Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR)

Applications for the Emory Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program are being accepted for the 2027-2028 academic year. The Emory MSCR program application deadline is April 15, 2027, at 5:00 PM (EST). Persons who are applying to either the Georgia CTSA K12 or Georgia CTSA T32 Programs do not need to submit a separate application to the Emory MSCR program. Applicants who are interested in the MSCR and not applying to the Georgia CTSA K12 or Georgia CTSA T32 Programs should submit an application to the Emory MSCR program.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) program at Emory University provides didactic and mentored research training for individuals pursuing careers in clinical and/or translational research/science.

The Emory MSCR degree program is available to eligible trainees (predoctoral and postdoctoral) and early-career faculty.

The Emory MSCR is a 30-credit degree program that resides in the Emory Laney Graduate School. The curriculum develops skills in:

  • Clinical and translational research and clinical and translational science
  • Biostatistics and high dimensional data
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical trial design
  • Informatics and data science
  • Evidence-based medicine
  • Bioethics and responsible conduct of research
  • Scientific and grant writing
  • Mentoring, leadership, scientific communications, and team science

Georgia CTSA financial support for the Emory MSCR program or Morehouse School of Medicine MSCR program is available through the Georgia CTSA T32 mechanism for eligible predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and through the Georgia CTSA K12 mechanism for eligible early-career faculty investigators. Applicants not requesting Georgia CTSA financing support (e.g. predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees support by non-Georgia CTSA NIH T32 training grants or other mechanisms such as foundational or departmental support) should apply directly to the Emory MSCR program. Emory faculty using Emory  Courtesy Scholarship to cover MSCR tuition should apply directly to the Emory MSCR program.

MSCR Curriculum and Course Schedule

The MSCR has a competency-based, 30-credit curriculum. You can view the course schedule here and the course descriptions here.

Program Requirements

The MSCR degree requires 30 credits. In addition to required course work, there are two deliverables—the MSCR thesis and grant writing course product (i.e., grant).

Mentored Research

Each trainee must identify a Lead Mentor who:

  • Is an established, independently funded clinical and/or translational investigator
  • Is affiliated with Emory, MSM, Georgia Tech, or UGA
  • Has a strong record of research mentoring

Applicants must include a letter from their Lead Mentor confirming their commitment to provide research mentorship and support.

Additional co-mentors and Advisory Committee members are permitted, and multidisciplinary mentoring teams are encouraged.

Degree Tracks

The MSCR program offers:

  • PhD/MSCR: Integrates MSCR training with eligible doctoral programs.
  • MD/MSCR: Integrates MSCR training with medical education at Emory or MSM.
  • Postdoctoral MSCR: Provides MSCR training for physicians and other doctoral-level postdoctoral trainees.

PhD/MSCR and MD/PhD graduate students do not complete an MSCR thesis because their PhD dissertation fulfills the research component.

Program Eligibility

The MSCR program is intended for individuals from one of the Georgia CTSA partner institutions (Emory University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine, and University of Georgia) who are committed to careers in clinical and/or translational research and clinical and translational science.

Predoctoral Trainees

Eligible applicants include:

  • Medical students
  • MD/PhD students
  • PhD students
  • PharmD students
  • DVM students

Postdoctoral Trainees

Eligible applicants include:

  • Resident and fellow physicians
  • PhD,PharmD, and DVM postdoctoral trainees
  • Individuals with equivalent doctoral-level training

Early-Career Faculty Investigators

Early-career faculty investigators with MD, PhD, PharmD or equivalent degrees may pursue the MSCR degree.

How to apply

If applying to the Georgia CTSA K12 program, please use instructions on the K12 application webpage.

If applying to the Georgia CTSA T32 Predoctoral program or Georgia CTSA T32 Postdoctoral program, please use instructions on the Georgia CTSA T32 application webpage.

If applying directly to the Emory MSCR (not through the K12 or T32 programs): All MSCR application components should be uploaded to the online submission system (click to start). Once you have started your submission by entering your name and email address, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to your MSCR application. You can use this link to upload and update your submission files. Please share your submission link with your Department Chair, Lead mentor, Co-lead mentor (if applicable), and Advisory committee members (if applicable) to upload Letters of Support.

