Partner with ORIGINS

Information for Principal Investigators

A straightforward partnership: motivated, vetted student collaborators for your active research, at no administrative cost to your program.

What ORIGINS Offers PIs

  • Access to motivated, vetted medical student collaborators.
  • No administrative cost to the PI's program.
  • Co-authorship credit on all resulting publications and presentations.
  • A direct contribution to the national osteopathic surgical education pipeline.

What ORIGINS Asks of PIs

  • Define a project scope appropriate for a team of medical student contributors.
  • Commit to a minimum of one virtual check-in per month.
  • Provide active mentorship and substantive feedback on drafts.
  • Adhere to authorship standards consistent with ICMJE guidelines.

A Note on Mentorship

ORIGINS students arrive with a wide range of research backgrounds. Some have published before, others are preparing their first abstract, but every student will need guidance, and the program is built on that expectation. Matched students are motivated and vetted, yet they are still learners: they will look to you to set direction, teach methodology, model how a research question becomes a manuscript, and give the feedback that moves a draft forward.

Practically, that means a PI should plan to mentor, not simply delegate. The students supply the effort, persistence, and time; you supply the scientific judgment and direction that make their effort productive. PIs who lean into that mentoring role are the ones whose teams consistently reach a submitted abstract or manuscript, and who shape the next generation of osteopathic surgeon-scientists in the process.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time does PI participation require?
The baseline commitment is one virtual check-in per month with your matched student, plus substantive feedback on drafts as they are produced. ORIGINS handles matching and coordination, so your time is spent on mentorship and science rather than logistics.
What level of research experience should I expect from matched students?
Students range from early learners to those with prior publications. Each application records academic year and prior research experience, and we use that information to match the student to a project scope that fits their readiness and your needs.
How are students vetted before matching?
Every applicant submits an application identifying their surgical specialty focus, academic year, and prior research experience. ORIGINS leadership reviews each application on a rolling basis before pairing the student with a PI whose active research aligns with their stated interests.
Who handles IRB and institutional compliance?
IRB submission and institutional compliance remain with the PI and their home institution, where the research is conducted and governed. ORIGINS supports the collaboration and the student's contribution, but the project lives within your institutional framework.
How do I express interest in participating?
Use the contact form to tell us about your research and the kind of student contributor you are looking for. We will follow up to discuss scope and matching. You can express interest as a PI here.

Ready to Mentor the Next Generation of Surgical Researchers?

Express Interest as a PI