Student Research Internship Program

• Gain knowledge of and exposure to current topics in translational science, including the genetic basis for common and complex traits and diseases in humans, as well as the integration of mobile technologies to monitor and improve health care.
• Learn study design and analysis procedures relevant for translational research, including genomic/genetic association studies and mHealth trials.

• Observe the various steps of proposing, designing, undertaking and analyzing clinical trials, particularly those evaluating genomics and mobile monitoring of patients with disease.

• Become proficient in presenting scientific concepts—including study design, research findings, data analysis and results interpretation—to peers and mentors.

Based on the intern’s individual interests, he or she will be assigned a primary mentor. It is the mentor’s responsibility to advise and guide the intern with respect to achieving the aims and requirements of the program. The mentor may also, to the degree appropriate, provide information and insights regarding future academic and career development goals. Although each intern will work primarily with his/her individual mentor, dialogue with other investigators at the Scripps Research Translational Institute is highly encouraged.

Most of our interns work in a dry lab setting; however, we do have a limited number of wet lab positions available. You must indicate your preference on the application for dry lab, wet lab or either.

Seminar attendance: Interns will attend one to two weekly seminars and prepare for these seminars accordingly (e.g., read assigned journal articles).

Research proposal: Interns, together with their mentors, will each develop an independent research project to be completed by the end of the internship. This will include 1) writing a one-page description of this project, which requires mentor approval, and 2) presenting this proposal to the mentor for final approval at any time prior to the midpoint of the internship.

Presentation of research project: Present results of the independent research project at a Translational Institute Research Meeting, scheduled during the second half of the internship period.

Poster symposium: Share the outcomes of the independent research project during the concluding intern poster symposium.

If appropriate, interns may submit abstracts for presentation at a scientific meeting mutually agreed upon by the intern, his/her mentor and a senior faculty member.

Highly motivated students in high school, college or professional training (medical/law/graduate/business school) may apply. The primary criterion for admission is a strong interest in genomics or mHealth translational research.

Please note that high school students must be at least 16 years of age before the start of their internship.

1. Candidates will be selected based on qualifications and research interests.
2. After all applications are reviewed, individuals whose interests and coursework/experience match current research projects and available mentorship at the Translational Institute will be offered positions. Some mentors may contact applicants first for a brief telephone or video interview prior to final decision.
3. Interns must receive school credit or transcript notation for participation in our non-paid summer research internship. Please check with your guidance counselor or department dean about whether this will be possible. If not, we will help coordinate your required credit through an affiliated community college.
4. Interns aged 18 and older who are matched with clinical mentors will be required to complete background checks and drug screening before working in clinical areas.

Internship dates: June 1 – August 7, 2026 (10 weeks) OR June 15 – August 7, 2026

Application deadline: March 30, 2026

Date of notice: April 30, 2026

The SRTI/SURI internship application is now closed for the 2026 summer cohort. Decisions will be sent by approximately April 30. Please visit our website in late fall for more information about the 2027 summer program.

We generally only accept non-immigrant individuals who are current academic students in the U.S., typically with F-1 or J-1 student visas. For these visas, immigration documents must relate to biomedical sciences studies, and in many cases, approval for CPT or AT (curricular practical training or academic training) must be obtained in advance from their international student advisor or program sponsor.

For an unpaid internship in California, you need to provide proof of education credits, a school transcript, or confirmation of a stipend from your home institution. According to labor law, unpaid internships must be connected to the student’s educational program, often involving the student earning formal course credit from their home institution.

Funding has yet to be determined. We will update the website when information becomes available. We will continue to have unpaid positions completed for school credit or transcript notation. If your school does not provide credit or transcript notation for outside internships, we will help coordinate credit through Scripps-affiliated MiraCosta Community College and San Diego Mesa College.

Please note: Funding has yet to be determined. We will update the website when information becomes available. We will continue to have unpaid positions completed for school credit or transcript notation. If your school does not provide credit or transcript notation for outside internships, we will help coordinate credit through Scripps-affiliated MiraCosta Community College and San Diego Mesa.

The Scripps Research Translational Institute does not offer housing or housing support for those taking part in the internship program.

Some local housing resources:

• UC San Diego Summer Intern Housing Program
• UCSD Student Off-campus Housing Facebook group