Program overview

Program length: 12 months (fall and spring semesters)
Class size: 20 per year
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Affiliated school: Arizona State University (ASU), School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE)

The Mayo Clinic/ASU Synapse Internship pairs Mayo clinician mentors with senior biomedical engineering students to develop medical devices and technologies that address real-world clinical needs. The 12-month internship allows up to 16 hours of on-site shadowing per student at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona to gain valuable clinical perspective and expertise on product design and development from key stakeholders. Virtual or in-person touch points are scheduled throughout the internship to discuss project progress, work through design challenges, and solicit feedback. The goal at the completion of the program is a prototype that can be pitched at one of Mayo Clinic’s innovation competitions.

Graduation and certification

Upon completion of the internship, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.

Application process

ASU SBHSE students interested in participating in the Mayo/ASU Synapse Internship program should apply as a team during the spring semester of their junior year.

The application cycle is March 15 to May 15, with team selection and decision notification occurring by mid-July. The program begins in August each year, coinciding with the beginning of the SBHSE students’ senior year and in conjunction with ASU’s academic calendar.

Prerequisites

To be eligible for the internship, you must:

• Be currently enrolled in ASU’s SBHSE program and be in good academic standing (GPA 3.0 or higher preferred)
• Be at least 18 years of age or older
• Have a reliable means of transportation to Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona
• Abide by Mayo Clinic policies, including wearing professional business attire while on campus
• Possess excellent communication skills, professionalism, and intellectual curiosity

Students interested in careers in healthcare or in the medical device industry are specifically encouraged to apply.

Non-U.S. citizen applicants

Admission to Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences 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 School of Health Sciences 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. Each team member will submit the following documents to arzsynapse@mayo.edu.
   • CV/resume
   • Unofficial ASU transcripts
2. Each team will designate a Team Lead. The Team Lead will email the following document to arzsynapse@mayo.edu.
   • Essay (4-5 paragraphs) to include interest in this internship, skills/expertise of each team member, and project interest areas. One essay per team.

Interview process

Applicants/teams considered for acceptance may be invited for a virtual/in-person interview with the program director and selected faculty.

Acceptance

Applicants/teams will be notified of acceptance via email and a reply is expected within seven business days. Once confirmed, all team members will be required to submit a mandatory demographic collection form. Information and link will be provided upon acceptance.

Tuition and financial aid

You pay tuition to the school that you are attending. Mayo Clinic charges no additional fees.

You are responsible for providing your own transportation.

Curriculum

Participating students can expect to gain valuable perspective and feedback on projects from clinician experts. Some required modules, such as HIPPA, and optional self-paced Mayo Clinic innovation modules, will be offered through online MyLearning assignments.

During the on-site shadowing experiences, students will have exposure to different patient care areas throughout the hospital including medicine/surgical floors, intensive care unit, emergency department, and procedural spaces.

All didactic coursework and engineering curriculum is handled through ASU’s SBHSE program. Clinician mentors at Mayo Clinic in Arizona do not assign any formal grades as part of the internship.

Schedule

Participating students should expect to spend 6-8 hours per month, either through on-site shadowing at Mayo Clinic in Arizona or during the virtual/in-person touch points arranged as part of the program.

Accreditation

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