W.T. Gill Summer Fellowship 2026: $4,000 Stipend for GW Medical Students (Apply by Feb 15)

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences has updated its guidelines for the W.T. Gill Summer Fellowship 2026. This fellowship is exclusively for first-year medical students at GW who wish to pursue research internships during the summer.

Successful applicants will receive a stipend of $4,000 to support their 8-week research project. The application deadline is strictly set for February 15, 2026. If you are a medical student looking to build your research portfolio at GW, Children's National, or the DC VA Medical Center, this is your primary opportunity.

Fellowship Overview & Key Details

How the Application Process Works

The application process consists of two distinct steps. You cannot simply apply without prior groundwork. Here is the workflow:

Step 1: Identify a Research Mentor

• You must first find a mentor. You can review current faculty proposals for medical student research or search the researcher database to identify faculty at GW or Children’s National Health System (CNHS).
• Faculty Selection: A faculty member can select only one student for a project.
• Offer Letter: Once selected, the faculty member must provide you with an offer letter on official letterhead. This letter must detail the project, the supervision structure, and your specific responsibilities.

Step 2: Submit the Gill Application

• Once you have your mentor and project secured, you must complete the Gill application by the deadline.
• No Early Advantage: Applications are reviewed only after the deadline, so focus on quality rather than rushing to submit early.

Eligibility and Project Requirements

To qualify for funding, your proposed research must meet specific standards:

• Timeframe: The project must be at least 8 weeks long, and the objectives must be achievable within that period.
• Compliance: Clinical research projects must comply with GW Human Subjects research guidelines. You must obtain IRB and/or IACUC approval (if applicable) before beginning the internship.

Fellowship Requirements and Deliverables

Receiving the $4,000 stipend comes with professional responsibilities. At the end of the summer, recipients are required to:

• Submit an Abstract of the research findings.
• Create a Draft PowerPoint Poster summarizing the project.

Note: These materials are often adapted for publication in Fusion magazine or presented at GW/CNHS Research Days held in April.

Contact Information

If you have questions regarding the fellowship or need technical assistance with the form, please contact the program coordinators directly:

• Fellowship Inquiries: Dr. David Leitenberg, MD, PhD (Associate Professor) – dleit@gwu.edu
• Technical Assistance: Colston Judd (Program Analyst) – colston.judd@gwu.edu | 703-402-7154

How to Apply

Eligible students must complete their application by February 15, 2026. Ensure you have your faculty offer letter ready before starting the formal application process.