Research Certificate of Distinction (COD)
The Certificate of Distinction in Research is an extracurricular, optional, four-year longitudinal program that offers medical students structured opportunities to develop skills in clinical and translational research. The program combines foundational training, mentorship, and ongoing scholarly activities to help students learn how to design, conduct, and share original research. Through a mix of seminars, workshops, and required educational modules, students explore research ethics, study design, biostatistics, epidemiology, and scientific communication. Working with faculty mentors, students complete a scholarly project that progresses throughout the curriculum and culminates in dissemination through presentations and manuscript submissions.
Goals
- Develop foundational and advanced skills in clinical and translational research.
- Provide structured mentorship and guided scholarly growth over four years.
- Improve understanding of research ethics, regulatory procedures, and responsible research conduct.
- Enhance skills in study design, data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication.
- Encourage participation in scholarly dissemination through presentations and publications.
- Recognize students who demonstrate excellence and commitment to research during their medical education.
Student Portal (Research Section)
Student resources for both the Scholarly Project and Research Certificate of Distinction.
- New Student Research Factsheet
- Medical Student Research Funding
- Scholarly Project Information for the Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2028
- Research Topic Presentations - Clinical Research / Study Types / Templates
- Research Support Links - IRB / CITI / Stats / Arizona Health Sciences Library at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Banner Health Credentialing
- Research Publications: Posters / Conference / Open Access
- Mentor and Research Project Lists
- Information for Mentors
- Research Databases - including HCUP
To view these resources, please login with your NetID and password
Research Training
Instructions for onboarding at Banner University Medical Center - Phoenix / University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
Resources for all University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Certificates of Distinction