Visiting Medical Students Tackle Big Research Questions
Learn more about the 2023 Visiting Research Internship Program (VRIP) and their research projects. Read article.
Building Equity in Biomedical Research
Learn more about our Visiting Research Internship Program (VRIP) and how it kindles next-generation diversity in clinical and translational sciences. Read article.
Visiting Research Internship Program (VRIP)
This eight-week mentored, summer research program is designed to support medical students in developing their interests in research and health-related careers, particularly in clinical and translational research.
In addition to a mentored clinical and translational research experience, VRIP students participate in weekly seminars with Harvard Medical School faculty, focusing on topics such as research methodology, health disparities, ethics, and career paths. Participants also have the opportunity to participate in offerings of other Harvard Medical School programs such as career development seminars and networking events.
Eligibility
- First and second year medical students, with a focus on those who are from groups underrepresented in medicine and/or disadvantaged individuals
- In good standing from accredited U.S. medical schools
- U.S. Citizens or U.S. Noncitizen Nationals or Permanent Residents of U.S.
Important dates
- All application materials due: Friday, December 15, 2023
- Notification of 2024 VRIP participants: February 19, 2024
- Program dates: June 3-July 27, 2024 (eight weeks)
Financial assistance
- Housing is provided
- The program will provide a stipend
- Transportation reimbursement of up to $400 toward the cost of traveling to and from Boston is available
How to Apply
The 2024 VRIP application cycle is closed.
Past VRIP Interns
Alynah Adams
Medical College of Wisconsin
Mentor: Samuel J Lin, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Enrique Arredondo
University of Texas Southwestern
Mentor: Meena Nathan, MD, MPH, FRCS, Boston Children’s Hospital
Jeremiah Bonnet
Tufts University School of Medicine
Mentor: Jennifer Mack, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Elizabeth Carbonell
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
Mentor: Anne O’Donnell Luria, MD, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Broad Institute
Alicia Edwards
Howard University College of Medicine
Mentor: Sotonye Imadojemu, MD, MBE, MPH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Graham Grisedale
Creighton University School of Medicine
Mentor: Cristina Aguayo-Mazzucato, MD, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Ethan Lawrence
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Mentors: Artur Indzhykulian, PhD, Mass Eye and Ear; Stacey Tutt Gray, MD, Mass Eye and Ear; Hideko Heidi Nakajima, MD, PhD, Mass Eye and Ear
Karen Murambadoro
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Mentor: Edward K Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Grecia Nolasco
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Mentor: Paulo Lizano, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Mazen Taman
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Mentors: Brian Nahed, MD, MSC, Massachusetts General Hospital; Shannon Stott, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Garrett Arosemena Ott, MSc
University of Virginia
Mentor: Charles R. G. Guttmann, MD, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Orlane Caro, MHS
Meharry Medical College
Mentor: Jose Figueroa, MD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Destiny Green
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Mentor: Rani George, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Rahim Hirani, MS
New York Medical College
Mentor: Meena Nathan, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Khadijah Jannah, MHS
Meharry Medical College
Mentor: Edward K. Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Lashawn Peña, MS
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Mentor: George Molina, MD, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Erik Velez-Perez
Ponce Health Sciences University
Mentor: Paulo Lizano, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Vellia Zhou
Tufts University School of Medicine
Mentor: Ronald Arellano, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Ateh Zinkeng, PSM
University of Arizona School of Medicine Tucson
Mentor: Monique A. Hartley-Brown, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Leila Abdelrahman, MS
Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Mentors: Julie Price, PhD and Ciprian Catana, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Michael Dang, MS
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Mentor: Marsha A. Moses, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Elias Eteshola, PhD
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Mentor: Anju Nohria, MD, MSc, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Lacey Foster, MS
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Mentor: Samuel Lin, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Aaliyah Joseph, MS
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Mentor: Zeina Chemali, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Mischael Saint-Sume
Morehouse School of Medicine
Mentor: Meena Nathan, MD, MPH, FRCS, Boston Children’s Hospital
Gabriella Sierra
Meharry Medical College
Mentor: Jonathan Gaffin, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Bryan Torres, MS
Tulane University School of Medicine
Mentor: Gezzer Ortega, MD, Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Watch Five Questions with the 2022 VRIP interns.
Hana Abdirahman
University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine
Mentor: Daniela M Dinulescu, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Alero Arueyingho
Meharry Medical College
Mentor: Meena Nathan, MB, BS, Boston Children’s Hospital
Briana Cortez
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Mentor: Cristina Aguayo-Mazzucato, MD, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Irasema Fonseca Gonzalez
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Mentor: Emily Oken, MD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare
Symone Jordan
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Mentor: Einat Liebenthal, DSc, McLean Hospital
Ruby Lopez-Flores
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Mentor: William Meehan, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Ariana Mora
Emory School of Medicine
Mentor: Jose Figueroa, MD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Ugoji Nwanaji-Enwerem
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Mentor: Jennifer Huang, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Elizabeth Saxe
University of Washington School of Dental Medicine
Mentor: Thomas Tsai, MD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brea Willey
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Mentor: Patrizia Vannini, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Jasmin Williams
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Mentor: Altaf Saadi, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Evan Woodard
Morehouse School of Medicine
Mentor: Lori Laffel, MD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Watch Five Questions with the 2021 VRIP interns.
Ayushi Aggarwal, MPH
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Mentor: Adriana Panayi, MB, ChB, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Jaquantey Bowens, MS
Indiana University School of Medicine
Mentor: Guillermo Garcia-Cardena, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Baillee Cooper, MS
Tufts University School of Medicine
Mentor: Bo Zhang, PhD, Boston Children’s Hospital
Chelsie Poindexter, MS
Meharry Medical College
Mentor: Josh Joseph, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Victoria Sanchez
Indiana University School of Medicine
Mentor: Alexander Lin, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Michelle Kobou Wafo
Albany Medical College
Mentor: Sylvia Rosas, MD, Joslin Diabetes Center
Watch Five Questions with the 2020 VRIP interns.