Clinical Researcher Internships
Clinical researcher internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working clinical research professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover Education and Healthcare & Medical Services, with Profound Research, Corewell Health, and The Cigna among the employers posting roles now.
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When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.
Job Summary: A Research Student will be trained through a mentor in the principles, conduct and interpretation of research in conjunction with a related or unrelated educational program.<br><br>
Job Description:
Learns and conducts routine tests following established procedures, which may include assays, DNA sequencing, tissue culture, protein purification, Southern blotting, PCR analysis, electrophoresis, and/or chromatography. Learns and uses standard research equipment such as microscopes, incubators, autoclaves, centrifuges. Collects basic study data through monitoring devices and maintains daily logs/basic records of methodologies and test results. With supervision, using databases, may summarize data and interpret results using descriptive statistics and basic hypothesis testing. Attends Medical Center lectures regarding all safety requirements/conditions. Attends courses, lectures, and conferences to further own knowledge of research. May perform literature searches and library investigations as they relate to the research.
Pay Range:
$15.00 – $24.04
The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.
As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.
More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
- Employment: Per Diem
- Shift: Day
- Category: Academic Research
- Pay Range: $15.00 - $24.04
- FLSA: Non-Exempt
- Req ID: JR106240
When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.
Job Summary: A Research Student will be trained through a mentor in the principles, conduct and interpretation of research in conjunction with a related or unrelated educational program.<br><br>
Job Description:
Learns and conducts routine tests following established procedures, which may include assays, DNA sequencing, tissue culture, protein purification, Southern blotting, PCR analysis, electrophoresis, and/or chromatography. Learns and uses standard research equipment such as microscopes, incubators, autoclaves, centrifuges. Collects basic study data through monitoring devices and maintains daily logs/basic records of methodologies and test results. With supervision, using databases, may summarize data and interpret results using descriptive statistics and basic hypothesis testing. Attends Medical Center lectures regarding all safety requirements/conditions. Attends courses, lectures, and conferences to further own knowledge of research. May perform literature searches and library investigations as they relate to the research.
Pay Range:
$15.00 – $24.04
The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law. Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.
As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.
More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
- Employment: Per Diem
- Shift: Day
- Category: Academic Research
- Pay Range: $15.00 - $24.04
- FLSA: Non-Exempt
- Req ID: JR106240
Clinical Researcher Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Tips for Your Clinical Researcher Internship Search
Apply for summer roles in the fall
Large pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations open summer clinical researcher internship applications as early as September. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs at major sponsors are often already closed. Set up search alerts now and treat fall as your primary application season.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for clinical researcher interns assess candidates on documented evidence, not years of experience. Prepare two or three complete projects showing study design, data collection, or regulatory documentation, and link to them directly. A research poster, a case report write-up, or a GCP training certificate gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured university-partnership programs that may never post publicly. Your professors and career center staff often know which clinical research employers recruit from your school before roles appear on job boards. Applying directly to smaller CROs and academic medical centers alongside campus activity widens the pool of roles you can reach.
Practice your interview format out loud before you apply
Clinical researcher intern interviews typically include scenario-based questions on protocol deviations, GCP principles, and data integrity situations. Practice answering these out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as the final answer. Recording yourself once helps you catch unclear explanations before the real screen.
Target structured CRA and clinical operations programs first
Many large contract research organizations and pharmaceutical sponsors run formal rotational or cohort internship programs for clinical researcher candidates with no prior industry experience. These programs are built to train from the ground up, they recruit earlier than general postings, and they fill fast. Identify the programs that fit your timeline and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 25% of the clinical researcher internships listed here. Decide what location and format you can realistically commit to before you start applying. Filtering by work type and location upfront means you spend your time on roles you can actually accept, not sorting through postings after you are already interested.
Clinical Researcher Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a clinical researcher internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For clinical researcher candidates, a documented project portfolio showing study design, data collection protocols, or regulatory submissions gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where clinical research recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a clinical researcher 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 researcher interns is consistent performance on real study tasks, team headcount at the end of the internship, and communicating your interest early. Position for a return offer by delivering on every assigned protocol or data task without treating the offer as a certainty.
When should I apply for clinical researcher internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, and hospital systems recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Watching listings continuously rather than waiting until spring gives you the most options.
Are clinical researcher internships paid?
Most professional clinical researcher internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, so it differs meaningfully between a large pharmaceutical sponsor, a contract research organization, and a nonprofit academic medical center. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare before applying.
What should a clinical researcher internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects with the tools used and a link to the work, such as a published case report summary, a research poster, a regulatory submission sample, or a data analysis writeup. Add relevant coursework in clinical trials methodology, biostatistics, or GCP compliance. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote clinical researcher internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 75% of the clinical researcher internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from a wider geographic pool, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a clinical research associate (CRA) internship?
A CRA internship is a structured entry-level program at contract research organizations and pharmaceutical sponsors designed to train people new to site monitoring and trial management. It targets candidates who have not yet worked in clinical research professionally and focuses on GCP training, protocol review, and site visit preparation. These programs recruit early and are competitive, so apply in the first wave of postings.
Can international students get clinical researcher 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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