Background: Residency training programs aspire to develop residents’ research skills, but engaging trainees in research often proves challenging. Addressing this requires a better understanding of factors influencing residents’ engagement in scholarship. We sought to identify such factors through an interview-based study that explored residents’ interest and involvement in research during training. Methods: We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with neurology (n=8) and neurosurgery (n=7) residents at our institution based on an interview guide developed through a literature review and pilot interviews (n=3). Using template analysis, we examined transcripts to identify facilitators and barriers to resident research. Results: Motivation, mentorship, and resource availability were noted to significantly impact resident research. Trainees indicated motivation is influenced by personal desire to develop research skills, interest in available projects, and pressure to engage in scholarship from peers, mentors, and future employers. While strong mentorship and departmental resources for data collection and analysis facilitate resident research, funding and time constraints are barriers to success. Conclusions: We have identified multiple factors influencing residents’ engagement in research, which may be targeted by program directors to optimize the post-graduate training environment for resident scholarship. In the next phase of our project, we will corroborate and expand on these findings through a national survey of residents across all specialties.