It is for undergraduate students or recent graduates who are interested in medicine or other health care careers. During this unique educational experience, the research intern is paired with a faculty mentor who is actively engaged as a Mayo Clinic faculty at a nationally recognized hospital. At the conclusion of the program, the interns will showcase their work at an open house and poster session. In past years, select projects have gone on to be published in scientific journals or presented at national conferences.

Yes. Previous research experience is not required. CRISP welcomes applicants from a variety of academic backgrounds and experiences. However, applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in research, healthcare, public health, or related fields.

CRISP is a research-focused internship. While some students may have opportunities to observe clinical environments or attend educational experiences related to patient care, direct patient care responsibilities are not part of the internship.

Experiences vary by project and mentor, and opportunities for clinical observation cannot be guaranteed.

No. Participation in CRISP does not guarantee admission to any Mayo Clinic educational program, acceptance into a health professions program, or future employment at Mayo Clinic.

CRISP is designed to provide meaningful research experience, professional development, mentorship, and exposure to healthcare and research careers. While many alumni have gone on to pursue advanced education and successful careers in healthcare, research, and related fields, all admissions and hiring decisions are made through separate competitive processes.

Selected participants will receive a taxable $3,000 stipend for the 10-week program. The stipend is distributed in equal payments throughout the internship.

Participants are responsible for all travel, housing, and living expenses associated with the program. CRISP does not provide additional funding for these costs.

Students are encouraged to explore funding opportunities through their college or university, including academic departments, career services offices, honors programs, research offices, and scholarship or grant programs. Applicants may also seek independent grants or external funding sources to support their participation.

The program will run from June 1 - August 6, 2027.

Students will attend a mandatory orientation on June 1, 2027, and the program will end the week of Aug. 2, 2027, with final presentations. 

No. All CRISP participants are required to begin the program on the designated start date and attend the mandatory in-person orientation. Late starts are not permitted.

Students attending institutions on a quarter or trimester system are encouraged to work with their academic institution to explore options for completing coursework remotely, adjusting their academic schedule, or finishing the term early to meet program requirements.

• Orientation is on June 1, 2027
• On-site 10 weeks of research from June 1, 2027 - August 6, 2027
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours per week on the clinical research project
• Attend all professional development seminars/training/workshops. Sessions are typically held on Tuesday mornings.
• Attend and present at the poster symposium during the week of August 2nd (dates vary by location).
• Maintain professionalism and respect for Mayo Clinic’s faculty, staff, students, and CRISP cohort throughout the program duration

CRISP is a part-time internship experience requiring approximately 20 hours per week throughout the duration of the program. Participants may work additional hours based on project needs and mentor approval; however, any work beyond the minimum program expectation should reflect mutual agreement between the student and mentor. Typical business days are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Many interns elect to work more than this but cannot exceed 40 hours. 

Additional required commitments

Orientation: Will be held on June 1, 2027, and will include an overview of Mayo Clinic and available resources at participants' disposal. The Program Director, Program Coordinator, and Alumni will be in attendance to answer questions regarding research, Mayo Clinic resources, housing, and program requirements and expectations. Following the Orientation, participants will meet with their mentor or designated representative.

Career and Professional Development Sessions: Typically held every Tuesday and are meant to:

1. Equip students with skills that will help them prepare for and succeed in furthering their interest in the healthcare profession and during the program.
2. Provide students with opportunities to network with students, faculty and alumni.

Final Presentations: Held on the week of Aug. 2nd, students are required to present a poster presentation of the culmination of their research they have completed over the 10-week internship experience. Select students will have the opportunity to also participate in oral presentations.

We recognize that the CRISP experience may need to be balanced with other priorities.

In previous years, students have been able to accommodate academic enrollment or part-time employment while still meeting CRISP program requirement.

However, such accommodations, particularly if limiting on-site availability during business hours Monday through Friday, should be reviewed with CRISP leadership and your assigned mentor immediately after matching assignment are released in March.

If you have an important conflict, it should be discussed and pre-approved with your mentor prior to the start of the program.

Time off should be limited to no more than two to three business days during the internship. Hours missed are expected to be made up during the duration of the internship program.

To be eligible for the internship, you must:

• Must be 18 years old by start of the program
• Have a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Have completed your freshman year of college prior to the start of the program
• Be currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an accredited U.S. college or university. 
  • Recent graduates must have graduated within 13 months of the CRISP start date. While CRISP primarily serves undergraduate students and recent graduates, a limited number of positions may be awarded to exceptional applicants enrolled in graduate degree programs (e.g., MPH, MHA, MBA).
  • Applicants who have already matriculated into a professional degree program (e.g. MD, DO, DDS, PharmD, PhD) are not eligible for CRISP.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or an F-1 student enrolled at a U.S. institution. (add link to government website)
  • F-1 students are responsible for confirming eligibility with their academic institutions prior to applying and securing all required authorizations before internship start date.
  • Mayo Clinic does not provide visa sponsorship for CRISP participants.
• Individuals who have already completed two summers in the CRISP program are not eligible to apply. 

Yes. Students enrolled at a U.S. college or university on an F-1 visa are eligible to apply to CRISP.

F-1 students are responsible for confirming their eligibility with their academic institution and obtaining all required CPT, OPT, or other employment authorization prior to the start of the program. Mayo Clinic does not provide visa sponsorship for CRISP participants.

Because eligibility requirements vary by institution, we strongly recommend that F-1 students consult their university's international student office before applying and obtain written confirmation or a letter verifying their eligibility to participate in the internship. 

Follow the guidance and instructions listed on the Application Process page.

Applicants may indicate their campus preferences during the application process; however, placement at a specific Mayo Clinic campus cannot be guaranteed.

