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, Chemicals & Materials, and Healthcare & Medical Services, with Dozee, Penn State University, and National Jewish Health among the employers posting roles now.
Find InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 5+ Clinical Research Assistant Internships
Looking for more clinical research assistant internships jobs?
Explore related role searches to find more openings that fit.
See related jobsLocation:
Medical Center Office Building (901 7th Ave)
Department:
Pediatric Research Training Program
Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Standard Weekly Hours:
4
Summary
Collaborates closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), Research Program Coordinators, and Clinical Research Associates (CRA) or Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC). This professional works as part of the Research Administration Office team, but may be assigned full time to a specific department. Serves as an active member of the Research Administration Office (RAO) team. Maintains high quality data management.
Education & Experience:
Current or recent student in Bachelor or Master's program in the health-related area; prefer research and/or statistics course completion
Cook Children’s is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Cook Children’s offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal laws. These opportunities include terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to hiring, job placement, training, compensation, discipline, advancement and termination.
Location:
Medical Center Office Building (901 7th Ave)
Department:
Pediatric Research Training Program
Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Standard Weekly Hours:
4
Summary
Collaborates closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), Research Program Coordinators, and Clinical Research Associates (CRA) or Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC). This professional works as part of the Research Administration Office team, but may be assigned full time to a specific department. Serves as an active member of the Research Administration Office (RAO) team. Maintains high quality data management.
Education & Experience:
Current or recent student in Bachelor or Master's program in the health-related area; prefer research and/or statistics course completion
Cook Children’s is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Cook Children’s offers equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal laws. These opportunities include terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to hiring, job placement, training, compensation, discipline, advancement and termination.
Clinical Research Assistant Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Chemicals & Materials
- 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 67% 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 33% 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.
See All 5 Clinical Research Assistant Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Internships