With the aim to expand and develop scientific talent in academic anesthesiology, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) offers fellowships to medical students who have an interest in research and anesthesiology.
FAER’s Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) program provides funding to support medical students to spend a summer focusing on anesthesiology research, training in scientific methods and techniques, and learning how to incorporate research into a medical career.
MSARF fellowships are awarded through an annual application cycle.
SUMMER PROGRAM
The summer fellowship provides medical students in their first, second or third year with an eight-week research experience within an academic anesthesiology department. During the fellowship, with a dedicated mentor, students participate in research and training activities, as well as clinical anesthesia activities. In addition, medical student summer fellows have the opportunity to make a scientific presentation at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting, ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025.
Through the program, medical student fellows can expect:
•
A formal mentor-protégé relationship with an experienced investigator
•
Training in scientific methods and research techniques
•
A $4,800 stipend to cover relocation, housing, and/or health insurance, plus up to $1,500 to cover travel and expenses for the ASA national meeting (Note: this stipend and travel funding may be subject to taxes as determined by the policy of the Host institution.)

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Medical student fellows are encouraged to present their research at the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the ASA annual meeting in October of the year they complete the fellowship.
The FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers includes morning sessions led by leaders of Early-Stage Anesthesiology Scholars (eSAS; http://esashq.org) and the Academy of Research Mentors in Anesthesiology (ARMA; https://www.asahq.org/faer/programs/mentoracademies/research-mentor-academy). The afternoon poster presentations showcases research conducted by FAER MSARF and Resident Scholar Program (RSP) participants who represent anesthesiology laboratories and programs from across the nation. During the first half of the afternoon, MSARF participants present their research in moderated, small group poster discussion sessions. In the second half, RSP residents present in moderated, small group poster discussion sessions.
Through the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers, medical students:
•
Learn more about the American Society of Anesthesiologists through participation in the national meeting
•
Meet and interact with researchers and other leaders in the specialty
•
Present research findings to a national audience

MSARF Summer Program - Information for Students
The Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship – Summer Program provides students with a challenging and rewarding experience that exposes them to the opportunities within the medical science of anesthesiology.
Medical students who participate in the summer anesthesia research fellowship can expect:
•
A dedicated mentor who will provide guidance and training in research techniques and scientific methods
•
Eight-weeks of focused research related to anesthesiology
•
Opportunities to learn about the clinical practice of anesthesiology
•
The opportunity to make a scientific presentation at the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting
•
ASA student membership dues for the year (for non-members)
•
A $4,800 stipend to cover relocation, housing, and/or health insurance, plus additional funding to cover travel to a national meeting and other related expenses (Note: this stipend and travel funding may be subject to taxes as determined by the policy of the Host institution.)

STIPEND AND FUNDING
•
Medical student summer fellows receive a $600 per week stipend for eight consecutive weeks. FAER provides funding to the host department, which in turn pays the student.
•
MSARF summer fellows who present their research projects at the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the ASA annual meeting receive up to $1,500 to offset travel and other meeting-related expenses. This travel stipend is paid to the institution, which in turn reimburses the medical student.
•
FAER also covers ASA Medical Student Member membership dues for one year.

