2021 Indiana Medical Student Program for Research and Scholarship (IMPRS)

Agreement Form

Congratulations for being selected to participate in the 2021 Indiana Medical Student Program for Research and Scholarship (IMPRS).  Your selection was based holistically on your medical school performance and other academic factors (MCAT, Undergraduate GPA) as well as your written statements.  Please read below the requirements of the program and COVID-19 protocols for research training.

Program Requirements:

• To ensure the mentee has a project plan in place and ready to start on May 27, 2021, we are recommending the mentee to meet with your assigned research mentor to discuss and submit a brief outline/synopsis of your summer project by May 26, 2021.   The synopsis can be submitted on the RedCAP form at https://redcap.uits.iu.edu/surveys/?s=J9JFDR3RT8. The project description should be written in collaboration with your mentor. Of note, the title and description can be changed over the course of the summer.
• All 2021 IMPRS participants will be required to attend an orientation meeting prior to beginning work with your mentor.  This meeting will serve as a kickoff event for the 2021 IMPRS participants and research mentors.  Below is the orientation information:

• All IMPRS participants must complete the Fundamentals of Research and Scholarship Course (more information will be forthcoming).
• IMPRS participants are required to conduct research for a period of 10 weeks beginning May 27 through August 5, 2021 OR 3 months (90 days) May 24 through August 23, 2021 if you are an NIH trainee (please refer to offer letter) with an IUSM Research Mentor.  Participants will be required to work a minimum of 40 hours/week and not to exceed 50 hours/week.  During the 10 weeks, the participant is entitled to 3 days of vacation, which should be discussed with and approved by your mentor.
• ALL IMPRS participants MUST PARTICIPATE in the Thursday Seminar.  Attendance will be recorded. The seminar series schedule will be provided.
• IMPRS participants are required to write an abstract summarizing their summer project and to present their project at an end-of-summer Research Symposium. Details will be forthcoming in the summer.
  • ABSTRACT DUE DATE:  July 21, 2021 submitted to imprs@iupui.edu
  • Research Symposium:  July 28 and 29, 2021 (virtual or TBD) .  Details will be provided in the summer.

COVID-19 Protocols for Research Training:

• Research mentoring that can be conducted remotely will be the priority option for the mentor and mentee.
• Research mentoring that requires in-person contact, special facilities, equipment, etc. can be conducted  on campus provided the mentor and mentee abide the Research Restart Guidelines (https://research.iu.edu/coronavirus/research-restart-guidelines.html) and the following:
  • Please work with your mentor as early as possible to go over any documentation or plans that might be need so that you can start your research when the program begins.
  • All personnel, including graduate/professional students, need to complete the Community Responsibility Agreement (CRA) form (one.iu.edu). If they are not in the CRA database and can’t access the online form, then they can complete the “COVID19 Healthy Hoosier Commitment Clinical” form (see attached). That completed form can then be submitted to imprs.iupui.edu, – please note “Medical Student Researcher CRA form” in the subject line and email body.
  • Mentors must also work with their departments/regional campuses for their protocols on conducting in-person research and training in both laboratory and clinical research areas. Student interns should be listed in the personnel plan for lab restart, and they should be given specific guidance by the PI about expectations, work scheduling, and who will be supervising their research activities on a daily basis.
  • The IMPRS project summary should include the safety protocols to be followed by the trainee and mentor, such as social distancing, PPE availability (masks), and any contingency plan in case the university/campus guidelines require going back to no in-person activities.
• Details related to Indiana University’s response to COVID-19, safety on campus and the guidance for research operations can be found at the links provided.
  • https://www.iu.edu/covid/index.html
  • https://research.iu.edu/coronavirus/index.html

Additional details for the 2021 summer:

• Your stipend will be paid in three equal installments if the required program survey, evaluation, and administrative forms are completed and submitted by May 1st. Payment will be made through your IUPUI Bursar account.  We encourage you to set up a Direct Deposit account for Bursar refunds with the IUPUI Bursar in order to receive the funds electronically into your checking account.  For more information, please contact Jose Espada, Office of Medical Student Affairs, 274-1967 or jespada@iu.edu or T35admin@iupui.edu if you are a trainee on the NIH NHLBI-T35 training grant. The stipend is considered a federal grant and should not be considered taxable income. If you plan to complete the FAFSA,  do not include the stipend as income.
• Regarding your summer project, the time you come in, hours/day, time off, type of studies you conduct, will be directed by your faculty mentor.  However, students are expected to work five days a week, and no less than 8 hours per day.  It is expected that you will participate in your research group’s daily meetings, seminars, and other activities.
• Regarding the COVID-19 safety guidelines, you and your mentor comply and abide with the stated requirements listed on the Research Restart Guidelines found at https://research.iu.edu/coronavirus/research-restart-guidelines.html
• If you fail to meet the IMPRS program requirements at any time, you agree to refund all stipend payments that were made to you and to forego any further stipend payments.
• If you agree with all requirements and terms, to accept the IMPRS position, please sign and submit the form below by MARCH 15, 2021.  Your signature on the form commits you to the program.  Failure to complete the form and submit it by the deadline will forfeit your acceptance and reassign the position to a medical student off the alternate list.  Please keep a copy of the acceptance form for your records.

On behalf of the IMPRS Program, we welcome you and hope you have a great and productive summer.