Campus assignments are based on mentor availability, project opportunities, program capacity, and organizational needs across Mayo Clinic locations. If selected, your assigned location will be communicated in your acceptance letter. Applicants offered a position may be placed at Jacksonville, Florida; Rochester, Minnesota; or Phoenix, Arizona and must be able to participate at the assigned campus.

For technical support, contact the Education Technology Center (ETC) at 507-266-9087 or send an email to etc@mayo.edu. Standard business hours are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., CT.

You are required to upload an unofficial transcript only. Transcripts need to clearly state your cumulative GPA. We recommend that freshman wait until the conclusion of their Fall term to submit their transcripts to ensure that a GPA is available for verification.

Applicants must arrange for one (1) letter of recommendation to be submitted through the application system by January 31 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Recommendation requests are sent automatically when an application is submitted. Applicants should verify their recommender's email address, notify them to expect a message from Mayo Clinic, and allow sufficient time for the letter to be completed.

Applications without a recommendation letter received by the January 31 deadline will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

Recommendations should address:

• The recommender's relationship to the applicant and how long they have known the student.
• The applicant's academic, professional, research, or leadership experiences.
• The applicant's potential to contribute to the CRISP program.
• Specific qualities, skills, or experiences that make the applicant a strong candidate.
• How participation in CRISP would support the applicant's educational, professional, and personal development.
• If applicable, recommenders are encouraged to comment on the applicant's research experience and potential for future work in research or healthcare-related fields.

Admission to CRISP is highly competitive, with approximately 10% of applicants selected each year. Due to the large number of applications received and limited program capacity, many qualified applicants are unable to be offered a position. Applications are reviewed holistically based on academic achievement, experiences, demonstrated interest in research and healthcare careers, personal statement, letter of recommendation, and overall fit with the program.

Admission to CRISP is highly competitive, with approximately 10% of applicants selected each year. Applications are reviewed holistically, taking into consideration academic achievement, personal qualifications, demonstrated interest in research and healthcare careers, letters of recommendation, and available program capacity.

All applications undergo an initial eligibility screening before being reviewed by the selection committee. The committee evaluates each application as a whole, including the applicant's GPA, personal statement, experiences, and recommendation letter.

Successful applicants typically demonstrate:

• Strong academic performance
• Meaningful involvement in extracurricular, service, leadership, research, clinical, or other relevant experiences
• A genuine interest in healthcare, research, public health, or related fields
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The potential to contribute positively to the CRISP cohort and learning environment

The admissions committee reviews all complete applications after the deadline, Jan. 31, and is not able to consider applications on a rolling basis.

The committee makes decisions by late February and notifications should be sent out by early March.

No, it is mandatory to attend orientation and we cannot accommodate an alternative start date.

Acceptance and subsequent appointment are contingent upon meeting all admission and onboarding requirements for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

The onboarding process includes a background check, drug screen, and proof of immunizations. Failure to meet the requirements for any onboarding component will result in a delay in your start date or even potential revocation of your internship appointment.

Mentor placements are based on the interests and preferences identified in your application, as well as mentor and project availability. Applicants may rank up to three areas of interest; however, placement with a specific mentor, project, specialty area, or Mayo Clinic site cannot be guaranteed.

By submitting an application, you acknowledge and agree that, if selected, you may be matched with any available mentor or specialty area that aligns with the program's needs and available opportunities. Our goal is to provide each participant with a meaningful research experience while balancing mentor capacity and project availability across the program.

After acceptance, program staff will send a communication matching students and mentors. We encourage mentors and students to connect with one another via email or phone before the program officially starts. It is the responsibility of the student to respond to faculty mentors and keep in contact with them regularly. If your faculty has not contacted you two weeks before CRISP’s start date, please let the CRISP team know.

In this internship, students will interact on a regular basis with other professionals within Mayo Clinic, including faculty, clinicians, and staff. Thus, we need to meet the mandate of neat, clean, and appropriate attire. Interns should dress in business casual attire while on-site at any Mayo Clinic location, and on any work-related video calls.

No. CRISP does not provide housing, meals, travel reimbursement, or additional funding beyond the program stipend. Please refer to the Stipend and Housing section for information about program funding and participant expenses.

To assist with housing arrangements, the CRISP team may provide opportunities for participants to connect with one another to explore potential roommate arrangements. Information regarding short-term housing resources and available university-affiliated housing options, when available, will be shared with accepted students.

Participants are responsible for securing and funding their own housing, transportation, meals, and living expenses for the duration of the program. We encourage students to explore support through their academic institution, scholarships, grants, or other external funding sources.

Students are expected to coordinate their own transportation to and from Mayo Clinic.

Jacksonville, Florida: We recommend keeping your search for living accommodations within about a five-mile (8.047 km) radius of the clinic for ease of transportation. Jacksonville does not have public transportation that stops at Mayo Clinic. We recommend bringing a vehicle if you are able, as past students have found having a car or carpooling advantageous.

Rochester, Minnesota: Mayo Clinic is walkable to many accommodations, but Rochester Public Transit provides safe and convenient public transportation services to the City of Rochester. The bus routes consist of 40 weekday fixed routes and eight weekend/holiday routes.

Phoenix, Arizona: Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the Mayo Clinic campus. While public transportation is available in the Phoenix metropolitan area, many participants find that having access to a personal vehicle provides greater flexibility when commuting between housing, the Mayo Clinic campus, and other local destinations.

No. Participation in the final presentation session is a required component of the CRISP program and is necessary to successfully complete the internship.

All participants are expected to present their work during the designated presentation period at their assigned Mayo Clinic site. Failure to participate in the final presentation may result in the participant not being considered in good standing and may affect eligibility to receive any conference travel stipend.