Research Training Programs

  • Residents participate in a wide variety of research projects. They work in a number of research settings, including basic/translational science, clinical science, healthcare informatics, and simulation-based educational research.

    The Vanderbilt Department of Anesthesiology also offers Clinician Scientist Training through the unique BH Robbins Scholars Program; the program's goal is to recruit and train the next generation of academic anesthesiologists who will shape the future of our specialty. The BH Robbins Scholars Program provides a mentored research experience that culminates in a two-year fellowship experience (with at least one research year). Scholars may request to participate in clinical fellowship training or additional formal education (e.g., Master of Science in Clinical Investigation, Master of Public Health, or other degree programs) offered at Vanderbilt during the latter part of the BH Robbins Program. Robbins Scholars receive personalized mentorship and career development, research and educational support resources, protected research time, and a salary supplement during residency and fellowship. Learn more.

    Our program has also had many Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)-funded Research Fellows, and we support any resident who wants to pursue independent research with a faculty mentor.

    We provide our residents with a travel budget so they can attend the best regional and national meetings, and there are additional funds available for any resident who needs expenses covered to present original, peer-reviewed research at a major meeting.

  • Each summer, the Department of Anesthesiology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) provides an opportunity for undergraduate and medical students to participate in research projects with our faculty. Students will be assigned to work with a faculty researcher in the Department. Opportunities are available in all aspects of research being conducted in the Department, these include Basic Science, Clinical and Informatics research. In addition to the research experience, students will gain mentorship on career development and will have the opportunity to gain exposure to clinical anesthesiology by observing in the operating rooms at VUMC. Please note that high school students are not eligible for this program.

    Students will be expected to commit full-time effort to the 8-week duration of the program. Each student will be assigned to a specific project and given ownership of one or more aspects of that assignment. Student interns are expected to:

    (1)       Participate in a research project (Basic science, clinical and informatic research projects are available.)
    (2)       Generate scientific output (e.g., abstract, poster). Students will participate in a research symposium at the end of the summer session and present their work via poster or oral presentation.

    (3)       Gain exposure to patients in a clinical environment one day per week
    (4)       Participate in scheduled didactic sessions on research process and career development

    The Vanderbilt Department of Anesthesiology is consistently one of the top extramurally-funded research programs in the nation, and is currently ranked 9th in the nation in NIH funding.

    The Department of Anesthesiology offers this Summer Internship during the time frame below:

    Start Date: June 3, 2024 - End date: July 26, 2024  Presentation Date: July 26, 2023

    Unfortunately, we cannot edit these dates for individual schedules. You must be present the entire 8-week program.

    To apply for the 2024 summer internships, please click here. We will begin accepting applications on November 1, 2023. Application deadline is December 31, 2023.

    Decisions on summer internships will be announced in February.

    Email: misty.ball@vumc.org
    Mailing Address: 
    Anesthesiology Research Division
    1611 21st Avenue South T-4202 MCN
    Nashville, TN  37232-2520
    Attn: Misty Ball
    Fax number: 615-343-3916

    Vanderbilt Anesthesiology Summer Research ScholarsVanderbilt Anesthesiology Summer Research Mentors