This intensive 8 week laboratory-based biological research program is for undergraduates during the summer following their sophomore or junior years. Up to 6 internships are awarded by a competitive process. The internship culminates with a Poster Session during the final week where the interns present data in regards to the project they have been working on during the summer.
The 2025 Summer Internship Program (SIP) application will open in November/December of 2024.
Program Overview
The program goal is to expose college science students (who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2025) to the rewards of laboratory research directed toward solving important public health problems. The overall mission of our program is to recruit qualified students for graduate-level training leading to research careers in the biological sciences. Interns apply state-of-the art technology in their own research projects under the direction of a Harvard faculty member. Research projects focus on biological science questions that are important to the prevention of disease. Disease areas include infections (tuberculosis, malaria, Chagas disease), cancer, lung diseases, multifactorial, multigenic and common diseases of aging, diabetes, obesity, etc. Scientific approaches include regulation of cell growth and gene regulation, cellular metabolism, DNA modification, cellular signaling, structure-function analyses, etc.
Visit the Biological Sciences in Public Health faculty listing for more detailed information about program faculty and their research or review our Diseases page to see faculty-disease affiliations. Note that an interest in a particular faculty member does NOT guarantee placement in their lab.
Program Dates:
The 2025 Summer Intern Program runs from Monday, June 2 to Friday, July 25, 2025.
Eligibility:
To qualify for this Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health sponsored program, applicants must meet the criteria below:
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S. (proof of permanent residency must be provided)
- Applicants must be from an underrepresented group in graduate research, which includes: first generation college students (neither parent nor legal guardian has a bachelor’s degree) or students from an economically disadvantaged background as defined by the U.S. Department of Education (requires additional supportive documentation). Eligibility is not restricted on the basis of race or ethnicity, and race and ethnicity are not considered in the selection process.
- Applicants must be undergraduate students in their sophomore or junior years when applying
- Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above
- Applicants must have a basic science background and have taken several classes beyond intro level courses
- Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in public health, specifically laboratory research
If you find that you are not eligible for our summer program, please review the Harvard summer research programs for which other program you might be eligible.
For students who are interested in pursuing an MD-PhD, you can apply for the MD-PhD track through the Harvard/MIT Equitable Access to Research Training MD-PhD Summer Program (HEART). For more information about how to apply to HEART, please visit this website: Harvard/MIT MDPhD Program.
Curriculum:
Participants are required to attend and participate in all SIP activities including Orientation, Peer Mentoring Events, Career and Professional Development workshops, Office of Diversity and Inclusion Sessions, Research Discussions and Faculty Talks, and the Final Presentations.
The schedule below is representative of an in-person SIP experience. The schedule may be modified for a virtual SIP experience.
Orientation will be held on the first day of the program and will include an overview of Harvard University, the Harvard Chan School, and available resources at participants’ disposal. The Program Director and Program Coordinator will be in attendance to answer questions regarding research, labs, on campus resources, housing, and program requirements and expectations. Following the Orientation, participants will pick up their Harvard ID cards and be escorted to their labs, where they will typically meet with both their research mentor and lab mentor.
Career and Professional Development Workshops are meant to (1) equip SIP students with skills that will help them prepare for and succeed in graduate school and during the program and (2) provide SIP students with opportunities to connect with graduate students and faculty. Topics typically include (but are not limited to):
- Giving Presentations and Finding Original Literature
- “What Can You Do with a Science PhD?” Career Panel
- PhD Admissions Best Practices
- Statement of Purpose Workshop
- Networking and Conferences
- Predoctoral Fellowships
Final Presentations
Participants in the Program are required to create and present a poster to the BPH community as the culmination of their research project at our annual Summer Intern Research Presentation Session.
Funding:
Financial support over the course of 8 weeks includes a stipend of $3,600, a travel allowance of up to $600 and free dormitory housing at Massachusetts College or Art (located a short walk away from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
Health Insurance:
Massachusetts State Law requires all residents (permanent and temporary) to have health insurance. Applicants are required to have health insurance to participate in the program.
Application Details:
Complete the online application. Please read through all the questions in advance and also make sure to read the directions on the application on how to save your application and return to it later, should you need to do this. Once an applicant submits their application they are still able to make changes up until the application deadline by pressing the “Edit” button.
In addition to the online application, you must include the supporting documentation (in PDF format) listed below:
- Official Transcript(s) – please see application for more detailed information regarding the submission of transcripts.
- Two letters of recommendation from professors who can speak to your scientific capabilities (please do not submit recommendations from high school teachers or individuals who do not know you in an academic capacity). Emails will be sent out to your contacts directly, using the email addresses provided, with a link to upload documents into the online application on behalf of each applicant.
- Resume – listing all applicable professional and academic experience to date
- Personal statement – a typed statement that should not be longer than 1 page describing your academic and professional interests, your reason for applying to the program, the insight you hope to gain from the program, and the ways the program will influence your academic trajectory. We also encourage you to review our primary faculty and include your research interests in the essay along with 1 to 3 research labs that fit those research interests. However, final placement is decided by the admissions committee.
Application Deadline:
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Summer Internship Program is Friday, February 7, 2025 at 11:59 (EST). All application materials must submitted by this date and time.
What to Expect After Your Application is Submitted:
The admissions committee reviews all complete applications after the deadline and is not able to consider applications on a rolling basis. The committee makes decisions by no later than early March. If you have been admitted we will contact you through the end of March. Accepted students will have two weeks to respond to the offer of admission.
