What to Expect and Whether CHIP Is the Right Fit
The internship gives students direct experience of research as it is practiced. Projects vary by mentor and area, but interns can expect to:
- Work closely with a faculty mentor and research team
- Contribute to an active research project
- Build technical, analytical, and scientific communication skills
- Attend seminars, journal clubs, and program events
- Present their work at the end of the summer
Research at CHIP is iterative. Interns often work with complex datasets and with questions that change as the work proceeds, so problem-solving and adaptability matter.
Mentoring arrangements differ by faculty member. Some interns lead an independent project shaped by their own interests. Others join a lab’s ongoing work and collaborate closely with other interns and postdoctoral fellows.
Who should consider applying
The program may be a strong fit for students who are:
- Interested in AI, computation, data science, and health research
- Motivated to gain hands-on research experience
- Comfortable working independently and asking for guidance when needed
- Interested in interdisciplinary collaboration
- Considering careers in research, medicine, public health, graduate study, or health technology
Applicants come from many fields and stages of training. Strong candidates show clear intellectual interests, evidence of initiative, and a considered fit between their interests and CHIP’s research.
What makes a strong application
A strong application explains:
- The applicant’s research or academic interests
- The experiences that shaped those interests
- Why CHIP is the right next step
- What the applicant hopes to learn
The strongest applications are specific and focused. Rather than listing every course or skill, show how you have engaged with questions, projects, or experiences relevant to computational health research.
What former interns say
Former interns describe CHIP as a place to build technical skills, clarify career goals, and join a supportive research community.
“This internship is suitable for students who want hands-on research experience and access to real clinical data.”
“The internship gives you the chance to really immerse yourself in a research environment, work closely with both researchers and clinicians, and see the translational path from technical research to real clinical problems.”
“I took a machine learning course before, but this internship provided me with a hands-on experience in analyzing large healthcare datasets and applying machine learning approaches. The experience is extremely useful for my future research work.”
“The most valuable parts of the internship were the close mentorship, the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research, and the strong sense of community among interns, mentors, and faculty.”
“This internship substantially clarified my educational and career direction.”
For eligibility, application requirements, and deadlines, see the main internship page.
Drafted by Swati Rajwal (Summer Intern '25)
