports medicine knee and hip surgery research. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with an anticipated decision Summer of 2025. 

 Dr. Maak specializes in the surgical treatment of pediatric, adolescent and adult sports injuries, focusing on the hip and knee, with a specific interest in preservation of the athletic hip and knee. He is the Head Orthopaedic Team Physician for the Utah Jazz, Team Physician for Real Salt Lake, University of Utah Athletics, and Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Utah. He received his undergraduate education at Stanford University where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology with honors. He would go on to attend medical school at Yale University, School of Medicine, and completed a surgical internship at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College. His orthopaedic surgery residency training occurred at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, where he continued his training with a fellowship in Sports Medicine. During his fellowship, Dr. Maak served as an Assistant NFL Team Physician for the New York Giants (football).

As the research assistant, you will be responsible for managing and organizing multiple projects and efficiently following them to completion. Applicants with experience in reading scholarly articles, organization, and writing manuscripts are sought after. Experience with electronic medical records, REDCAP databases, statistical backgrounds, or medical artistry is beneficial. 

  Position: Research Associate (Full-time paid position)

  Duration: ~ Summer 2025 - May 2026 Location: University of Utah Orthopaedic Center. Salt Lake City, UT. 

  Requirements: 

• MS3 or MS4 students with a strong interest in orthopaedic research and a planned career in orthopaedic surgery and academic medicine.
• Prior research experience preferred. Statistical experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks in an efficient manner.

 Responsibilities:

• Manage multiple research projects and organize and maintain all aspects of the projects and follow them to completion (assist in data collection, chart review, write/submit manuscripts)
• Organizing and presenting ongoing research updates at weekly meetings with research team
• Communicate research needs with a team of research faculty, fellows, residents, statisticians, and/or research coordinators as needed
• Collecting patient-reported outcome data
• Assisting in preparing PowerPoint Presentations, Website Educational Material

 Goals/Opportunities of the Fellowship: 

• +/-10 publications, in addition to case reports, reviews, and book chapters (this is dependent on student work/involvement)
• Gain important experience in clinical and basic science orthopaedic research to help strengthen a potential academic career
• Be able to read and critically analyze medical literature
• Be comfortable with data collection, scientific writing, and submission of manuscripts
• Attend and present at national and international meetings if selected

 Clinical Opportunities of the Fellowship:

• Participate in clinic and operating room working with Dr. Maak, fellows, and residents
• While this is a research fellowship in sports medicine, this opportunity will be one that exposes you to all aspects of orthopaedic surgery. You will be expected to attend orthopaedic grand rounds, sports medicine/trauma subspecialty conferences, journal club, and resident conferences to help improve your overall knowledge in the specialty.

How To Apply: Interested applicants should fill out the following University of Utah Redcap Application: https://redcap01.brisc.utah.edu/ccts/redcap/surveys/?s=83R848EF4PT7L48X 

Submit all supplemental materials listed on the research application.

Once complete, if you have any questions you may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (please put One-Year Research Fellowship Position in the subject line).