The Medical Student Research Fellowship in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM) is a one-year, mentored research experience designed for medical students with a strong interest in pursuing a career in dermatology.

This fellowship provides an immersive research environment where fellows work closely with faculty mentors and research staff to design, conduct, and disseminate high-quality clinical research. Through structured mentorship, scholarly productivity, and participation in departmental educational activities, fellows gain a strong foundation in dermatologic research and academic medicine. 

The Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery at USF is the only academic dermatology program on Florida’s west coast and serves as a major referral center for complex dermatologic diseases. With more than 50,000 patients treated annually, the department maintains a strong legacy of excellence in clinical care, research, and education. Over the past forty years, the program has trained more than 500-600 dermatology residents and 20 dermatopathology fellows, many of whom have become leaders in academic medicine.

Fellows benefit from the department’s diverse clinical partnerships, including training at Moffitt Cancer Center, the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, and Tampa General Hospital. These affiliations provide access to specialized clinics such as cutaneous lymphoma, transplant dermatology, cutaneous oncology, and inpatient dermatology, offering a robust platform for clinical research involvement.

Program Director

Sharon Albers, MD

USF Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery

12901 Bruce Bd. Downs Blvd., MDC 79

Tampa, FL 33612

Email: alberss@usf.edu 

Number of Fellows

One fellow is accepted annually for the fellowship.

Training Sites

Primary: 

• USF Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery

Secondary: 

• James A. Haley VA Hospital
• Moffitt Cancer Center
• Tampa General Hospital

The Medical Student Research Fellowship is structured as a one-year research experience with defined mentorship, reporting expectations, and scholarly deliverables. Upon acceptance, fellows receive training in ethical research conduct and data management and reporting and are paired with a departmental faculty mentor. Fellows also work closely with a postdoctoral research fellow to develop and implement a year-long research plan focused on clinical research and scholarly reporting.

Fellows participate in departmental educational activities, including Grand Rounds, Journal Clubs, and Florida West Coast Dermatology Society meetings, and may shadow faculty in clinical settings as directed. All research activities are conducted under faculty supervision. Fellows submit quarterly progress reports, including a detailed mid-year report and a final report at the conclusion of the fellowship year.

By the conclusion of the fellowship year, fellows are expected to translate this structured research experience into measurable scholarly outcomes.

Research outcomes: 

• Participation in 5–10 clinical research projects
• Submission of abstracts and manuscripts to conferences and peer-reviewed journals
• Presentation of research findings at departmental meetings
• Submission of at least one abstract to USF Health Research Day
• A final departmental presentation summarizing fellowship research accomplishments

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Completion of at least two years of medical school
• Currently completing the third year of medical school
• In good academic standing
• No failures of:
  • USMLE Step 1
  • Year 1 comprehensive examination
  • Any clinical clerkship
• Demonstrated career interest in dermatology
• Ability to work independently with strong motivation, curiosity, and professionalism

Application Process

Applicants should submit:

• USMLE Step 1 report
• Medical school transcript
• Current CV  
• Letter of good academic standing from home medical school faculty 
• One faculty letter of recommendation
• Letter of Intent (maximum one page) outlining:
  • Career goals
  • History of research experience
  • Research interests
  • Motivation for applying
  • Intended goals for fellowship
• Short research proposal (≤200 words) describing a potential project of interest

Application Timeline

• Application Opens: February 16
• Application Deadline: March 23
• Virtual Interviews: Mid-April     
• Decisions Announced: May 1     
• Fellowship Start Date: June 1 

*Applications for 2026-2027 have closed. The next application cycle will open in Fall 2026. 

If you are interested in applying to the USF MCOM Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery Medical Student Research Fellowship, please submit the following materials as one combined PDF to the Senior Medical Education Program Specialist at msebeny@usf.edu: CV, medical school transcript, USMLE Step 1 report, letter of good standing, letter of intent, and a proposed research idea.**

Letters of recommendation must be submitted directly by the author(s) to msebeny@usf.edu. 

**Applications for 2026-2027 have closed. The next application cycle will open in Fall 2026.