1) Cover page (save link as document).

2) Personal statement (up to 1 page maximum; use 0.5 inch margins, Arial 11 font, single-spaced) to include the applicant’s training and research background and career goals, including how this training program and training afforded by the mentoring team will specifically enhance career development.

3) NIH Biosketches. NIH biosketches (using the NIH Common Form biosketch generated in SciENcv; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sciencv/) are required from the following:

  • MSCR Applicant
  • Lead mentor
  • Co-mentor(s) or Advisory Committee members (if applicable)
  • Any other consultants or key collaborators

An ORCID iD and an eRA Commons username are required to complete the biosketch.

  • ORCID iD - Emory applicants can obtain the ORCID iD at Get an ORCID at Emory University Libraries; applicants from other Georgia CTSA partners institutions should obtain an ORCID iD at the th following webiste:  https://orcid.org.
  • eRA Commons Username – An eRA Commons Username and a linked ORCID iD are required to create an NIH biosketch in Sciencv. If you do not have an eRA Commons Username, please contact Rachel Hardison (rachel.hardison@emory.edu).

4) Clinical and translational research/science project (7-page limit; use 0.5 in page margins, Arial 11 font, single space) that will serve as the basis for the Emory MSCR thesis. There must be a human component to the MSCR thesis, i.e., a clinical and translational research or clinical and translational science project. Information on preparing the required elements is provided, with examples, in the instructions for a predoctoral NIAID F31 application at the NIH National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Required elements are: 

a) Title of proposal and investigators.  The applicant should include the title of the proposal, the applicant’s name and the name of the Lead Mentor (and their affiliation and title).

b) Abstract/Summary (30 lines maximum)of the overall research project.

c) Specific Aims (one-page maximum - counts as part of 7 page limit) section that includes: a summary of the project (rationale/background, innovative aspects, brief overview of planned research and study population, including accessible datasets), a hypothesis statement, and 2 to 3 Specific Aims of the research project that briefly outline how each Aim will address the hypothesis/hypotheses.

d) Research and Training Plan (up to 7 pages) that includes the following sections: RESEARCH PLAN: Significance(1-1.5 pages), including any relevant preliminary data (not required); Innovation (up to 0.5 pages) that outlines the novelty of the project to the field; and Approach (up to 3.5 pages) which details how the specific aims are going to be addressed and how the reserach project will be carried out. The Approach section may also include preliminary data (not required) and must include information on the proposed research methods, study population (including inclusion/exclusion criteria and details on any human subject databases that may be used), a statistical analysis plan (developed in conjunction with a biostatistician, as needed), including a power analysis, if applicableand a comment on expected results/pitfalls/solutions with regard to the executing the Specific Aims and interpretations of study results. TRAINING PLAN: The Training Plan (up to 1 page) counts towards the 7-page limit for the Research and Training Plan. Please described the didactic training that will take place (i.e., MSCR program), describe any elective courses that are planned (e.g., MSCR 596 “R” course or other electives), and workshops outside of the MSCR program. Please also briefly describe the lead mentor and mentoring team, frequency of interactions, and their track record in mentoring. The lead mentor should be an established clinical or translational science investigator but it is fine to have a co-mentor(s) who is an early-career investigator. Please include a timeline for the didactic and mentored research training.

e) Bibliography focused/no page limit with citations in numerical order from the Research Plan.

f) Protection of Human Subjects section (no page limit, see NIAID F31 example). This section outlines hazards/risks/discomforts to research subjects, if applicable, and methods to be employed to mitigate such risks.

g) Inclusion of Women and Members of Racial and/or Ethnic Minority Groups in Clinical Research (Applicable only for Human Subjects Research; does NOT count against the 7-page limit). Based on NIH requirements, a brief statement should be provided which outlines inclusion of women, inclusion of racial/ethnic minorities, and inclusion across the lifespan (children/older adults). Any exclusions based on sex, race, and/or ethnicity must include a rationale and justification based on a scientific or ethical basis.

