Medical student research experience won’t guarantee a physician residency interview—let alone a match. But for many medical students, scholarly work completed during undergraduate medical education can be a meaningful differentiator. In some of the more competitive specialties, it may even help move an application closer to the top of the pile.
Data published by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and drawing from the 2024 Match cycle—the most recent figures available—shows that while research is valued across all physician specialties, the degree to which it matters varies widely. So, how much does research really factor in—and in which specialties does it carry the most weight? Here's what the numbers reveal.
Fields with heavy research loads
Across all physician specialties, matched applicants from U.S. MD-granting medical schools reported an average of 3.7 research experiences—defined as an instance in which a medical student participates in a research project—according to NRMP data on the characteristics of matched applicants.
The five physician specialties with the highest average number of research experiences among applicants from US MD-granting medical schools who matched in their preferred specialty were:
- Plastic surgery—8.6.
- Orthopaedic surgery—8.1
- Otolaryngology—7.1
- Dermatology—6.4
- Neurological surgery—5.8
Other specialties in which matched applicants had higher reported research involvement included interventional radiology (4.7 research experiences), vascular surgery (4.6), diagnostic radiology (4.4), and radiation oncology and general surgery (4.2 for both). At the other end of the spectrum, specialties such as emergency medicine (2.8), pediatrics (2.6), and family medicine (2.1) reported lower research activity among matched applicants,
In all but two specialties, matched U.S. MD seniors had on average more or equal to the number of compared to those who did not match. Still, the figures for matched and unmatched applicants were often close, and in plastic surgery, the most research experience-heavy field, unmatched applicants (9.2) actually had more research experiences than matched applicants (8.6).
For medical students looking to gain insight on the research process and the work their peers are doing, the 2025 AMA Research Challenge offers medical students, residents, fellows, and IMGs the opportunity to showcase their scholarly pursuits. For those considering participating in the largest national, multispecialty research event for medical students and residents with a $10,000 grand prize presented by Laurel Road, the abstract submission deadline is July 16. The event is held virtually.
Dive deeper:
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Posters, papers and GME placement
Across all physician specialties, applicants from U.S. MD-granting medical schools who matched in their preferred specialty reported an average of 10.0 abstracts, presentations, and publications, according to the 2024 data. Unmatched applicants reported a slightly higher average—11.0—suggesting that while scholarly output is valued, it is not a guarantee of Match success.
These figures reflect self-reported scholarly activity and may include peer-reviewed journal articles, research abstracts, poster sessions at academic conferences and invited presentations at national or regional meetings. The figures on scholarly output may have come from a single or multiple research experiences. Conversely, it is possible for a single research experience to result in multiple outputs.
The five physician specialties with the highest average number of abstracts, posters and presentations among matched U.S. MD seniors were:
- Neurological surgery—37.4
- Plastic surgery—34.7
- Dermatology—27.7
- Orthopaedic surgery—23.8
- Otolaryngology—20.0
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Other specialties with high levels of scholarly output among matched applicants included radiation oncology (15.9 research experiences), interventional radiology (15.8), vascular surgery (12.8), diagnostic radiology (12.0) and general surgery (10.9).
Matched applicants in pediatrics (6.4 research experiences), emergency medicine (5.7) and family medicine (4.2), reported lower volumes of scholarly work on average. Pediatrics was the only specialty in which unmatched applicants (6.8) reported more abstracts and presentations than matched ones (6.4).
The AMA Succeeding in Medical School series offers tips and other guidance on a wide range of critical topics, including preparing for the USMLE and COMLEX exams, navigating clinical rotations, publishing scientific research, and maintaining optimal health and wellness.
DO, IMG applicant research trends
In 2024, matched applicants from osteopathic medical schools had lower reported research participation than those from MD-granting medical schools—a fact that aligns with their preferred career paths. In recent years, more than half of matched applicants from DO schools have ended up in primary care specialties, which tend to put less emphasis on medical student research in residency selection.
According to the 2024 data, matched U.S. DO seniors reported an average of 2.4 research experiences and 4.3 abstracts, posters and publications. Those figures were lower than DO applicants who did not match, who reported an average of three research experiences and 5.1 abstracts.
Among DO applicants who matched in their preferred specialty, four specialties had an applicant average of more than four research experiences: orthopaedic surgery (5.1), dermatology (4.5), otolaryngology (4.5) and interventional radiology (4). Matched applicants in three specialties had an average of double-digit presentations, abstracts and publications: dermatology (11.8), neurological surgery (11), and interventional radiology (10.4).
For international medical graduates (IMGs), research experiences showed some interesting variation, according to the 2024 data. Among matched U.S.-citizen IMGs, the averages were 2.1 research experiences and four abstracts. Matched non-U.S. IMGs reported the higher scholarly output across all applicant groups, with an average of 2.8 research experiences and 8.3 abstracts, posters, and publications.
Dive deeper:
- 5 reasons to showcase your work in the AMA Research Challenge
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- Medical student research FAQ: Get started, showcase your work
What program directors look for
Content and context matters when looking at how residency programs value medical student research, according Ricardo Correa, MD, EdD, an endocrinologist and fellowship program director in Ohio.
Dr. Correa offered that residency program directors aren’t expecting a medical student’s research to turn into a first-author publication in a top medical journal.
“I can speak for internal medicine and say that I don’t think program directors are expecting a New England Journal of Medicine publication,” said Dr. Correa, an AMA member. “What they are expecting is that you keep yourself active [in scholarly work].”
A massive medical student research portfolio won’t help you stand out if it’s obvious you were just checking a box. Residency programs value authenticity—and passion.
“Don't do a research project or a scholarly activity just to check it off your list. We all know we have to do that—we have to build our CVs, we have to polish ourselves up,” said Charles Lopresto, DO, an AMA member and internist from New York.
Dr. Lopresto advised students to be thoughtful about where they invest their time. “Select very carefully what you choose to do research on because it does take time. It does take an investment, but if you're passionate about it, it won't seem like work. It'll seem like an opportunity to help people and publish and change the world. And that is the beauty and power of research.”
