Which specialties value research output the most for Match?

Medical student research experience won’t guarantee a physician residency interview—let alone a match. But for many medical students, scholarly work completed during undergraduate medical education can be a meaningful differentiator. In some of the more competitive specialties, it may even help move an application closer to the top of the pile.

Data published by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and drawing from the 2024 Match cycle—the most recent figures available—shows that while research is valued across all physician specialties, the degree to which it matters varies widely. So, how much does research really factor in—and in which specialties does it carry the most weight? Here's what the numbers reveal.

Fields with heavy research loads

Across all physician specialties, matched applicants from U.S. MD-granting medical schools reported an average of 3.7 research experiences—defined as an instance in which a medical student participates in a research project—according to NRMP data on the characteristics of matched applicants.