Research Internship 

General Information 

The Health Services Mentorship Program (HSMP) offers a fully virtual research experience, making it accessible to students nationwide, not just those in the Washington, DC metro area. Students typically meet 2-3 times a month, with most meetings scheduled in the evening. This allows participants to balance their academic responsibilities with the program. Research meetings are scheduled separately from lecture schedules and students meet weekly/biweekly for their research tasks. All meetings are 1-1.5 hours long. 

We offer 2 levels of the program, HSMP student researchers and HSMP fellows. Our student researcher program provides an introductory experience to research for students without prior experience. Our fellowship program is a more competitive program open to any student with a strong background in the health sciences or research methods. 

Students will implement their own studies under the guidance of a PhD student. Our students gain valuable experience in overcoming real-world challenges in research, such as adjusting study designs, interpreting data, and refining their approaches. Each research project is presented at the end of our program through the HSMP Colloquium. Students exceeding the standards of the research program will be provided additional support to publish or present research at regional conferences. 

This is an intensive program designed for highly motivated students who can work independently. Each student will be paired with a peer mentor from the HSMP fellowship program—individuals who have prior research experience and a strong background in healthcare. This mentorship offers students personalized guidance, helping them navigate their research projects while fostering professional growth and a deeper understanding of the healthcare field.

Please note this is not a wet-lab or biology/chemistry research program. All research activities are restricted to healthcare services and clinical research topics. We highly recommend GMU's ASSIP Program for students interested in lab work. 

HSMP Student Researcher Entry Level 

Our program will be accepting new applications beginning July 1, 2025.  Students applying to this tier must not have previous research experience (includes AP Research/AP Seminar). Please see our research fellowship program if you have research experience. 

GPA/Academic Performance is not part of the review process, but students accepted into the research program will be linked to academic resources. Students in the year-long program must demonstrate an upwards trend in GPA. 

What happens if I don't meet the criteria above? 

You may be eligible for our research fellowship! Students with strong backgrounds in the health sciences and research methods assist their peers from underserved and under-represented backgrounds. Read more below

Fellowship  Level 

We maintain an additional intern level in our program. This is a highly competitive application, but students are welcome to apply if they meet any criteria below regardless of whether they meet the criteria for underserved status. Students must be available for the full year Fall 2024-Summer 2025. Each year 2-3 positions are available. 

Students may be considered for the intern level of this program if they are 

1. Previous HSMP Student 

2. previous or current CTE students (EMT/CMA/CNA etc.)

3. have previous research experience with presentation experience

4. enrolled in a STEM or health science magnet/specialty program (health science's academy/Governor's School etc.)

5. Previous coursework in AP Bio, AP Anatomy, AP Stats, AP Research, AP Computer Science 

Interns support the program while completing their own research. 

Fellows are responsible for 

1. Assisting with oversight of research for students enrolled in program

2. Presenting journal meetings once a month

3. Assisting with tutorials for coding