To apply, you’ll need to connect with the MSRP faculty mentor you’re interested in working with. Mentors hold the application and will submit it directly to the Office of Research on your behalf.

Student Research Opportunities | Des Moines University

Q: What the Mentored Student Research Program Looks Like

Most of your research experience takes place during an eight‑week period between Memorial Day and late July. During this time, you’ll: Work directly with a DMU faculty mentor Join learning sessions featuring research presentations from DMU faculty Participate in a student symposium with a guest speaker, plus oral and poster presentations from fellow MSRP students

Q: Your Time and Compensation

Pay: $14.50 per hour Summer hours: Up to 40 hours per week School‑year hours: Up to 20 hours per week Total hours: Up to 240, determined by your faculty mentor

Q: Questions You’ll Be Asked on the Application

Use these prompts to prepare before approaching a mentor or beginning your application: Why do you want to be involved in research at DMU? What do you hope to gain from your research experience? How will participating in MSRP support your academic and professional goals? What is your availability likely to be during the summer?

A student wearing a lab coat examines a specimen through a microscope during DMU’s Young Scientist Program.

Turn Curiosity Into Discovery

Go beyond the textbook by diving into research at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences.

Like other DMU students, you too can publish work in peer‑reviewed journals, travel across the country to present at scientific conferences and earn competitive national research awards, fellowships and scholarships.

In addition, DMU’s annual DMU Research Symposium and Student Research Colloquium give you the chance to gain presentation experience and connect with peers and faculty doing exciting work across the university.

Mentored Student Research Program

The Mentored Student Research Program gives you the chance to work one‑on‑one with a DMU faculty mentor on real research projects. You can explore areas like microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry, public health and physical therapy while gaining hands‑on experience that builds your skills and confidence.

What the Mentored Student Research Program Looks Like

Your Time and Compensation

How to Get Started

Questions You’ll Be Asked on the Application

Research Elective Course

The research elective is a semester‑long course that gives you hands‑on experience working in basic or clinical research settings. Throughout the course, you’ll develop practical research skills while strengthening your understanding of responsible and ethical research conduct.

You can enroll in the second semester of your first year. The elective is offered as credit/no credit.

If your program charges per credit hour, the course cost equals 1 credit.
If your program includes all credits in tuition, there is no additional cost.

How To Enroll in the Research Elective Course

1. Find a Mentor

Before you enroll, you’ll need to identify a faculty mentor who is willing to work with you. Together, you’ll outline the goals of your research project, which must then be approved by the Office of Research.

To find a mentor, you can:

Review the student research mentor list, which includes available faculty and their areas of research
Talk with your advisor
Ask a professor
Contact a department chair for recommendations within a specific discipline

2. Complete Your Paperwork

The Office of Research provides both the course syllabus and the research agreement. The research agreement outlines your project and responsibilities.

After you and your mentor complete and sign the agreement, submit it to the Office of Research for approval and enrollment.

3. Complete Required Training

You must complete all training listed in your mentor’s laboratory profile. These requirements vary depending on the lab and may include:

In‑person safety training with the Health and Safety Coordinator
Online safety training in D2L
Online CITI training

It’s your responsibility to notify each training manager once you’ve completed the requirements. Training can be done before or after submitting your research agreement, but it must be finished before the Office of Research approves your enrollment.

Enrollment and Grading

You cannot enroll in the research elective on your own.

Once the Office of Research verifies your completed training and receives the signed research agreement, the chief research officer will review and sign it. From there, the Office of Research will request your enrollment through the registrar. At the end of the term, your faculty mentor will submit a credit/no credit grade to the Office of Research.

Student Research Mentors

Name	Title	Department
Elitsa Ananieva-Stoyanova, PhD	Associate Professor	Biochemistry and Nutrition
Maria Barnes, PhD	Associate Professor	Biochemistry and Nutrition
Andrew Brittingham, PhD	Department Chair	Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Kevin Carnevale, MD	Professor	Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Michael Carruthers, PhD	Associate Professor	Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Daniel Christian, PhD	Associate Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Sarah Clayton, PhD	Department Chair	Physiology and Pharmacology
Jun Dai, MD, MSc, PhD	Professor	Public Health Programs
Jared Datzman, DPH	Assistant Professor	Public Health Programs
Joshua Devine, PhD, FAPhA	Department of Public Health Vice Chair	Public Health Programs
Francesca Di Sole, PhD	Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Ashley Dikis, DPM, MEd, FACFAS	Clinical Department Chair	Clinic — Foot and Ankle
Rachel Dunn, PhD	Professor	Anatomy
Vanja Duric, PhD	Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Yujiang Fang, MD, PhD	Associate Professor	Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Heather Garvin-Elling, PhD	Professor	Anatomy
Mathew Johnstone, DPM, MS, FACFAS, DABPM, FFPM, RCPS (Glasg)	Assistant Professor	Clinic — Foot and Ankle
Dooyoung Lim, PhD	Associate Professor	Public Health Programs
Noah Marcus, PhD	Associate Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Shane McClinton, PT, DPT, PhD	Professor and Physical Therapist	RecPlex
Julie Meachen, PhD	Professor	Anatomy
Marie Nguyen, PhD	Professor	Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology
Shannon Petersen, PT, DScPT, OCS Emeritus, FAAOMPT	Professor	Physical Therapy Program
Martin Schmidt, PhD	Professor	Biochemistry and Nutrition
Jason Semprini, PhD, MPP	Assistant Professor	Public Health Programs
Muhammad Spocter, PhD	Professor	Anatomy
Catherine Stevermer, PT, DPT, PhD	Associate Professor	Physical Therapy Program
Kim Tran, M.D., Ph.D.	Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Julia Van Liew, PhD	Associate Professor	Behavioral Medicine, Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Vassilios Vardaxis, PhD	Professor	Physical Therapy Program
Eric Wauson, PhD	Associate Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology
Sarah Werning, PhD	Associate Professor	Anatomy
Wayne Wilson, PhD	Assistant Dean of Research/Department Chair	Biochemistry and Nutrition
Leslie Wimsatt, PhD	Associate Dean Academic Assessment Quality and Development	College of Osteopathic Medicine
LiLian Yuan, PhD	Professor	Physiology and Pharmacology