CAPD Clinical Research Externship

The CAPD Clinical Research Externship (CRE) is a 6-week experiential learning opportunity designed to help undergraduates explore the career path of a physician who conducts clinical research. Participants will spend 10 hours per week, Monday through Friday, building connections with Physician Mentors at MGH, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and UCSF Health (San Francisco, CA). They will learn about the important role physicians and clinical research play in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.  The program is best suited for undergraduates pursuinga career as a physician (MD) or physician-scientist (MD-PhD).

Participants in the externship will receive a stipend of up to $2000 to help offset expenses associated with the experience.  

Learn more about each Physician Mentor and their type of research here: https://capd.mit.edu/resources/physician-mentors-for-the-2025-capd-clinical-research-externship/ 

What do you need to apply?

• Resume
• Name and email of 1 professional reference.  We do not need a recommendation letter.  The reference can be a professor, teacher, supervisor, or anyone else that has observed you in a variety of professional and/or academic settings.
• Response to 6 questions:
  1. Why are you interested in being exposed to the career of a physician that conducts clinical research? (150 words)
  2. Please discuss 2 goals you hope to accomplish by participating in the Clinical Research Externship?  (250 words)
  3. In the order of your preference, rank the participating physicians you would like to be paired with.  For your first and second choice, discuss why you would like to be paired with each physician.  The list of participating physicians can be found here. (250 words)
  4. If you are engaging in a UROP or another research experience, describe the research question you are addressing. Also, discuss your role, what you enjoy about researching this topic, and the overall experience?   (150 words)
  5. What other experiences are you engaging in during the summer of 2025? Do you anticipate any conflicts that might affect your participation in the CRE 2025, which runs up to 6 weeks at 10 hours per week, Monday through Friday?
  6. Are there any other details about your application Prehealth Advising should be aware of?

Application Instructions

Combine your responses to the short-answer questions with your professional reference's name and email into one PDF and upload it to Handshake. Also upload your resume.

• Deadline: apply by Friday, April 4th at 5:00 pm EST 
• Accepted applicants will be notified by Friday, April 18th by 5:00 pm EST.  

Questions? Contact Akunna Rosser at arosser@mit.edu 

More details on the CAPD Clinical Research Externship can be found on the program's website here along with below. 

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Through the Clinical Research Externship (CRE), selected participants will:

• Spend up to 6 weeks, Monday through Friday, under the guidance of a physician mentor at a MGH, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and UCSF Health (San Francisco, CA).  Each participant will commit up to 10 hours per week.
• Receive a stipend up to $2000 to offset any costs associated with participating in the program.
• Engage in small-scale projects meant to expose each student to the process of conducting clinical research.  This may include data collection, entry, and/or management, literature reviews, participant recruitment, statistical analysis, and other relevant short-term projects
• Observe physicians in their clinical setting and their interactions with patients.
• Develop meaningful connections with a physician mentor through 1-1 check-ins while also meeting with lab members and research collaborators.
• Become better equipped to confirm an interest in a Medical Degree (MD) or combined MD/PhD.
• Acquire a valuable learning opportunity meant to assist one in exploring a career in medicine.

*PLEASE NOTE: The CRE is not a full-time experience nor an opportunity to conduct a research project and is instead an opportunity for students to gain exposure to the career of a physician that conducts clinical research.  The CRE is ideal for students that have an additional free 10 hours per week, Monday through Friday, that they could contribute to this activity.  The CRE is meant to supplement another experience you are already engaging in, considering the externship is only 10 hours per week. 

The CRE is only offering a stipend up to $2000 and participants will commit up to 6 weeks at 10 hours per week. Participants can begin their externship by June 2nd and must start the externship by July 7.  All externships will end by August 22.  The schedule can be consistent through the entire 6-week experience or vary week-to-week.  The schedule will be determined by the physician and student. 

Questions?

Contact Akunna Rosser at arosser@mit.edu