The process of conducting research as a medical student can help build key skills—critical thinking, collaboration, communication and an improved grasp of the scientific process, among them—that shape the physician one becomes. The result of a research project can help medical students stand out during the residency-selection process, particularly if the output is publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal.
According to Maya Hammoud, MD, medical student research gets published because the idea is strong and because the conditions are right.
“Before joining a research project, students need to understand what is expected and really assess the value they can bring to it and what it is going to entail,” said Dr. Hammoud, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology who has done extensive work related to residency selection through a grant from the AMA Reimagining Residency initiative.
So why do some medical student research projects get published while others fail to reach that finish line?
Mentorship matters
Dr. Hammoud has worked extensively as a research mentor to medical students over the years. In getting a project from ideation to publication, she said mentors are a “big player” in the process.
A strong medical school mentor does more than supervise. They help students choose the right question, define the scope and identify a project that can actually be completed.
Mentors can help find a way for a student to contribute that will help them get authorship on a publication while fitting within their limited bandwidth, Dr. Hammoud said.
“A good mentor can identify part of a larger bench research project that a student can realistically complete in a shorter period of time,” said. Dr. Hammoud, who also works as a consultant for the AMA. “Because most projects have subprojects, strong mentorship means helping a student take one piece from A to Z and finish it.”
For medical students looking to hone their research skills, the AMA offers resources and programs that bring you from the basics all the way to the AMA Research Challenge where you can compete for a $10,000 prize, presented by KeyBank.
Understand timelines
For the purpose of having a peer-reviewed journal article listed on their CV, medical students need projects with time horizons that could lead to publication by the time they complete their third year of medical school.
“When I work with a student, I try to guide them to choose a project that is doable in a shorter period of time,” Dr. Hammoud said. “If results won’t come for three years, they’re obviously not going to publish during med school. But if they can take a shorter-term project across the finish line, they’re much more likely to publish it.”
Dr. Hammoud said students should start by asking a few questions.
“What is the time commitment?” she said. “Is research something that they are going to enjoy doing? What will it take to get it to the finish line? If I can’t get it finished during med school, am I OK with that?”
Passion, drive lead to results
A mentor can only get you so far. Medical students who are genuinely invested in the work are more likely to help produce a project that gets published in a peer-reviewed journal.
“When I work with a student and it’s pretty evident early in the process that I’m not going to need to hold their hand, those are the ones that often can get a project to publication,” Dr. Hammoud said. “They're very driven to accomplish something, and they're also passionate about what they're doing. So, they're not doing research to just check a box. They're pursuing it because they love what they're doing.”
Know your limits
Medical students’ academic performance is going to matter more than any extracurricular in the eyes of residency program directors. With the classroom and clinic being top priorities, medical students are going to have limited bandwidth for research.
The type of medical research project can matter. Translational research using existing data is often the easiest to get published. Whereas a bench-heavy basic science project may be the most challenging.
“It is possible to find a research project that allows students to spend a few hours a week contributing to the work,” Dr. Hammoud said. “The project and the mentor are going to have to be amenable to that.
“The project and type of research matters. If you’re studying a topic like medical education that is the type of longitudinal project a student could realistically complete. If you’re sitting at a bench, doing wet lab research that requires a bunch of cultures, you’ll need to commit more time and intensity to that research.”
Publication isn’t the end-all
Across all physician specialties, applicants from U.S. MD-granting medical schools who matched in their preferred specialty during the 2025–2026 Match cycle reported a median of two publications. Those that didn’t match in their preferred specialty reported a median of three publications.
The value of research outputs in how applicants are viewed during residency selection varies significantly by specialty, and the MyERAS application allows space for applicants to highlight presentations and research experiences even if they don’t result in publication.
So, publications alone won’t earn you your dream Match. Still, Dr. Hammoud highlights that there is value in participating in research that doesn’t get top billing in an academic journal.
“A publication by itself doesn’t necessarily mean, ‘OK, I succeeded,’” Dr. Hammoud said. “Students can do a lot of research and learn quite a bit without it resulting in publication. The process itself can still be a great learning experience, especially if they develop skills they can use in the future.”
Medical students who join the AMA enjoy exclusive member benefits and perks to help them personally and professionally on their road to residency. They also get to select from a variety of free gifts when they join, including powerful study aids for the USMLE or COMLEX-USA tests.
