ASIP Summer Research Opportunity Program in Pathology (SROPP)
The ASIP Summer Research Opportunity in Pathology Program (SROPP) was started in 2017 and has been offered 16 summers since that time (there was no program in 2009 and 2013). The program was small in the early years, supporting 1-4 trainees each summer between 2007 and 2018. While the program had a huge impact on the trainees that participated, as well as the laboratories that hosted them, the overall impact was limited based upon the total number of trainees that went through the program (23 total). The host laboratories represented seven institutions in the early years, with the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, and Howard University accounting for 75% of the host laboratories. Likewise, trainees in the early years were hosted by 12 different faculty members, most of which were Professors (66%).
In 2019, the SROPP was expanded and 8 trainees participated in summer research in 7 different host laboratories, all of which were first-time hosts for SROPP students. In addition, 85% of hosting faculty were Assistant Professors, extending benefit to young investigators among the ASIP membership. In 2020, despite the pandemic, we supported 10 SROPP trainees, many of which worked in host laboratories that were new to the program. Since 2021, we have supported between 15-21 students each summer, with new laboratory hosts each year and continued participation by some faculty veterans of the program. Between 2019-2024, SROPP supported 95 students.
In total, 120 undergraduate students have been supported by SROPP since 2007, across 66 different host laboratories and 40 different host institutions. Including 2024, >76% of trainees work in laboratories of faculty members who are not yet full professors - >60% were Assistant Professors or equivalent. The trainee cohort participating in SROPP is diverse, with >71% representing historically underrepresented groups.
We are currently in the process of determining long-term outcomes for trainees participating in SROPP, and gaining feedback from former trainees as to the impact of the program on their career choices. As might be expected, many of the recently supported trainees are still undergraduate students. For those who have graduated or are approaching graduation, many plan to pursue medical school, MD-PhD programs, or PhD training – although solid numbers are not yet available. For students who participated many year ago, many pursued advanced training and have become practicing physicians, physician-scientists, or PhD scientists. A complete report of SROPP long-term outcomes will be available in early 2025.
Members who are interested to host an undergraduate student should contact Bill Coleman. Funding decisions will be expedited to ensure students can begin their research experience in early summer.
We look forward to hearing from you.
