Program overview

Program length: 10 weeks
Location: Jacksonville, Florida

This internship is an unpaid 10-week summer program that gives college students an opportunity to participate in clinical research. This is a great way for you to test your inclination toward careers in medicine, health care, and science. You are placed with a physician mentor to work on a clinical research project.

Application process

Applications will open Oct. 1 and will close Jan. 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Summer 2023 match

• The summer 2023 match is for May 30, 2023, through Aug. 4, 2023
• All students accepted into the program must be available on the first day to attend the mandatory orientation — no exceptions will be given

Prerequisites

To be eligible for the internship, you must:

• Be currently enrolled in or a graduate of an accredited U.S. college or university
  • Recent graduates should typically have graduated no longer than 13 months prior to CRISP start date
  • CRISP is intended for students not yet matriculated into professional degree-seeking programs (such as medical, dental, or pharmacy schools)
    • A limited number of spots may be awarded to exceptional applicants in professional degree-seeking programs
• Have completed your freshman year of college
• Have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Be seriously considering a career in health care or clinical research

Applicants are selected based on academic performance, work and volunteer experiences, leadership qualities, and representation of personal qualities and skills in a personal letter.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

Admission to Mayo Clinic Office of Non-Clinical Programs is open to U.S. workers in the four categories below. Therefore, visa sponsorship is not available.

1. U.S. citizens
2. U.S. nationals
3. Lawful permanent residents
4. Asylees and refugees

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Scores from the speaking portion of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. Learn more about the exam and register online at the Educational Testing Service.

The Mayo Clinic Office of Non-Clinical Programs code for the TOEFL iBT is 5784.

Educational transcripts from schools outside the U.S. must be translated (if they are not already in English) and evaluated for U.S. equivalence by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission. Please refer to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of qualified companies. The applicant pays for the examination and credential-evaluation services.

Application instructions

Complete the following steps to apply:

1. Create an account to begin the online Application for Admission. Select the following when creating an account:
   • School of Study - Office of Non-Clinical Education Programs
   • Area of Interest - Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP)
2. Once logged on, select "Create a New Application"
3. Select "Start a Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Experience Application"
4. Complete each section of the application and submit
5. After submission:
   • Select the "View" button next to your application 
   • Select the "Supplemental Items and Documents" tab
     • Upload your supplemental items
     • Complete the Recommendation Request section

Additional required items

• Essay is to include the following and then be uploaded in the Supplemental Items section:
  • In 500 words or less, write about your career goals and why you would be a good candidate for the program. To assist in the match, identify your specific research interests.
• Unofficial college transcripts may be uploaded in the Supplemental Items area. 
• Recent CV/resume
• One letter of recommendation is required and must be completed in the Recommendation Request section. The recommender will receive an email with a link to upload a letter.
• Professional: References should be individuals who are/were an authority figure in your current/previous schooling or place of employment (i.e. supervisor, teacher)

Send any required materials that are not completed online directly to:

Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP)
Mayo Clinic Office of Non-Clinical Programs
4500 San Pablo Road
Jacksonville, FL 32224 

Tuition and financial aid

Mayo Clinic Office of Non-Clinical Programs does not charge tuition or fees for the internship. No stipends or financial aid are provided to participants.

You are responsible for your living accommodations and transportation.

You may hold outside employment during the program if it does not conflict with your program responsibilities.

Curriculum

A physician mentor directs each student's Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP) learning experience for the research project. The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board (IRB) approves all research projects.

To successfully complete the program, you must:

• Comply with all program and institutional policies
• Participate in an ongoing research investigation
• Develop skills in research methodology
• Participate in assigned educational activities
• Present a written summary and oral presentation of their research at the end of the program

CRISP students work on a variety of research topics. Some examples of previous projects:

• Injury in marathon runners
• Aortic aneurysm and smoking
• Liver transplant in patients older than 70
• Warfarin anticoagulation in acute intracranial hemorrhage
• Screw placement in the spine using 3-D images

You are expected to attend our lecture series aimed at helping to develop your professionalism. You will be offered time in our Simulation Center during your internship.

Schedule

You are expected to commit a minimum of 20 hours a week to be at Mayo Clinic to work on your research project.

Accreditation information

See accreditation information for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.