Coleman Fellowship: Clinical Research Operations Intern - Fall 2026

This organization is recognized as a partner in the UVA Coleman Fellowship, which is a new, competitive opportunity that brings together ambitious undergraduates who share an interest in pediatrics and family medicine and are motivated to explore careers through hands-on learning and clinical experience. 

To apply for this position, students must complete an application for the program linked here: UVA Coleman Fellowship - Fall 2026 Application.

Questions? Contact the UVA Career Center 434-924-8900 or ipp@virginia.edu. 

Internship Title:  Clinical Research Operations Intern

Website: University of Virginia: Department of Pediatrics

Internship and Organization Description:  

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine conducts a wide range of clinical research studies aimed at improving the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Research teams partner with patients, families, clinicians, and community members across numerous pediatric subspecialties to advance scientific knowledge and improve clinical care. The Clinical Research Operations team provides centralized support for study start-up, regulatory compliance, participant recruitment, study conduct, quality improvement, and research administration across the department.

The Clinical Research Operations Intern will gain exposure to the full clinical research lifecycle within an academic medical center. Working closely with research staff, investigators, and departmental leadership, interns will assist with operational and project-based activities while learning how clinical research studies are developed, implemented, managed, and completed. Interns may also have opportunities to observe clinical research activities, support participant recruitment efforts, and explore careers in medicine, clinical research, public health, and healthcare administration.

Internship Job Description:

The Clinical Research Operations Intern will support departmental research initiatives through a combination of project-based work, operational support, and clinical research exposure. Responsibilities may vary based on departmental needs and the intern's interests.

This internship is well-suited for students interested in medicine, public health, clinical research, healthcare administration, project management, or healthcare operations. Because the Department of Pediatrics supports a diverse portfolio of research programs, interns will have opportunities to gain exposure to multiple pediatric subspecialties and a broad range of research activities. We are particularly interested in students who are intellectually curious, self-motivated, and comfortable working on a variety of projects in a fast-paced environment.

Duties:  

• Assist with special projects that support clinical research operations and departmental initiatives.
• Conduct background research, data collection, and information-gathering activities.
• Support participant recruitment and retention efforts for clinical research studies.
• Assist with tracking, reporting, and organizational activities related to research operations.
• Contribute to process improvement and quality assurance initiatives.
• Participate in meetings with research teams, investigators, and departmental leadership.
• Observe clinical research activities and healthcare environments across pediatric subspecialties.

Qualifications:  

• The ideal candidate is a motivated undergraduate student with an interest in healthcare, medicine, public health, research, or healthcare administration. 
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are important. 
• Successful interns are curious, adaptable, comfortable learning new concepts, and able to manage a variety of projects simultaneously.
• Experience with Microsoft Office applications is preferred but not required.

For this internship, what level of experience is needed?  

•   1-2 professional experiences preferred.

Internship Learning Objectives: 

• Students will gain knowledge of research regulations as well as the ethical conduct of human subject research. 
• Interns will have exposure to multiple pediatric neuroscience-related disease states for which research is being conducted to improve patient care and outcomes. 
• Organization, attention to detail, and communication skills learned during this internship will enable the intern to pursue a career in clinical research, a health care related field, or use what is learned to acquire additional education.

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies: 

•    Commitment to Learning and Growth
•    Interpersonal Skills
•    Reliability and Dependability
•    Resilience and Adaptability
•    Teamwork and Collaboration

Schedule:  

All hours must be completed within the traditional work week (M-F; 8am-5pm). Specific hours can be mutually determined by student and supervisor.

Locations:    

In-person only;    4446 Collins Wing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 

Personal transportation needed?:   

Yes, a car is required to get to and from the internship site.