5) Letters of support including:

  • Letter from the applicant’s Lead Mentor. The letter from the Lead Mentor, must indicate willingness to serve as the applicant's research mentor for the MSCR thesis . The Lead Mentor’s letter should also include a brief outline of the proposed research project and indicate that he/she has reviewed the applicant's proposed research project summary prior to its submission.  The Lead Mentor’s letter should indicate an understanding that their attendance will be required for the thesis defense presentations by the applicant to the Georgia CTSA Research Education Executive Committee and that formal mentor training (provided by Georgia CTSA) is now required by NIH. The lead mentor's letter should indicate that he/she will provide feedback regarding the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and meet with a Georgia CTSA Research Education leadership mentor with the mentee at least yearly to document academic progress. 
  • Letters from co-mentors(if applicable);
  • Letter of support from the candidate’s Division or Program Director, Chair, or Dean of Students that should include confirmation of protected time and tuition support to complete course requirements (if not using the Emory Courtesy Scholarship)
  • Letters from Advisory Committee members (if applicable).

Selection process

The Georgia CTSA Research Education Executive Committee will review MSCR applications and acceptances will be based on candidates’ interest and potential for a clinical and translational research/science career.

After acceptance

If the application is successful, the applicant must complete the Laney Graduate School application process and, where applicable, submit the required application fee and original transcripts.

More Information

2026

Zachary Bernstein, MD, MS
Sarah Blaine, MD, MS
Kahsavyah Buckley, MD, MS
Emily Evans, MD, MS
Anand Jain, MD, MS
Jade Jones, MD, MS
Jadah Keith, MD, MS
Michael Marll, MD, MS
Nicole Mavingire, PHD, MS
Joshua Muniz, MD, MS
Kartik Reddy, MD, MS
Divya Verma, MD, MS

2025

Wassim Abdallah, MD, MS
Andres Chang, MD, PHD, MS
Kamaria Dansby, MD, MS
Georgia Davis, MD, MS
Stefanie DiGiandomenico, MD, MS
Maya Fayfman, MD, MS
Daniel Gold, MD, MS
Omar Jean-Baptiste, MS
Zahra Jiwani, DO, MS
Elizabeth Kim, MD, MPH, MS
Reema Martini, MD, MS
Sadie Mason, MD, MS
Catherine McGeoch, MD, MS
Kailey Oppat, MD, MS
Sagar Patel, MD, MS
Stephen Russell, MD, MS
Ruth Sacks, MD, MS
Sarah Scott, MD, MS
Mihir Shah, MD, MS
Jason Stevenson, MD, MS
Nicholas Thomas, MD, MPH, MS
Nishant Vatsa, MD, MS
Sydni Williams, MD, MS

2024

Amalia Aldredge, MD, MS
Vivek Beechar, MD, MS
Alexandre Cammarata-Mouchtouris, PhD, MS
Cecilia Castellano, MD, MS
Alexandra Cathcart, MD, MS
Keziah Daniels, MD, MS
Jonathan Ebelhar, MD, MS
Jared Eckman, MD, MS
Daniel Gromer, MD, MS
Tarun Jain, MD, MS
Sara Kebede, MD, MS
Eli Mlaver, MD, MS
Jenna Sands, MD, MS
Natalia Smirnova, MD, MS
Maggie Wang, MD, MS

2023

Olamide Alabi, MD, MS
Ahmed Babiker, MD, MS
Ida Fonkoue, MD, PhD, MS
Jocelyn Grunwell, MD, MS
Michelle Schoettler, MD, MS
David Bray, MD, MS
Arene Butto, MD, MS
Ayako Fujita, MD, MS
Apoorva Gangavelli, MD, MS
Grace Gombolay, MD, MS
Moira Lancelot, MD, MS
Caroline Medin, MD, MS
Nirja Mehta, MD, MS
Jeffrey Wang, MD, MS
Lucy Witt, MD, MPH, MS
Mattie Wolf, MD, MS

