Clinical Research Assistant Internships
Clinical research assistant internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience coordinating trials and managing data, mentorship from working clinical research coordinators and study monitors, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are posted across Education and Healthcare & Medical Services, with Merck, Gilead Sciences, and Penn State University among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Clinical Research Assistant Internships
The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts 4-6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research and Development Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.
The Analytics & Technology Systems team identifies, develops, and implements innovative technology solutions that enhance quality oversight activities. The team collaborates with business and Digital/IT partners to build dashboards, applications, analytics capabilities, and AI-enabled solutions while advancing awareness and education around analytics, data science, and emerging technologies.
This Opportunity May Be a Great Fit If You Are:
- Curious about healthcare, science, technology, analytics, AI, quality, or innovation.
- Interested in understanding how medicines are developed and brought to patients.
- Excited by opportunities to work with data, dashboards, technology, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
- Comfortable learning new tools, technologies, and business processes.
- Organized, self-motivated, and able to take ownership of assignments.
- A strong collaborator who enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and functions.
- Interested in solving problems and contributing new ideas.
- Available to work full-time for up to six (6) months during 2027.
- Completed at least two (2) years of study toward a bachelor's degree by December 2026.
- Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in a relevant field such as:
- Computer Science
- Data Analytics / Data Science
- Engineering
- Biology or Chemistry
- Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Pharmacy
- Information Technology
- Business
- Related disciplines
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to take ownership of deliverables.
- Interest in analytics, dashboards, AI, data science, automation, or digital transformation.
- Experience with Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, or Project.
- Exposure to dashboard development, analytics, data science, or AI solutions.
- Familiarity with PowerApps, advanced Excel, technical writing, or project management tools.
- Experience with document management platforms such as SharePoint, Veeva, FirstDoc, or Documentum.
- Full-time co-op position located in either Upper Gwynedd, PA or Rahway, NJ.
Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,108 through $111,111.
FTP2027
RL2027
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)
Relocation:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
10/16/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID: R414840
The Future Talent Program features Cooperative (Co-op) education that lasts 4-6 months and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Research and Development Division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.
The Analytics & Technology Systems team identifies, develops, and implements innovative technology solutions that enhance quality oversight activities. The team collaborates with business and Digital/IT partners to build dashboards, applications, analytics capabilities, and AI-enabled solutions while advancing awareness and education around analytics, data science, and emerging technologies.
This Opportunity May Be a Great Fit If You Are:
- Curious about healthcare, science, technology, analytics, AI, quality, or innovation.
- Interested in understanding how medicines are developed and brought to patients.
- Excited by opportunities to work with data, dashboards, technology, automation, or process improvement initiatives.
- Comfortable learning new tools, technologies, and business processes.
- Organized, self-motivated, and able to take ownership of assignments.
- A strong collaborator who enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and functions.
- Interested in solving problems and contributing new ideas.
- Available to work full-time for up to six (6) months during 2027.
- Completed at least two (2) years of study toward a bachelor's degree by December 2026.
- Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in a relevant field such as:
- Computer Science
- Data Analytics / Data Science
- Engineering
- Biology or Chemistry
- Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Pharmacy
- Information Technology
- Business
- Related disciplines
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
- Demonstrated initiative and ability to take ownership of deliverables.
- Interest in analytics, dashboards, AI, data science, automation, or digital transformation.
- Experience with Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, or Project.
- Exposure to dashboard development, analytics, data science, or AI solutions.
- Familiarity with PowerApps, advanced Excel, technical writing, or project management tools.
- Experience with document management platforms such as SharePoint, Veeva, FirstDoc, or Documentum.
- Full-time co-op position located in either Upper Gwynedd, PA or Rahway, NJ.
Salary range:
The salary range for this role is $39,108 through $111,111.
FTP2027
RL2027
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)
Relocation:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
No
Travel Requirements:
10%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
1st - Day
Valid Driving License:
No
Hazardous Material(s):
N/A
Job Posting End Date:
10/16/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Requisition ID: R414840
Clinical Research Assistant Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Tips for Your Clinical Research Assistant Internship Search
Apply for summer roles in the fall
Large pharmaceutical companies and health systems open their summer clinical research assistant internship applications as early as September. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs are often full. Set a reminder to start your search the fall before your target start term and submit your materials as soon as roles post.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Recruiters reviewing clinical research assistant intern applications expect limited paid experience, so give them something concrete to assess. Document two or three academic or volunteer projects showing data collection, protocol review, or regulatory filing tasks, name the tools you used, and make the output available as a summary, case study, or research write-up you can share on request.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and your professors and career center staff often know which clinical research employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at campus events.
Practice the clinical research assistant intern screen out loud
Clinical research assistant intern interviews typically include scenario questions on protocol deviations, data integrity situations, and regulatory basics like Good Clinical Practice. Practice answering out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you think through an unfamiliar situation as much as whether you arrive at the right answer.
Target structured CRC and cohort programs early
Larger health systems and contract research organizations run formal clinical research coordinator internship tracks designed to train people new to trials. These programs recruit on an earlier and more competitive timeline than general postings. Identify the programs that align with your therapeutic area interests and apply in the first wave, before general candidates have started looking.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 50% of the clinical research assistant internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting listings so you are not spending time on roles you cannot take. Filter by location and work type first, then assess fit, and apply early to remote or hybrid cohorts since they fill faster than on-site positions.
Clinical Research Assistant Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a clinical research assistant internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at this stage. The concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a documented case study or research summary showing how you handled data collection, protocol review, or regulatory paperwork. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where clinical research employers often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a clinical research assistant 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 clinical research assistant interns is consistent performance on real study tasks, available headcount on the team at the end of your term, and return-offer timing that aligns with your graduation. Position for one by treating every assignment as a permanent audition without counting on it.
When should I apply for clinical research assistant internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large pharmaceutical companies and health systems recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller clinical research organizations and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently and applying as soon as a role fits your profile gives you the widest window.
Are clinical research assistant internships paid?
Most professional clinical research assistant internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry sector, and location, and where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly in the listing. Unpaid positions exist but are less common at established sponsors and contract research organizations than at smaller nonprofits or academic medical centers.
What should a clinical research assistant internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. List two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools you used and what you produced, whether that is a regulatory binder excerpt, a data entry protocol, a patient screening log, or a literature review summary. Add relevant coursework in biology, public health, or statistics. Keep everything to one page.
Are there remote clinical research assistant internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 50% of the clinical research assistant internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill quickly, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close. Note that roles involving direct patient contact, specimen handling, or on-site monitoring are almost always on-site regardless of the overall listing mix.
What is a clinical research coordinator (CRC) internship track?
Several health systems and contract research organizations run structured CRC internship tracks specifically designed to train people new to clinical trials, covering protocol adherence, informed consent, and regulatory documentation under direct supervision. These programs recruit competitively and on an early timeline, often months before the placement term begins, so identify the programs that match your interests and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get clinical research assistant 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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