Healthcare is an evidence-based and data-driven field, and many health professions incorporate research. Gaining research experience during your time at Grinnell is a great way to prepare for a career in healthcare, as you will:
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Gain specific skills in the lab and other research settings
- Learn about some of the questions that healthcare practitioners address in their work
One of Grinnell’s greatest strengths is the experiential learning that is built into its curriculum: in science courses here, you will have many chances to conduct research in lab courses and independent projects. If you want to build your research experience beyond the College’s curriculum, many options are available to do so, including:
- MAPs (Mentored Advanced Projects) with faculty at Grinnell
- REUs (Research Experience for Undergraduates), funded by the National Science Foundation, at other institutions
- Summer research programs and “pipeline programs” at other institutions not formally part of the NSF-REU program – see examples below
- Research-based internships in private industry – for example, synthetic chemistry at a pharmaceutical company
- Post-graduate fellowships in research – for example, the Postbaccaluareate Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health
Where to Find Research Opportunities
Grinnell’s Science Division research page maintains a list of off-campus research opportunities sorted by field. This is a great resource to start looking for summer research opportunities in your area.
Search for NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) to explore research opportunities in diverse science fields.
Pathways to Science includes opportunities for research, graduate school, and professional development. The summer research database includes a filter for programs that accept applications from students with F1 visas.
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has created a catalog of 280 biomedical research internships for high school through graduate/medical school.
The National Institutes of Health offers a number of opportunities for current students and recent grads, such as the NIH Center for Cancer Research programs, the NIH National Eye Institute programs, and the Postbaccaluareate Intramural Research Training Award
Psychology Job & Internship Opportunities catalogs internships and jobs for undergraduate students and recent graduates.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology lists summer research opportunities by state.
The Association of American Medical Colleges has several resources for students interested in medicine and public health:
- Summer Enrichment and Pipeline Programs database
- Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
- MD-PhD Summer Research Programs
- Research and Training Opportunities
Visit the SES Career Community Summer Research page for more information & opportunities. The Health Pros Summer Enrichment Programs page catalogs a variety of programs that often incorporate professional development with research and shadowing experiences.
More links to popular programs: