Orthopedic Research Internship
About Our Internship Program
Each summer, the Carl J. Shapiro Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers undergraduate and graduate medical students the opportunity to participate in a research internship. As a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital, BIDMC's world-class patient care is built on the foundation of high-quality, empirically-driven clinical research. BIDMC ranks highly in the country for National Institutes of Health funding among independent hospitals, having received $135 million in funding in 2020. With revolutionary advances and therapies happening within the institute, BIDMC is a national and international leader in translational research. Our 1,250 full-time physicians constitute almost a quarter of Harvard Medical School's faculty.
The student internship placements span both clinical research and basic science domains. Our clinical divisions include: Foot and Ankle, Hand and Upper Extremity, Joint Replacement and Reconstruction, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Orthopedic Oncology, Orthopedic Trauma, The Spine Center at BIDMC, and Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery. Our research labs include the Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies (CAOS) and the Musculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative (MTII).
The main aim of the internship is to provide interns with a basic understanding about clinical, translational, and basic research, primarily through providing practical experience. The secondary aim is to inform interns on their potential career choices, whether through shadowing in the clinical environment, hands-on experience with the research, or discussion with faculty about their career path and choices. Over the last decade, we have mentored dozens of students and many have used our program as a launchpad to medical school, graduate school, or a career in science. Past interns have turned into collaborators once they have completed their graduate work and training.
We are looking for candidates who are interested in medicine, engineering, and science. Prior coursework in engineering, statistics, and computer science is a plus. Candidates should be literate in Microsoft Word and Excel. Past experience with clinical or bench research is helpful but not required.
Application Requirements
Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university at the time of application.
The internship program runs from June to August. We ask you to make a commitment of at least eight weeks and that you work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
A scholarship will be available to support living expenses.
How To Apply
To apply for the internship, please complete and submit our online application. We require one recommendation letter; instructions for submitting the letter can be found on our application.
Applications and letters of recommendation are due February 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST. Late letters will not be accepted. You can enter your letter writer's name and e-mail in advance and complete your application at a later time point.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the research internship, please email us.