Recruitment

Application Timeline (Spring 2026)

Spring 2026 applications and recruitment have now closed. Please check back for Fall 2026 recruitment updates.

Emergency Medicine Research Associates (EMRA) is a clinical research student organization at UCLA that works with the Department of Emergency Medicine. Interested students are encouraged to attend our recruitment information sessions held throughout the school year to learn more about the program and our application process.

Students may also join our email list to receive updates about recruitment sessions, application cycles, and program announcements. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Program Benefits

Students in Emergency Medicine Research Associates are given the opportunity to obtain:

UCLA SRP 99 credit
Hospital volunteer hours
Clinical Research Leadership opportunities
Physician shadowing (Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology)
Invaluable emergency department exposure in one of the top level-1 trauma centers
Guest lectures from both students and faculty
An in-depth look into current emergency medicine research

Applicant Eligibility

Our program seeks students who are interested in medicine, emergency care, clinical research, and learning through direct experience in a hospital setting. We look for applicants who are curious, responsible, and ready to contribute to a team-based clinical research environment.

Additionally, because EMRA works directly within the UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine, members are held to high standards of professionalism and patient-centered conduct. Applicants should be prepared for a one-year minimum commitment beginning after training is completed, which includes holidays, summer breaks, and school breaks.

Most EMRA members are undergraduate students at UCLA, but we also welcome applications from post-graduate students, graduate students, and students from other universities.

Accepted applicants must complete the following requirements before volunteering in the hospital:

A background check, completed at no cost to the applicant
Proof of current vaccinations
TB test documentation

Applicants who currently have an active commitment through the UCLA Health Sciences (UHS) Volunteer Office must complete the minimum required hours for their current assignment before applying to EMRA. For UHS-specific programs and assignments, this minimum commitment is 50 hours. For other volunteer programs, applicants should check with their designated volunteer coordinator. This policy is strictly enforced, and exceptions cannot be made.

Application Cycle Information

EMRA recruits during the Fall and Spring quarters of each academic year. Our next recruitment cycle will take place in Fall 2026. The application process includes an online application followed by primary and secondary interviews. At the beginning of each recruitment cycle, EMRA holds two information sessions to share program details, expectations, and application deadlines. Attendance is not required, but prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend to learn more about the program and ask questions before applying.

Fall 2026 Information Sessions:

TBD

Application Resources

Application Process

Written Application: All applicants are required to submit an online written application, which will become available during each application cycle.
- As part of the application, applicants must provide contact information for at least one professional reference, though 2–3 references are encouraged.
- A full letter of recommendation is not required. Applicants should provide the reference’s contact information, and references may be contacted later in the review process.
Primary Interview: After written applications are reviewed, selected applicants may be invited to participate in a primary interview.
- Applicants who are selected for a primary interview will be notified via email. Details of the interviews will be explained upon invitation.
Secondary Interview: Following primary interviews, we will invite some applicants to return for a secondary interview.
- Only applicants who have been offered a secondary interview will be included in our final consideration for admittance into the program.

*The dress code for both interviews is business professional.

Please Note: For prospective cohorts of incoming EMRAs, the Volunteer Office requires individuals who have committed to a separate volunteer program through UCLA to finish their minimum commitment within this program before beginning their on-boarding with EMRA. This means that if you are currently part of or have been recently admitted to other volunteer programs, you have to finish your minimum commitment first before you on-board with EMRA (by the end of the application quarter). We ask that you keep this in mind when applying to EMRA. Our program does not accept ‘program-hopping’ and our contract clearly states that a new member’s acceptance is contingent on completing all other UCLA volunteer program requirements.

Please email uclaemrastaff@mednet.ucla.edu with any additional questions.