The Harris Neuroscience Internship

Thank you for your interest in the 2023 Harris Neuroscience Internship. The internship will take place July 2023-May 2024. The format will be virtual until further notice. 

COVID-19 has created some campus restrictions that prevent the internship from its usual operations. However, we have identified some adaptations that allow Harris Internship students to engage with the Stanford Neurology and Neurosurgery departments.

Harris Internship Traditional Requirements

Harris Internship COVID-19 Modifications

Scholarly project

Access to weekly Neurology Grand Rounds
Attend Weekly Rehabilitation Research Meeting focused on theory and methods in medical education and research under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of Staff/ Director of Brain Injury and Defense and Veteran Brain Injury Center Senior Scientist. Monthly attendance at the virtual Neuroscience Journal Club Meetings that offer students an opportunity to read and discuss scientific literature and newsworthy developments in the field of neuroscience in a low-pressure environment with expert Stanford scientists.
Participate in at least one activity/project of their choice during the fellowship year that promotes increased engagement with girls and/or underrepresented minorities. Attend weekly remote Narratives in Neurosurgery course that walks through the educational milestones of a neurosurgical career, starting with perspectives of 4th year medical students and working up to day-to-day functions and lifestyles of senior neurosurgical faculty. This class is offered during the fall quarter.

Our top priority is the safety of our internship students and we will continue to offer remote opportunities until it is safe to return to campus.

Application Requirements

The Internship application deadline is April 10, 2023, at 11:59 PM.

Please submit:

  1. A Cover Letter that includes:
    1. Name of applicant
    2. Grade in the upcoming fall of the school year
    3. Name of school
    4. Contact information

  2. Letter of recommendation from a Math and/or Science Teacher. May be emailed directly to Julia Blanchet. 

  3. A completed parent/guardian form

  4. A completed assumption of risk form

  5. A response to the following prompt (500 Word Limit):

    Question: As you look at the world, what would you want to change and how would science play a part?

Apply to the Harris Internship

Questions? Please contact Julia Blanchet.

2022-2023 Interns

Alessandra Dodson

Angelina Choy

Anjali Iyer

Anna Thieman

Caroline Brown

Cherise Wong

Marguerite Robison

Nambita Sahai

Featured Student

Marguerite Robison is working with Dr. Sherry Beaudreau and published the first two episodes of her neuroscience podcast called Beautiful Brain. She plans to collect educational information from podcast listeners about their perceptions of neuroscience before and after listening to the podcast. 

Click to learn more about Marguerite's podcast, Beautiful Brain.

Neuroscience Journal Club

Want to join our Club? The Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club allows Stanford faculty to mentor high-school scientists in the critical analysis of a scientific paper and encourage participants to consider a career in the Neurosciences. Our once-per-month meetings offer students an opportunity to read and discuss scientific literature and newsworthy developments in the field of neuroscience in a low-pressure environment, with expert Stanford scientists.

About Dr. Odette Harris

The Harris Neuroscience Internship was founded by Stanford Professor of Neurosurgery, Dr. Odette Harris in 2019 as part of a greater effort to introduce girls and under-represented minorities to careers in neuroscience and neurosurgery. Dr. Harris specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and conducts TBI research with a focus on epidemiology and outcomes. In addition to her work as Director of Stanford's Brain Injury Program, she is also Deputy Chief of Staff, Rehabilitation at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.