Position Title: Clinical Research Coordinator
Positions: 2
Duration: 1 year
Who:
U.S. medical students (rising fourth-years) interested in Orthopaedic Surgery
Where: Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Sports Medicine. Chicago, IL.
When: Beginning approximately early May 2026
Salary: A monthly stipend is provided
Dr. Brian Cole, Acting Chair and Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, is seeking ambitious medical students (between Third and Fourth Year) who are interested in pursuing a year-long clinical research fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL. Dr. Cole has been running this structured research fellowship for over 20 years, making it one of the longest-running programs under a single attending in orthopaedic surgery. Previous research coordinators have matched at highly prestigious residency programs across the country.
As the Section Head of the Cartilage Restoration Center, Dr. Brian J. Cole, along with Dr. Adam B. Yanke (Co-Director), are recognized as leaders in developing innovative biologic methods to address early cartilage damage in the knee, shoulder, elbow, foot, ankle, and hip. This fellowship will allow both research coordinators to work closely with residents, fellows, and faculty at Rush. The research coordinator will also have extensive opportunities for publication and presentation of research at various conferences.
The research coordinator will work very closely with the research staff for the other sports medicine attendings and be responsible for duties including:
- Coordination of all research projects including both clinical and basic science studies
- Submission of protocols and updates to the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
- Consenting patients for studies and performing pre-operative physical exams
- Collection of intra-operative data as well as following up with patients in clinic
- Collection and processing of patient samples
- Dissection/testing of cadaveric specimens for research purposes
- Statistical analysis of data
- Drafting/editing of sports medicine/orthopaedic surgery manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters
- Presenting research updates as weekly meetings with the sports medicine attendings
- Grant writing
Specific prerequisites and characteristics of the coordinators should include:
- Strong motivation for a career in orthopaedic surgery
- Evident interest in research
- Strong academic record
- MUST be extremely organized and detail oriented
- MUST be able to self-manage and work independently
- MUST be able to work efficiently with clinical staff
- MUST be a self-starter and finisher, and have the ability to juggle many (20+) projects at once
- Experience with statistical analysis or coding is a plus
Benefits of the position:
- The fellow should expect to have 10-20 papers/abstracts/chapters accepted or already in publication by the end of the research year
- This will undoubtedly bolster competitiveness for a position in orthopaedic surgery residency. Previous research fellows have matched at their preferred residencies.
- Opportunities to collaborate with Sports Medicine fellows, residents, and other Sports Medicine attendings at Rush
- Opportunities to observe surgical procedures and master physical exam maneuvers
- Opportunities to attend Orthopaedic Grand Rounds, Sports Conferences, Journal Clubs, and Cadaver Labs
- Opportunities to present research at national orthopaedic surgery conferences
Dr. Cole fully expects his research fellows to match into Orthopaedic Surgery at one of their preferred residency programs and will help the candidate throughout the match process. Interested applicants should send the following items to current research fellows Krish Sardesai and Jason Jesse at
[email protected] with the subject
"Research Fellowship Application"
- A brief cover letter detailing your interest
- CV with Standardized Test Scores (USMLE/Shelf Scores/MCAT/etc.)–be sure to highlight relevant research experience, publications, presentations, etc.
- Unofficial academic transcript with 3rd year clerkship grades
- Potential start date for the position
- 1-2 Letters of Recommendation are encouraged but not required
ROLLING ADMISSIONS will occur.
The application deadline is February 28, 2026. Applicants will be contacted for a phone/video interview. Thank you for your interest in this position.
