Mass General Brigham Biomedical Research Internship
MGB Biomedical Research Internship Program
Applications & Letters of Recommendation due Friday, Jan. 9th, 2026, by 5pm ET
Overview:
Competitive summer internships often serve as feeder programs for highly sought-after positions or as valuable real-world training before pursuing graduate studies in the sciences, medicine, or liberal arts. Students who list an internship on their resumes receive 14% more interview offers than those who do not (Nunley, 2016).
Our goal is to help promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds explore their early interest in the biomedical sciences by offering opportunities to conduct original investigative research in various positions and roles that align with their scientific interests. With thought-leading experts in such areas as translational sciences, epidemiology, computational biology, and immunology, prospective scholars will have the unique opportunity to learn, grow, and expand their skills at the nation’s top hospital-based research program at the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Moreover, by allowing a motivated workforce to explore and act on early interests, we may be able to recruit individuals who might not otherwise have considered pursuing careers in the biomedical research sciences.
Resources:
Nunley, J.M., Pugh, A., Romero, N., Seals Jr., R.A. College major, internship experience, and employment opportunities: Estimates from a resume audit. Labor Economics (2016).
Program Features:
Under the close guidance of a carefully selected primary faculty lead, interns will benefit from a robust program of training. They will contribute to various research projects related to our basic and translational understanding of human health and disease. Other planned activities include:
- Extensive program orientation and experiential scientific skills training commensurate with the level of training
- Weekly seminars and networking events
- End-of-summer presentation on the research project and overall experience
- Potential for ongoing mentorship and longitudinal research experiences during the academic year (80% of our 2022 class remained with their research team after their summer internship)
- A stipend of $4,500 issued after successful completion of the internship program
- In-person internship; 100% in-person participation for wet labs, possibility of hybrid schedule for dry labs, but hybrid schedules will be determined between intern and mentor at the start of the program
Eligibility:
Individuals from a disadvantaged background with an interest in the biomedical research sciences, including those who are first in their family to go to college/medical school, are strongly encouraged to apply. This broad definition may include, but is not limited to:
- First-generation college students
- Low-income populations
- People with disabilities
- Those who experience or have experienced homelessness, the foster care system, and/or grew up in a rural area
- Being a past recipient of a Pell Grant, Fee Assistance Program, Loan for Disadvantaged Students
- Those who have participated in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as either a parent or child
Mass General Brigham believes that engaging with different ideas, perspectives, cultures, and people leads to growth and innovation. By enhancing the human variation of the research workforce, we are able to break new ground in fundamental and clinical investigation of disease and deliver innovative, culturally competent care to our patients.
- Current undergraduate or graduate (including medical) students who will still be enrolled in Fall 2026 (not graduating in 2026)
- Must be able to work 40 hours/week for the entire summer program duration (8 weeks)
- Given the in-person requirements of the internship, reside in the Boston metro area, <1-hour car or train ride from MGH (preferred); program does not cover any travel costs
- Must be up to date on all vaccinations, including COVID-19 and flu