Wilson Scholars in Addiction Medicine Research Award

The Wilson Scholars in Addiction Medicine Research Award supports the next generation of physician-scientists dedicated to addressing the public health crisis of substance use and overdose. This 8-week summer program through the University of Pittsburgh provides medical students between their first and second years of training with mentored research experience, clinical exposure, and structured learning in addiction medicine. Through these complementary components, scholars gain firsthand insight into how systems, policies, and social determinants influence substance use, healthcare access, and outcomes, while developing the skills to conduct rigorous, meaningful research that drives change in the field.

Each Wilson Scholar is paired with a faculty mentor whose research aligns with their interests and will collaborate on an addiction medicine–related research project between June and August. The program includes 4 weeks in-person in Pittsburgh, featuring immersive clinical shadowing experiences across UPMC and community settings, followed by remote participation to complete research and didactic sessions. Weekly discussions and seminars led by Pitt faculty cover a range of topics in addiction medicine, clinical care, and research methodology.

Each scholar receives a $6,500 stipend, which also covers travel and lodging. Scholars commit approximately 40 hours per week during the program.

Program Components

Research

Students work closely with their mentors to design and execute a research project in addiction medicine, gaining experience in study design, data collection, and analysis. They are encouraged to develop scholarly products, such as abstracts, conference presentations, or manuscripts, and may continue their collaboration beyond the summer.

Clinical Experience

Participants shadow addiction medicine specialists in diverse care settings, including:

• Integrated primary care and addiction treatment programs
• Methadone clinics
• Inpatient addiction medicine consult services
• Perinatal addiction programs

Curriculum

Students are expected to attend and participate in all weekly didactic sessions. These include:

Faculty Speaker Series: weekly 1-hour session with Pitt addiction medicine faculty with diverse training and academic roles. The purpose of these sessions is to increase understanding of and exposure to various careers in academic addiction medicine.

Didactic Series and Discussions Sessions: didactic series covers various topics in addiction medicine and basic research to help advance student knowledge in addiction as well as scholarly productivity. This is self-paced and will include weekly readings, videos, and/or podcasts. Weekly 1.5 hour discussion sessions with the program director will be held to discuss the didactic material. The discussion sessions on addiction topics will be held in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Longitudinal Professional Enrichment Course. See example of 2026 syllabus.

Application Information

Key Dates

Eligibility

• Current first-year medical students who are U.S. residents.
• Ability to commit at least 40 hours/week for 8 weeks (June–August, start/end dates will vary slightly based on student’s schedule).
• Ability to commit first 4 weeks in-person in Pittsburgh with completion of remaining 4 weeks remotely within the U.S.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit all the materials listed below. Please ensure that submission materials adhere to use of person-first non-judgmental terminology. Read here and here for more information.

1. Background information
2. CV or résumé
3. Personal statement (≤350 words): Describe your interest in addiction medicine, goals for the program, and relevant experience.
4. Statement of service (≤250 words): Describe your commitment to serving vulnerable populations.

Application link:

Apply via REDCap
Please contact the program director and administrator with any questions.