HOUSING AND TRAVEL Medical students are responsible for arranging housing and travel. If you match into the program, FAER will provide you with the name and contact information of the site coordinator at the host department, who may be able to provide housing recommendations.
RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
Anesthesiology departments across the United States host FAER medical student fellows at their institutions for summer research experiences. During the application process, each department provides a list of potential mentors and their available projects that a student could join.* The list of programs and mentors for 2025 will be available at FAER.org/MSARF after December 1.
As a part of the application process, students will review the programs (anesthesiology departments) and mentors available. In the application, students can select up to five departments where they would like to have their MSARF experience. Visiting a program other than the student’s primary medical school is highly encouraged.
*If matched into the program, the student and host department program director will work together to identify which of the approved mentors the student will be working with.
PREPARING AN APPLICATION
The following materials are required for all MSARF Summer Program student applications.
Curriculum Vitae
Provide an up-to-date curriculum vitae that outlines educational background and communicates experience in research and other professional and educational activities.
Essay Questions
Prepare thoughtful responses to each of the three questions. All responses should demonstrate interest in research with an emphasis in anesthesiology and perioperative medicine.
Question No. 1: List any anesthesiology or perioperative medicine experience.
Question No. 2: List any past research experiences and/or peer-reviewed publications. Please include dates and the names of mentors / project leads, if applicable.
Question No. 3: In 250 words or fewer, describe, as well as possible, aspirations for professional life 10 years following medical school graduation and what role anesthesiology will play in your career.
Letters of Recommendation
Provide two letters of recommendation that evaluate the applicant’s quality of character, academic performance, and interest in a career in research. A PDF of each letter of recommendation should be provided to the applicant for uploading with the application. At least one of these letters should be from the student’s recent graduate or undergraduate institution.
Letter of Good Standing
A PDF of the letter of good standing should be provided to the applicant for uploading with the application. The letter of good standing from the dean’s office should confirm the applicant’s enrollment and good standing for the duration of the fellowship.
Program Selection
Review the programs (anesthesiology departments) and mentors available for the 2025 MSARF Summer Program. On the application, select up to five preferred programs for the MSARF experience. If matched with a preferred program, the applicant will work with the host department to finalize exactly which approved mentor the student will work with.

The list of programs and mentors for 2025 can be found at FAER.org/MSARF after December 1. Visiting a program other than the applicant’s home medical school is highly encouraged.
SUMMER FELLOWSHIP STUDENT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Timeline
•
Online student application opens December 15, 2024
•
Student applications due January 31, 2025
•
Award notifications made by March 15, 2025
•
Deadline to accept award March 22, 2025
•
Fellowships begin summer 2025
•
Abstracts due September 10, 2025
•
FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the ASA annual meeting in San Antonio, TX, on October 12, 2025
Application Website
The application website can be found via FAER.org/MSARF. It opens December 15, 2024.

