How to Find Research Opportunities as an International Medical Graduate

International medical graduates (IMGs) can find research opportunities through former faculty, regional and international collaborators, structured online programmes, conferences and open collaboration boards. The same principles apply: specific outreach, defined tasks and clear authorship terms.

Routes that work for many IMGs

• Former medical school faculty and alumni, who may have data, cases or contacts.
• Remote evidence-synthesis roles: searching, screening, data extraction and writing can be done online.
• Case reports and series from your own clinical experience, with proper consent and local approvals.
• Multicentre or collaborative networks that welcome contributors from different countries.
• Online opportunity boards, such as MRN's Research Opportunities and Conference Opportunities.

Presenting yourself

1. Create a concise research CV and an ORCID profile (see How to Use ORCID as a Medical Researcher).
2. List what you can contribute (skills, languages, access to data).
3. Be exact about your role in past work.
4. Provide a mentor reference when possible.

Practical cautions

• Requirements for residency and licensing differ by country; verify official sources and do not rely on anyone's assurance of outcomes.
• Be careful with offers that promise publications or authorship for a fee.
• Check ethics rules in the country where data are collected.

Illustrative example

Invented for teaching. An IMG preparing for a training-programme application contacts her former professor to ask about reporting a case series from her residency. The professor agrees to supervise, they obtain local ethics approval and patient consent, and she drafts the manuscript with CARE guidance.

Common pitfalls

• Do not spend money on any offer that promises a guaranteed publication.
• Listing manuscripts "in preparation" without a clear role.

Key takeaways

• Remote evidence work and case reports are accessible starting points.
• Build verifiable evidence of contribution.
• Verify requirements and opportunities from official and reputable sources.

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.