Exposures Program

The Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI), in collaboration with our Yale Cultural Ambassadors, is offering a voluntary summer research internship, that provides the opportunity for highly motivated high school and undergraduate students to work with and learn from a multidisciplinary team of scientists, including internationally renowned investigators. Interns in the Exposures program work and learn remotely.

In the summer of 2021, the Yale Cultural Ambassadors asked YCCI to consider the development of a summer internship program for high school students age 15 and older and undergraduate students that would spur an interest in healthcare, medicine, and clinical and translational research at a young age. The center received Yale approval for the YCCI Clinical and Translational Research Exposures Summer Internship Program, a four-week virtual educational experience.

YCCI leadership continues to work with its community partners to engage young scholars, aged 15-21 to be a part of this program.

The primary aim of our internship program is to train and prepare youth with varied backgrounds and interests to become future leaders in the realm of clinical and translational research. The program includes course work, lectures, journal club, a group project, and virtual lunches with clinical and research leaders.

Based on the intern’s individual interests, they will be assigned a mentor. The mentor will guide the intern with respect to achieving the aims and requirements of the program and provide information and insights regarding career options in health care and clinical research. Interns will have the opportunity to meet and interact with other leaders and interns within YCCI. At the end of the internship, each participant will present their final project to a group of institutional and community leaders.

1. Seminar Attendance: Interns will attend weekly seminars and prepare for these seminars accordingly (e.g., read assigned journal articles).
   
2. Research Proposal: Interns, together with their mentors, will each develop an independent research project or participate in a group project to be completed by the end of the internship.
   
3. Presentation of Research Project: Present results of the independent/group research project on the final day of the program.

• The program is open to high school and college students aged 15-21 who are eager to explore opportunities in clinical research or health care.
  • Please note that high school students must be at least 15 years of age before the start of their internship.
• Must be a U.S. citizen
  
• Required to make a full-time commitment, Monday-Thursday for the entire 4-weeks. Students with scheduling conflicts or other commitments that prevent them from participating full-time will not be considered.
  
• Because the program is conducted virtually, participants must have reliable access to a computer and a stable internet connection for the duration of the program.

• Candidates will be selected based on enthusiasm and desire to learn more about health care and clinical research.
  
• After all applications are reviewed, elected applicants will be notified of program acceptance.
  
• Interns will receive a certificate of completion. Interns may also receive school credit or transcript notation for participation in our summer research internship. Please check with your guidance counselor or department dean about whether this will be possible.

Currently our summer internships are unpaid positions, available for academic credit, but not supported by a stipend or living expenses.