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, Distribution & Wholesale, and Healthcare & Medical Services, with Profound Research, Arthrex, and Corewell Health among the employers posting roles now.
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Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
Job Summary
Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts, to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.
The Mass General Brigham Department of Emergency Medicine's Division of Clinical Research is seeking several highly motivated individuals to assist with ongoing clinical research in a variety of cutting-edge research projects, including but not limited to infectious disease, neurology, cardiovascular critical care, digital health innovations, behavioral health emergencies, advanced care planning, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and incorporation of artificial intelligence in medicine,.The incumbent will be responsible for screening, recruiting, and performing study procedures in the emergency department, inpatient units, ICUs, endoscopy suites, and/or outpatient facilities.
Incumbent will rotate between Brigham and Women's Hospital, an academic medical center, and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, a community hospital.
Some overnight coverages may be required as dictated by study protocols. There will be weekend shifts about once a month, as necessary.
This position is ideal for someone interested in pursuing graduate studies or a career in the fields of medicine, public health, or clinical research. It involves extensive patient interaction as a member of a clinical research team.
Please submit your (1) resume, (2) cover letter, and (3) transcript.
Address your cover letter to MGB EM Director of Clinical Research. Your cover letter should include at least the following:
- Career aspirations
- Prior clinical research/EMT/scribe experience, if any
- Bilingual proficiency, if any
Qualifications
Additional Job Details (if applicable)
- Standing Frequently (34-66%)
- Walking Frequently (34-66%)
- Sitting Occasionally (3-33%)
- Lifting Occasionally (3-33%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device)
- Carrying Occasionally (3-33%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device)
- Pushing Occasionally (3-33%)
- Pulling Occasionally (3-33%)
- Climbing Occasionally (3-33%)
- Balancing Frequently (34-66%)
- Stooping Occasionally (3-33%)
- Kneeling Occasionally (3-33%)
- Crouching Occasionally (3-33%)
- Crawling Occasionally (3-33%)
- Reaching Occasionally (3-33%)
- Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently (34-66%)
- Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently (34-66%)
- Feeling Constantly (67-100%)
- Foot Use Rarely (Less than 2%)
- Vision - Far Constantly (67-100%)
- Vision - Near Constantly (67-100%)
- Talking Constantly (67-100%)
Remote Type
Work Location
Scheduled Weekly Hours
Employee Type
Work Shift
Pay Range
Grade
At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.
EEO Statement:
Mass General Brigham Competency Framework
At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.
Clinical Research Assistant Internship Market
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Distribution & Wholesale
- 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 20% 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 80% 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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