EVALUATION AND AWARD SELECTION AND MATCH PROCESS
Evaluation of Student Applications
Student applications for the MSARF Summer Program are reviewed by the FAER MSARF review committee. Each application receives a final score and is ranked among all other applications. Members of the committee include leaders in academic anesthesiology, as well as several members of the FAER Board of Directors. Applicants are scored on categories such as strength of undergraduate and graduate work, letters of recommendation, and experience and interest in the fields of anesthesia and perioperative medicine.
Summer Fellowship Match Process
During the application process, students are asked to list their top five desired program placement options. Many institutions take only one student; a handful accept a second. After the applications are scored and ranked, placement preference is given to the highest-ranking applicant. Students are matched in order of rank to one of the preferred institutions on their application. Match consideration will be made based on the site’s remaining availability relative to the student’s ranking of preferred sites.
FELLOWSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Before the fellowship:
•
Communicate with your host department (the anesthesiology department where you match) to select the mentor with whom you will work and determine your project.
During the fellowship:
•
Dedicate 40 hours per week to the fellowship for eight consecutive weeks. Absences during this time are not allowed.
•
Actively participate in research and didactic activities within the anesthesiology department at your host institution.
•
Dedicate six hours per week (15 percent of total time) to participation in a clinical anesthesia setting.
After the fellowship:
•
Complete the post-fellowship survey, which FAER will email to you.
•
Optional, but highly recommended:
o
Present research findings based on your MSARF project at the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting in October.
o
If attending the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the ASA annual meeting, work closely with the assigned mentor to submit an abstract to FAER and prepare a poster for presentation.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION AND POSTER PRESENTATION
After completing the summer research fellowships, FAER medical student fellows will receive an invitation to submit an abstract to FAER. They are then expected to present their research during the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers at the ASA annual meeting in a moderated, small group, poster discussion format.
Medical student fellows indicate their intent to present at the FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers by submitting an abstract to FAER near the end of the summer (by September 10, 2025). The MSARF Program review committee will review all abstract submissions. Prizes will be presented to the most outstanding abstracts. A compilation of all abstracts will be available during the event.
Postponing the presentation to the following year is allowed under extenuating circumstances, such as parental leave, illness, or a pre-existing scheduling conflict (e.g., a wedding). Students should not postpone their presentation because data collection is not complete. Students who postpone their presentation are not eligible for awards the following year.
Written Abstract Guidelines:
•
The abstract should describe the project in a maximum of 500 words.
•
Each abstract should be identified as basic science, clinical science, or health services research. Your mentor can help determine the identification of the abstract.
•
Up to two figures and/or illustrations are permitted.
•
The abstract is divided into the following four sections: background, methods, results, conclusions.
•
Students are encouraged to work with their mentors in the development of the abstracts. Recognizing that many projects will be ongoing, the student may report on progress to that point in time with a statement about future plans for the study.
Poster Presentation Guidelines:
FAER/eSAS: Day for New Researchers participants must prepare a paper or cloth poster. It should include the following information:
•
Project title
•
Student name and medical school
•
Mentor name and host department
•
Additional authors (if any)
•
Research category (e.g., basic science, clinical science, or health services research)
•
The background, method, results, and conclusions from the study
•
Any tables and illustrations which convey the study. The figures and tables should be a size that is read easily from a distance of 3 feet or more. The quality of illustrations and figures should be similar to those used in making slides. They should be designed with a balance of beauty, simplicity, and transmission of information.
Poster board stands with surfaces 4 feet high and 6 feet wide will be set up for you to display your poster. Pins or tacks will also be available in the room. FAER will assign and affix an abstract identification number to the poster board surface to which you have been assigned. Assignments will be distributed on the day of the event.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS
After completion of the MSARF Summer Program, FAER offers further education and research opportunities through the Resident Scholar Program and research grants.

