What pre-med research opportunities are available at Case Western Reserve University?

Case Western Reserve University has unusually strong undergraduate research access for pre-med students, especially because it sits next to the Case School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, and the VA Medical Center in University Circle. In practice, that means undergrads can work not only in basic science labs on campus, but also in clinical, translational, public health, and biomedical engineering research. For a student interested in medicine, that ecosystem is one of Case Western’s biggest advantages.

Undergraduates commonly join faculty labs through the SOURCE office, which helps students find research positions, funding, and presentation opportunities. Many students start by emailing professors directly, and it is normal to get involved as early as first year, especially in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, and public health.

For pre-med specifically, the opportunities span several paths. You could work in wet labs studying cancer biology, immunology, genetics, or neuroscience; in engineering labs focused on medical devices, imaging, or biomaterials; or in clinical research teams connected to the medical school and affiliated hospitals. Case Western also has strong opportunities in population health, bioethics, and health disparities research, which can be especially relevant if you are interested in public health or patient-centered medicine.

Students often present their work at Intersections, the university’s undergraduate research symposium, and many go on to co-author posters or papers. A practical detail that matters is that access depends partly on initiative: the resources are excellent, but you usually need to seek out labs rather than expect placement automatically.