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Summer Research Internship Opportunities      

 

Overview 

LSUHSC has a number of summer research opportunities for students at all educational levels. The Summer Research Internship Program was started by Dr. Paula Gregory to provide research experiences for medical students, undergraduates, and high school students in Louisiana.  The program works to cultivate students’ interest in pursuing research careers in either the basic or clinical sciences . Students usually spend 8-weeks in the program during the summer.  Interns are matched with mentors in laboratories or clinics at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Ochsner Hospital, or Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.  

Dr. Fern Tsien co-directs the program and matches students with a research mentor, based on their individual research interests. Students learn laboratory techniques used in medical research and attend weekly seminars. All students present their research results at the end of the summer at a poster session. In addition, they receive training in presentation skills, including how to prepare and present a poster at a scientific meeting.  

This program has succeeded in providing over 200 students with a meaningful research experience. Because of this program, some of Louisiana’s best and brightest undergraduates, who attend school elsewhere, have been introduced to the opportunities available in their home state. After completing their internship, many student interns present their data at scientific conferences, or have their research published in scientific journals.  

This program is funded by the Louisiana Gene Therapy Consortium, the Louisiana Vaccine Center, the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, the LSU School of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.

 

Who can apply 

Students living in the New Orleans area or vicinity during the time of the summer internship are eligible. 

• High school students must be in their Junior or Senior year during the time of application.
• College undergraduates majoring in any of the biomedical sciences
• Students in their first year of medical school during the time of application.

 

 As a summer intern, you will

• Conduct your own small research project or work on part of an ongoing research project
• Develop your technical skills
• Participate in an orientation and a seminar series that will introduce you to rapidly progressing research areas at both LSU and Tulane.

 

Stipends 

Student stipends are based on education level:

• $1,000/month for high school students
• $1,200/month for undergraduates
• $1,500/month for medical students  

The program also pays for parking; however, we do not provide housing or transportation.  

 

Application procedure 

Different applications are available based on the student’s academic level:  

• High school students who have completed at least their sophomore year  
• College undergraduate students  
• Louisiana State University First-year Medical students   
• Tulane First-year Medical students   

Prospective students can apply online. The application deadline is March 1^st. Your completed application packet must include all of the following:

• A cover letter describing your research interests and career goals
• A completed application form
• A curriculum vitae or resume describing schools attended, research/work experience and other relevant accomplishments

 

 

Selection 

Applications are selected by a review committee. Candidates will be informed of their selection in April. Successful applicants will be contacted by mentors during the months of April and May  to meet with them and their staff.  

 

Work expectations 

There are only a few things that the summer interns are required to do:

• Attend the weekly seminar series
• Present a poster at the Poster Session at the end of the internship
• Show up and work on the research project according to the mentor’s instructions

 

Poster presentation 

Our summer internship culminates in a poster session where the students present what they learned this summer. During the summer internship, students receive training in presentation skills, including how to prepare and present a poster at a scientific meeting. The program pays for printing every student’s poster. Students are highly encouraged to reuse the poster at any other poster session or scientific meeting. The summer posters are judged and prizes awarded for excellence.