2022

Ankita Agarwal, MD, MS
Divya Bhamidipati, MD, MS
Jesse Codner, MD, MS
Joshua Detelich, MD, MS
Brent Gawey, MD, MS
Nithin Gopalsamy, MD, MS
Sanyu Janardan, MD, MS
Jessica Keilson, MD, MS
Troy Kleber, MD, MS
Joshua Levy, MD, MS
Taran Lundgren, MD, MS
Victor Orellana-Noia, MD, MS
Aditi Ramakrishnan, MD, MS
Birju Rao, MD, MS
Bonney Reed, PhD, MS
Jessica Shantha, MD, MS
Vinita Singh, MD, MS
Alison Smith, MD, MS
Rebecca Steinberg, MD, MS
Evelina Sterina, MD, MS
Philip Yang, MD, MS

2021

Mandy Bekhbat, PhD, MS
Holly Edington, MD, MS
Kevin Farley, MD, MS
Mariana Garcia, MD, MS
Daniel Graciaa, MD, MS
Mohleen Kang, MD, MS
Kasra Moazzami, MD, MS
Andrea Newsome, PharmD, MS
Lauren Orenstein, MD, MS
Anish Shah, MD, MS
Jamie Story, PhD, MS
Charles Terry, MD, MS
Michael Turgeon, MD, MS
Malinda Wu, MD, MS

2020

Maria Abril, MD, MS
Cassie Ackerley, MD, MS
Ruth Adekunle, MD, MS
Megan Brown, MD, MS
Lauren Collins, MD, MS
Adriana Gamboa, MD, MS
Stephanie Garrett, MD, MS
David Goldsmith, MD, MS
Robert Harkins, MD, MS
Julia Haston, MD, MS
Elena HogenEsch, MD, MS
Jessica Howard-Anderson, MD, MS
Amrit Kashyap, PhD, MS
Onkar Khullar, MD, MS
Xiaoying Lou, MD, MS
Elizabeth Walker, MD, MS
Anna Woodbury, MD, MS
Lydia Wright, MD, MS
Arslan Zahid, MD, MS

2019

Michael Arenson, MD, MS
Deborah Bloch, MD, MS
Casey Cable, MD, MS
Ashley Eason, MD, MS
Annie Farrell, MD, MS
Andrew Ip, MD, MS
Kimberly Lang, PhD, MS
Sujin Lee, MD, MS
Jessica Li, MD, MS
Ekemini Ogbu, MD, MS
Daniel Runco, MD, MS
Margaret Sahu, MD, MS
David Serota, MD, MS
Nathan Summers, MD, MS
Maxine Warren, MD, MS
Michael White, MD, MS
Howa Yeung, MD, MS
Christopher Zalesky, MD, MS

2018

Anika Backster, MD, MS
Griffin Baum, MD, MS
Leda Gattoc, MD, MS
Jordan Goldstein, MD, MS
Sameer Halani, MD, MS
Jonathan Kim, MD, MS
Jean Koff, MD, MS
Albert Liao, MD, MS
Alexandra Lopez-Aguiar, MD, MS
Lane Miller, MD, MS
Anar Patel, MD, MS
Roman Sniecinski, MD, MS
Aaron Trammell, MD, MS
Michael Woodworth, MD, MS

2017

Olufolake Adisa, MD, MS
Sara Auld, MD, MS
Jeffrey Collins, MD, PhD, MS
Jennifer Collins, MD, MS
Cecilia Ethun, MD, MS
Zachary Fang, MD, MS
Tatyana Hofmekler, MD, MS
Frances Hu, MD, MS
Michael Lava, MD, MS
Caitlin Moran, MD, MS
Laura Scorr, MD, MS
Mary Sexton, MD, MS
Lisa Shandley, MD, MS
Chia-Shi Wang, MD, MS
Joe Xie, MD, MS

