Research and Scholarly Engagement

The Rutgers NJMS Research and Scholarly Engagement Program is designed to foster the intellectual challenge and spirit of inquiry appropriate to a community of scholars and provide opportunities, encouragement, and support for medical student participation in the research and other scholarly activities of faculty. The program helps medical students to conduct research and advance scholarships under the direction of a mentor through their 4 years in medical school.

Our mission is to enhance medical student research and help develop mentored research experience to further students’ abilities to deliver quality health care through innovative medical education programs, research initiatives, and clinical excellence.

FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED NJMS STUDENTS: Careers in Medicine/Research and Scholarly Engagement Canvas Page

Daniel Jones, MD, MS, FACS currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery, Chief Service at University Hospital, and Assistant Dean for Simulation, Innovation, and Scholarship.
Dr. Jones graduated from Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College. He completed his Surgery residency and Minimally Invasive Surgery research fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Following his training, he joined the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and founded the Southwestern Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Dr. Jones is a surgical educator and Past President of The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the Association for Surgical Education (ASE). He is a recipient of the SSAT Master Educator Award and the ASE Distinguished Master Educator Award. In his role as Assistant Dean for Simulation, Innovation, and Scholarship, Dr. Jones serves as a senior advisor and key resource to provide opportunities, encouragement, navigation, and support for students interested in pursuing scholarship and build collaborations across all departments.

Edmer A. Martinez, BA currently serves as a Program Coordinator for both the Careers in Medicine Program and the Research and Scholarly Engagement Program. He received his BA in Communications from The College of New Jersey and completed his Marketing minor in Nice, France at the I’Pag Business School.

Mr. Martinez started his career with UMDNJ, now known as Rutgers NJMS, in 2010 when he joined the Department of Pediatrics as a Data Entry Clerk for a non-profit organization. He began his interest in careers advising when he started working in the Office of Student Affairs in 2018 and has since dedicated his time working with both the Careers in Medicine Program and the Research and Scholarly Engagement Program.

Mr. Martinez can be located at the Office of Accreditation and Professional Development, Medical Science Building. Here at Rutgers NJMS, we like to maintain an open-door policy and encourage any student, faculty, or staff member to stop by and share any ideas, perspectives, or feedback regarding career advising and/or research opportunities.