Assistant Clinical Research Associate Internships

Assistant clinical research associate internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in clinical trial coordination, mentorship from working clinical research associates, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Education and Healthcare & Medical Services, with Profound Research, Corewell Health, and The Cigna among the employers posting roles now.

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Overview

Open roles9
Top stateColorado
Top employerProfound Research
Top cityDenver, CO
Work type75% Hybrid
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 9+ Assistant Clinical Research Associate Internships

NEU Student Co-op Clinical Research Center Lab
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Added 2d ago
NEU Student Co-op Clinical Research Center Lab
Beth Israel Lahey Health
Boston, Massachusetts
Biotech & Life Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$15 - $24.04/hr

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Health and Clinical Outcomes Research Intern (Master's/PhD Students)
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Added 1w ago
Health and Clinical Outcomes Research Intern (Master's/PhD Students)
The Cigna Group
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Administrative & Office Support
Corporate Training
Learning & Development
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Munster, IN)
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Added 1mo ago
Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Munster, IN)
Profound Research
Munster, Indiana
Administrative & Office Support
Customer Service
Project Management

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Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Southern California)
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Added 1mo ago
Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Southern California)
Profound Research
Oceanside, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Public Health

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Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Las Vegas, NV)
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Added 1mo ago
Internship Clinical Research -Talent Community Graduates for 2027-2028 (Las Vegas, NV)
Profound Research
Remote
Biotech & Life Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
On-Site

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Assistant Clinical Research Associate Internship Market

Who's Hiring

Profound Research4 open roles
Corewell Health1 open role
The Cigna1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services

Tips for Your Assistant Clinical Research Associate Internship Search

Apply in the fall for summer cohorts

Large pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations open summer intern applications the preceding fall and close cohorts well before spring. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so roles appear year-round. Starting your search early gives you the widest selection before the best-known programs fill.

Build a project portfolio before you apply

Hiring teams for assistant clinical research associate internships expect limited work history, so your strongest evidence is documented project work. Create case studies, protocol summaries, or mock monitoring visit reports that show familiarity with GCP, clinical data review, or regulatory documentation. Name the tools you used and make the work accessible for reviewers to assess directly.

Work your campus network alongside direct applications

Career fairs surface structured CRA and clinical research programs tied to your university, and recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person. Faculty with industry connections and your career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.

Practice the assistant clinical research associate intern screen out loud

The intern interview for this role typically includes scenario-based questions on protocol deviations, source data verification, and regulatory compliance situations. Practice answering these out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers assess how you approach a problem as much as the final answer. Reviewing ICH-GCP guidelines before your screen sharpens your responses.

Target CRA trainee and structured cohort programs early

Contract research organizations and larger sponsors run formal CRA trainee programs designed to develop people new to site monitoring, combining guided training with supervised field experience. These programs recruit in the first wave of intern hiring and fill competitive cohorts quickly. Identify the programs that match your background and submit applications as soon as postings open.

Set your work-type filter before you start

On-site roles are 25% of the assistant clinical research associate internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you spend time on roles you can actually take. Filtering first also helps you catch remote and hybrid openings before they close.

Assistant Clinical Research Associate Internships: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an assistant clinical research associate internship?

Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For assistant clinical research associate candidates, the concrete artifact recruiters want is a documented case study, protocol summary, or research project writeup showing familiarity with clinical trial processes. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.

Can an assistant clinical research associate internship turn into a full-time job?

Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for assistant clinical research associate interns is consistent performance on real monitoring or regulatory tasks, available team headcount at the end of the term, and understanding the return-offer timeline early. Treat the internship as an extended audition without counting on a specific outcome.

When should I apply for assistant clinical research associate internships?

Earlier than most candidates expect. Large pharmaceutical and contract research organizations recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before the new year. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single season gives you access to the full range of available roles.

Are assistant clinical research associate internships paid?

Most professional assistant clinical research associate internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly in the listing, so you can compare opportunities as you apply without needing to ask upfront.

What should an assistant clinical research associate internship resume include?

Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools and methods you used, such as a clinical data management exercise, a regulatory submission summary, or a protocol deviation report. Add relevant coursework in pharmacology, biostatistics, or GCP compliance. Keep it to one page, since hiring teams screen intern resumes quickly.

Are there remote assistant clinical research associate internships?

Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 75% of the assistant clinical research associate internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants nationally, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.

What is a clinical research associate (CRA) trainee program?

CRA trainee or junior CRA programs are structured pipelines offered by contract research organizations and larger sponsors to develop people new to site monitoring. They typically combine classroom training on ICH-GCP guidelines with supervised site visits and target recent graduates in life sciences. These programs recruit early and fill competitive cohorts quickly, so apply in the first wave of postings.

Can international students get assistant clinical research associate internships?

Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.

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