Summer Internship in Biological Sciences in Public Health

Summary

The Biological Sciences in Public Health Summer Internship Program (BPH-SIP) at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offers rising juniors and seniors the opportunity to conduct laboratory-based research focused on basic biology questions with public health implications. The overall mission of our program is to recruit qualified students for graduate-level training leading to research careers in the biological sciences. BPH-SIP students focus on wet lab or computational projects within the Departments of Environmental Health, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, or Molecular Metabolism at Harvard Chan. This eight-week program provides a stipend, housing at Emmanuel College, and travel to and from Boston. Interns work on independent research projects under Harvard faculty mentorship, culminating in a research presentation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, 18 or older, and have strong interest in biology research.

Program overview

The program goal is to expose college science students (who will be juniors or seniors in the fall of 2027) to the rewards of laboratory research directed toward solving important public health problems. The overall mission of our program is to recruit qualified students for graduate-level training leading to research careers in the biological sciences. Interns apply state-of-the art technology in their own research projects under the direction of a Harvard faculty member. Research projects focus on biological science questions that are important to the prevention of disease. Disease areas include infections (tuberculosis, malaria, Chagas disease), cancer, lung diseases, multifactorial, multigenic and common diseases of aging, diabetes, obesity, etc.  Scientific approaches include regulation of cell growth and gene regulation, cellular metabolism, DNA modification, cellular signaling, structure-function analyses, etc.

Visit the Biological Sciences in Public Health degree program page for more detailed information about program faculty and their research. Note that an interest in a particular faculty member does NOT guarantee placement in their lab.

Program dates

The Summer Internship Program will run from Monday, June 7 through Friday, July 30, 2027.

Eligibility

To qualify for this Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health-sponsored program, applicants must meet the criteria below:

• Be currently enrolled full-time in an accredited public or private college or university in the United States or its territories, as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Not have completed their BA/BS degree by June 2027.
• Be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Be strongly considering careers in biological or biomedical research sciences.
• Have taken at least one intro-level or upper-level biology course that covers fundamental concepts in molecular biology.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Be a first-generation college attendee and/or come from an economically disadvantaged background. Race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, or any other protected characteristic under law is not considered in the selection process.

Curriculum

Participants are required to attend and participate in all SIP activities including Orientation, Peer Mentoring Events, Career and Professional Development workshops, Community and Mental Health and Well being sessions, Research Discussions and Faculty Talks, and the Final Presentations.

Orientation will be held on the first day of the program and will include an overview of Harvard University, the Harvard Chan School, and available resources at participants’ disposal. The Program Director and Program Coordinator will be in attendance to answer questions regarding research, labs, on campus resources, housing, and program requirements and expectations. Following the Orientation, participants will pick up their Harvard ID cards and be escorted to their labs, where they will typically meet with both their research mentor and lab mentor.

Career and Professional Development Workshops are meant to (1) equip SIP students with skills that will help them prepare for and succeed in graduate school and during the program and (2) provide SIP students with opportunities to connect with graduate students and faculty. Topics typically include (but are not limited to):

• Giving Presentations and Finding Original Literature
• “What Can You Do with a Science PhD?” Career Panel
• PhD Admissions Best Practices
• Statement of Purpose Workshop
• Networking and Conferences
• Predoctoral Fellowships

Final Presentations

Participants in the program are required to create and present a poster to the BPH community as the culmination of their research project at our annual Summer Intern Research Presentation session.

Funding

Funding includes a living stipend, travel support, and complimentary dormitory housing at Emmanuel College (located a short walk away from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health).

Health insurance

Massachusetts State Law requires all residents (permanent and temporary) to have health insurance. Applicants are required to have health insurance to participate in the program.

Application details

Complete the online application.  Please read through all the questions in advance and also make sure to read the directions on the application on how to save your application and return to it later, should you need to do this. Once an applicant submits their application they are still able to make changes up until the application deadline by pressing the “Edit” button.

In addition to the online application, you must include the supporting documentation (in PDF format) listed below:

• Statement of Purpose – describing the following items: 
  • Why you are interested in research, what helped develop this interest, how you have pursued this interest thus far, and how you hope to carry this interest into a PhD program and/or your career.
  • The areas of research you hope to explore during SIP.
  • Your interest and experiences (e.g. academic, work, volunteer) that have shaped your interest in the biological sciences. If you have worked in a lab or taken a lab course previously, please describe the goal of your project, what you did, what you found, and what you learned from the experience. If you have not worked in a lab, please describe any relevant courses or independent reading that shaped your interest and preparation for research.
  • Your reason for applying to SIP. Please share what you hope to gain from SIP and describe barriers to getting research experience and mentorship that you have encountered.

• Official Transcript(s) – please see application for more detailed information regarding the submission of transcripts.
• Two letters of recommendation from professors who can speak to your scientific capabilities (please do not submit recommendations from high school teachers or individuals who do not know you in an academic capacity).  Emails will be sent out to your contacts directly, using the email addresses provided, with a link to upload documents into the online application on behalf of each applicant.
• Resume – listing all applicable professional and academic experience to date

Questions

Questions should be directed to bph@hsph.harvard.edu.

Alumni

Join our BPH SIP Alumni Group on Linkedin

Other summer internship programs at Harvard

There are many summer internship opportunities and pathway programs for high school and undergraduate students at Harvard. We’ve highlighted a few below.

Post-baccalaureate program

The Harvard Griffin GSAS Research Scholar Initiative is a non-degree granting post-baccalaureate program that provides mentored research and training for individuals interested in pursuing doctoral studies. In the program, research scholars work with a Harvard faculty member as a research assistant, participate in professional development seminars, and receive GRE preparation support. In addition, scholars may take undergraduate and/or graduate coursework in preparation for doctoral studies.