MSARF Summer Program - Information for Host Departments
Through the MSARF program, FAER strives to provide medical students with a variety of research opportunities at locations with high-quality research and teaching environments. Academic anesthesiology departments that participate in the FAER Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship Summer Program provide unique opportunities to medical students interested in anesthesiology.
STIPEND AND FUNDING
Medical student summer fellows receive a $600 per week stipend for eight consecutive weeks for a total of $4,800. FAER provides some or all of the funding to the host department, which in turn pays the student.
•
A department may host up to two students outside of their institution each year. FAER will provide a $4,800 grant for the first student’s stipend expenses. The host site is responsible to pay the $4,800 stipend to both the first and the second student. FAER will provide the host with $2,600 to offset the expenses for the second student. The host is responsible for supplementing the remaining $2,200 for the second student. Indirect costs are not allowed, and students are advised that the funds may be taxable as per the host institution’s policies.
•
As frequently requested, institutions may also keep up to five of their own students. The institution will be responsible for paying their own students the complete $4,800 stipend for their 8-weeks. FAER will cover the $1,500 travel stipend to the ASA for all students. Please note that the students must still apply to MSARF, and there will be an expectation that departments must offer one spot to an outside student if they match in your program. If the top student matching into your program is from your institution, you will not be required to take an outside student. The additional, departmentally-funded positions will be ranked and PI’s will have the opportunity to accept these additional positions.
•
MSARF summer fellows who present their research projects at the Day for New Researchers event during the ASA annual meeting receive up to $1,500 to offset travel and other meeting-related expenses. FAER pays the $1,500 travel stipend to the host institution, and the host institution reimburses the medical student. Students are instructed to work with the host department to gain an understanding of reimbursement guidelines and policies prior to making travel arrangements.
•
FAER also covers ASA Medical Student Member membership dues for one year for non-member students.
HOST DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Anesthesiology departments that host FAER medical student fellows must:
•
Assign a dedicated mentor (M.D., D.O., or Ph.D.) to work with the student during the eight-week program. Expectations of the mentor include:
o
Develop a project role appropriate for a medical student to accomplish within the eight-week timeframe. (Note: Brief project descriptions must be submitted as part of the host application.)
o
Have regular contact with the MSARF fellow. Meet at least once a week to establish a mentoring relationship and check on the fellow’s progress.
o
Ensure 15% (six hours per week) of the fellow’s experience is clinical exposure.
o
Assign one project per student, one student per project. One mentor may be assigned to both of the students, but they should work on different projects. Only those mentors submitted and accepted through the FAER MSARF Host Application process may
be assigned to an MSARF student.
o
Assist in the development and creation of the student’s abstract and poster.
o
Provide guidance for the student as they decide on sessions to attend at the ASA annual meeting.
o
Complete the FAER survey at the end of the student’s fellowship.
•
Assign the student to a dedicated research mentor. Mentors should work with the students to select a research project that will provide them with exposure to the scientific process, give them material for a presentation at the ASA annual meeting, and prepare them for future research and education opportunities. Please note that a literature review in and of itself is not considered an acceptable project for the purposes of the fellowship and cannot be used to fulfill the poster requirements.
•
Facilitate opportunities for the medical student to present their research as an oral or poster presentation within the department or at other meetings.
•
Introduce the medical student to a faculty member in anesthesiology at his or her home medical school to facilitate the student’s continued interest in anesthesiology.
•
Complete a post-fellowship survey, which FAER will email following the ASA annual meeting.
HOST APPLICATION PROCESS
Faculty members or administrators in an anesthesiology department can apply for their institution to host a medical student through the MSARF program. Please note that the selection criteria focus on the qualifications of potential mentors rather than on specific projects. Information on available projects is still required to facilitate medical students’ ranking of institutions.
Information and materials required by the application include
•
Contact information for the following key individuals:
o
Anesthesiology Department Chair
o
Anesthesiology Program Director/PI- Responsible for assigning the MSARF student to an approved mentor, overseeing the mentor, and ensuring submission of the FAER Confirmation of Arrival (COA) Form.
o
Institutional Financial Officer – This person is responsible for receiving and applying the FAER funds on behalf of the Host institution.
•
Mentors and descriptions of their available projects in which the medical student could participate. ONLY mentors submitted and approved through this 2025 MSARF Host Application process are allowed to work with a 2025 MSARF student. Up to 10 mentors may be submitted and will be evaluated by a specialized review committee to ensure they are appropriate for the program. When submitting mentors, the following should be provided and taken into consideration:
o
Provide a brief description of the research environment in your department and include references to a small sample of recent publications from researchers in your department.
o
For each mentor, provide a biosketch, a statement of recent mentoring of students, and a list of projects the MSARF student might participate in. These descriptions of the possible projects should be short (up to 300 words) and should include the title and indicate how the student might participate.
o
Mentors should have projects available that are suitable in challenge and scope for a medical student.
o
The portion of the possible project on which the student is working should be reasonable to accomplish within the eight-week time period.
o
The possible project should consist of a variety of tasks and not be restricted solely to a literature review or data analysis.

o
Due to the impact of COVID-19 on our 2020 program, we ask that mentors guarantee that when matched with student(s), there is a virtual project available to them if needed.
•
Academic credentials for each prospective mentor for each submitted project.
All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of FAER Board of Directors and Academy of Research Mentors in Anesthesiology members. Should the committee find a mentor within the application that is not suitable for the MSARF Summer Program, the host site will be contacted to revise/resubmit or remove the mentor.
Host sites that, on a consistent basis, do not provide appropriate projects or suitable mentors, or whose administrators fail to adequately prepare for the MSARF student’s arrival (onboarding or payment) may be placed on probation or prohibited from future participation in the FAER MSARF Summer Program.
The host application site for the 2025 MSARF Summer Program will open September 15 and will close October 31. The link will be available on the FAER website, FAER.org\MSARF.