Coleman Fellowship: Clinical Research Intern, Pediatric Nephrology- 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 Intern, Pediatric Nephrology

Website: University of Virginia: Department of Pediatrics (nephrology)

Internship and Organization Description:  

The University of Virginia Pediatric Nephrology Research Program conducts clinical research focused on improving the care and outcomes of children and adolescents with kidney and urinary tract disorders. As part of an academic medical center, the research team collaborates with physicians, nurses, clinical research coordinators, and families to advance knowledge and treatment options for conditions such as chronic kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome, hypertension, congenital kidney disorders, and kidney transplantation. Through industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated studies, the program evaluates new therapies, interventions, and approaches to care while providing a supportive, family-centered research environment that helps improve the health and quality of life of pediatric patient

Internship Job Description:

Interns will work directly with a UVA clinical research team in Pediatric Nephrology to support studies involving children with kidney-related conditions. This role emphasizes patient- and family-centered care, with interns assisting in participant recruitment, helping families navigate research visits, and supporting a positive and organized clinical research experience. Interns will shadow clinical research coordinators and observe patient interactions, while also engaging with pediatric participants and their caregivers in a supervised setting. Through this work, interns will gain insight into how clinical research supports children with complex or chronic kidney conditions and how care teams partner with families to improve health outcomes and quality of life.

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 nephrology research focused on improving care and outcomes for patients with kidney disease and kidney-related conditions.
• 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: 

•    Reliability and Dependability
•    Resilience and Adaptability
•    Service Orientation
•    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; 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue Charlottesville VA 22903

Personal transportation needed?:   

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