2016

Raches Ella, MBBS, MS
Philip Garza, MD, MS
Teresa Gross, MD, MS
J. Lucas McKay, PhD, MS
Akanksha Mehta, MD, MS
Alanna Morris, MD, MS
Ogbonna Ogbu, MD, MS
Kavita Patel, MD, MS
Srikant Rangaraju, MD, MS
Kevin Seitz, MD, MS
Elizabeth Stenger, MD, MS
Sarah Tehseen, MD, MS
Shilpa Vyas-Read, MD, MS
Kobina Wilmot, MD, MS

2015

Max Adelman, MD, MS
Madeline Bertha, MD, MS
Jesse Couk, MD, MS
Jennifer Felger, PhD, MS
Titilayo Ilori, MD, MS
Anya Mezina, MD, MS
Robert Nickel, MD, MS
Sujan Reddy, MD, MS
Shruthi Rereddy, MD, MS
Himalee Sabnis, MD, MS
Anandi Sheth, MD, MS
Sana Syed, MD, MS
Duc Tran, MD, MS

2014

Ana Antun, MD, MS
Shagun Arora, MD, MS
Davit Baliashvili, MD, MPH, MS
Lauren Colbert, MD, MS
Christina Correnti, MD, MS
Felix Fernandez, MD, MS
Juanmarco Gutierrez, MD, MS
Jenny Han, MD, MS
Jeffrey Holzberg, MD, MS
Lee Hugar, MD, MS
Sarah Kabbani, MD, MS
Ralitza Martin, MD, MS
Andre Melendez, MD, MS
Joanna Newton, MD, MS
Taofeek Owonikoko, PhD, MS
Ravi Patel, MD, MS
Carmen Polito, MD, MS
Maa-Ohui Quarmyne, MD, MS
Matthew Ramirez, MD, MS

2013

Katherine Baxter, MD, MS
Jonathan Beus, MD, MS
Pamela Bhatti, PhD, MS
William Cash, MD, MS
Reyhaan Chaudhri, PhD, MS
Sushma Cribbs, MD, MS
Cecile Delille, MD, MS
Sarah Fisher, MD, MS
Nathan Hotaling, PhD, MS
Jordan Kempker, MD, MS
Colleen Kraft, MD, MS
Catherine Marti, MD, MS
Emily McIntosh, MD, MS
Meredithe McNamara, MD, MS
Ashish Mehta, MD, MS
Fatima Mir, MD, MS
Roshan Prabhu, MD, MS
William Rutledge, MD, MS
Matthew Topel, MD, MS
Anne Winkler, MD, MS

2012

Amina Bhatia, MD, MS
Andres Camacho-Gonzalez, MD, MS
Rupali Kotwal Doshi, MD, MS
Boadie Waid Dunlop, MD, MS
Annette Marie Esper, MD, MS
Eric Foote, MD, MS
Michael Emanuel Halkos, MD, MS
Sharjeel Mehdi Hooda, MD, MS
Andrea Liatis, PhD, MS
Vasiliki Michopoulos, PhD, MS
Edward Alan Stenehjem, MD, MS
Claudia Marie Testa, MD, PhD, MS
Srini Tridandapani, MD, PhD, MS
Jennifer Anne Whitaker, MD, MS
Sarah Wise, MD, MS
Emily Ryan, PhD, MS
Fredrich Wieser, MD, MS

2011

Jennifer Carol Andrews, MD, MS
Vikas Bhalla, MBBS, MS
Sheena Denise Brown, MS
Leslie Jameleh Cloud, MD, MS
Medea Gegia, MD, MS
Jesse Thomas Jacob, MD, MBA, MS
Ameeta Shivdas Kalokhe, MD, MS
Ashley Paige Kennedy, PhD, MS
Seema Panduranga Kini, MD, MS
Daniel Joseph Livorsi, MD, MS
Laura Michelle Mazer, MD, MS
Briana Cary Patterson, MD, MS
Kari Rose Schneibel, MD, MS
Amit Jasvant Shah, MD, MS
Naasha Talati, MBBS, MS
Lynn Marie Trotti, MD, MS
Ling Yue, MD, MS

