Qualifying Exam (Candidacy)

• Students are required to complete the candidacy exam within a year of their choice of the advisor where the student intends on completing their Ph.D. work. 

Written and Oral Exam 

• Course work 
• After written exam, the student is required to write a grant in the style of an NIH or American Heart Association, Predoctoral grant proposal format on either the student’s research project or another topic. 
• The grant must be submitted within two (2) months of completion of the written exam to the PhD committee. 
• Oral examination is a defense of this grant application.

Dissertation

• Details of the completion of the dissertation and oral defense ​of the dissertation are provided in the graduate catalog. 

Other CDRC Activities

• The students are advised to conduct an annual committee meeting and required to submit the signed research progress forms to the graduate program
• Students are required to present their work at the BMR research retreat and Marshall Medical School research day.
• The students are strongly urged to attend one national scientific meeting and present the results of their research.

Faculty 

The purpose of the American Heart Association-funded undergraduate research training program at Marshall University is to encourage promising undergraduate students from all disciplines to consider research careers while supporting the highest quality scientific investigation broadly related to cardiometabolic disease and stroke.

Interns participating in the program will perform nine weeks of graduate-level research in the laboratory of Marshall University School of Medicine faculty. Participants will receive formal research training while expanding their learning experience through workshops, seminars on current topics, mentoring, and the use of state-of-the-art core facilities.

The summer research program will take place from May 26th to July 28th, 2026. A stipend of $6,000 (pre-tax and fringe benefits) will be provided to each intern for the nine-week experience. Interns will present their research at the WV Summer Research Symposium during the last week of the program. Interns will also be required to present their work at a national/international conference (such as American Heart Association Scientific Sessions) by December 2026; travel expenses will be covered.

• Classified at the academic level as a junior or senior by August 2026. (If you are starting medical school in the fall of 2026, you are not eligible.)
• Academic record, particularly in science courses.
• Past or present research experience.
• Stated interest in cardiovascular research and career goals, and why you would like to participate in the program.
• Recommendations of two faculty members at the applicant’s institution and others, if relevant.

Faculty mentors have provided projects that will introduce students to contemporary research broadly related to cardiovascular disease and stroke.

On the application, you will be asked to review the mentor’s directory, list your choice of mentors in order of preference (#1 being your top choice), and explain why their topics are of interest to you. Your choices will serve as a guide for a mentor assignment. The directory of mentors and their research projects can be accessed in the Mentors Directory.

To be considered complete, your application must contain the following:

• Completed application form (no fee)
• Transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended
• Two letters of recommendation from professors of scientific disciplines
  • Please indicate the names, titles, and phone numbers of two professors who have agreed to write letters of recommendation on your behalf.  Please have them send their letters to Dr. Nalini Santanam (address at the bottom of the form) before February 23, 2026. Letters can be sent electronically if desired; send them to santanam@marshall.edu

Application Deadline

The online application and supporting documents are due on or before February 23, 2026. Transcripts and letters of recommendation are to be mailed or e-mailed to Dr. Nalini Santanam: santanam@marshall.edu

Mailing address:

Dr. Nalini Santanam
Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
1700 Third Ave., 435S BBSC
Huntington, WV 25755

For more information:

Please contact Dr. Nalini Santanam at 304.696.7321 or santanam@marshall.edu.