Undergraduate Developmental Science Summer Internship

Each year, the YCSC offers a summer internship for rising junior and senior undergraduate students, spanning all areas of developmental science including clinical and typical development, and basic and applied research. Interns are paired with a faculty mentor, based on their research interests and career trajectories, and spend the summer working with their mentor on a relevant research project. The projects are in a series of tracks that include neuroscience, developmental, and clinical areas. Interns attend lectures and seminars where they are exposed to other areas of developmental science beyond the scope of their lab.

At the end of the summer, interns present their research project as a conference poster to YCSC faculty, staff, and students. Past research areas have included the neuroscience of parenting, adolescent risk-taking, interventions for vulnerable families, and addiction. The career pathways for our interns are generally to master’s and PhD programs, medical school, or research employment across the U.S. Many interns have their summer mentors provide letters of recommendation for their next career steps.

This is a competitive internship with a limited number of places. Stipends may be available for those students who do not have funding from their home institution or other sources. Advice on summer housing will be provided upon acceptance to the internship. National as well as international applicants are invited to apply. We are sorry that we are unable to offer this opportunity to high school students or graduating seniors.

Your application you should include (in a single PDF file):

1. A one-page letter specifying your reasons for applying to this internship, including your research and career interests
2. A two-page CV
3. Two letters of recommendation (submitted by applicant or the recommenders by January 31)
4. Documentation of health insurance for the entirety of the summer period

Please submit your application materials to Linda Isakson, senior administrative assistant, by January 31. Applications received after this time will not be reviewed.

Please contact Mrs. Isakson with any questions regarding the internship.

Please note: Though we successfully held an in-person internship in Summer 2022, future in-person internships may be subject to change given the global pandemic and a remote experience may be offered instead. Though we do not anticipate this need, we will notify all accepted applicants once a decision has been made.