2010

Beau B. Bruce, MD, MS
Carrie Chu, MD, MS
Alison Dormer Cowan, MD, MS
Rosiland Harrington, MD, MS
Yolanda Hendley, MD, MS
Russell Kempker, MD, MS
Yanci Mannery, PhD, MS
Nilesh Patel, MD, MS
Muna Qayed, MD, MS
Frederic Rahbari, MD, MS
Tamara Eileen Weiss, MD, MS
Aliza Pham Wingo, MD, MS

2009

Carolyn M. Bennett, MD, MS
Joan E. Cain, MD, MS
Anne M. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MS
Julie R. Gutman, MD, MS
Deepa Gopal Mangalat, MD, MS
Marianne McPherson, MD, MS
Andi L. Shane, MD, MPH, MS
Nimalie Stone, MD, MS
Ethan Tolbert, MD, MS
Elizabeth Camille Vaughan, MD, MS
Tanya C. Watt, MD, MS
Amelia Bruce Zelnak, MD, MS

2008

Keith August, MD, MS
Ellen Burnham, MD, MS
Sopio Chochua, MD, MS
Eric Felner, MD, MS
Esteban Gonzalez-Diaz, MD, MS
Bhawna Halwan, MD, MS
Paul E. Holtzheimer, III, MD, MS
Christine Kempton, MD, MS
Melissa Osborn, MD, MS
Paulina Rebolledo, MD, MS
Aimee Schickedanz Browne, MD, MS
Dawn D. Smiley, MD, MS
Jeannie Visootsak, MD, MS

2007

Kimberly Paul Champney, MD, MS
Conrad Radcliffe Cole, MD, MPH, MS
Susannah Daly Copland, MD, MS
Marian Leslie Evatt, MD, MS
Nino Tengizi Lomtadze, MD, MS
John K. Park, MD, MS
Si-Woon Park, MD, MS
Ulrich Seybold, MD, MS
Jessica B. Spencer, MD, MS

2006

Werner Christian Albrich, MD, MS
James D. Collins, MD, MS
Andrew P. DeFilippis, MD, MS
Janice P. Lea, MD, MS
Bui Duc Nguyen, MD, MS
Deborah J. Nicolls, MD, MS
Henry Radziewicz, MD, MS
Kenichi Tanaka, MD, MS
Karen J. Wasilewski, MD, MS

2005

Laurent Adler, MD, MS
Michael Benatar, MBChB, MS
Bernard C. Camins, MD, MS
Lemuel Leon Dent, MD, MS
Carolyn V. Gould, MD, MS
Ben H. Lee, MD, MPH, MS
Susmita Mallik, MD, MS, MPH
Ighovwerha Ofotokun, MD, MS
David C. Purselle, MD, MS
Karyn E. White, MD, MS

2004

Jason Cole, MD, MS
Diego M. Diaz, MD, MS
Carlos Diaz-Granados, MD, MS
Michael S. Marcin, MD, MS
Gregory Martin, MD, MS

2003

Thomas Adamkiewicz, MD, MS
Imoigele Aisiku, MD, MS
Sean Beinart, MD, MS
Judith Heggen, DO, MS
Sumita Khatri, MD, MS
Jeffrey Newport, MD, MDiv, MS
Manish Patel, MD, MS
Mary K. Rhee, MD, MS
Javier Romo-Garcia, MD, MS

2002

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MS
Erik E. Folch, MD, MS

2001

Miguel Cashat-Cruz, MD, MS
Mark D. King, MD, MS
Sunil Kripalani, MD, MS

2000

Suprith Badarinath, MD, MS
Giselle Corbie-Smith, MD, MS
Dominique L. Musselman, MD, MS
Stefan Tigges, MD, MS

Questions

We encourage interested MSCR candidates to contact the Georgia CTSA education program leadership for questions and assistance with the application process. Questions on the application process can be directed to Rachel Hardison, Georgia CTSA Research Education Programs Assistant Director.  For questions, especially technical issues, or problems with the online submission website please contact Alexey Kurbatov.

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