Visiting Research Internship Program

Home > Diversity Inclusion > Visiting Research Internship Program

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

2023 VRIP Student Interns | June 5 – July 28, 2023

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

2022 VRIP Student Interns | June 6 – July 29, 2022

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.

2021 VRIP Student Interns | June 7 – July 30, 2021

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.

2020 VRIP Student Interns | June 24 – July 24, 2020

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.