Undergraduate Intern Opportunities

Undergraduate Visiting Student Research Intern (Non-Stanford Students)

An  Undergraduate Visiting Research Internships (UVRI) provides students the opportunity to work under the supervision of a faculty member in a Stanford research lab or on a research project. The university assigns the student intern the Undergraduate Non-Matriculated Student status during the internship period, which is available only in Summer Quarter.

Unpaid Internships (Non-Stanford Students)

Unpaid internship opportunities are available to non-Stanford University undergraduates. Unpaid internships can be virtual or on-site and are limited to 6 months. Students can receive academic credit for a course of study or class if it supports the training being received at the School of Medicine under the supervision of a faculty member (or their designee). Alternatively, the training can prepare the individual for future, not current coursework. If an internship is used to obtain academic credit, a training plan that outlines the school's expectations and learning objectives must be provided.

Criteria for Internships:

• Training is for the benefit of the intern, not the university
• Stanford gains no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern
• Intern does not displace regular, temporary, or casual employees
• Intern is not entitled to a job when the assignment is concluded
• Intern understands they are not entitled to wages for time spent intraining
• Due to Stanford policy, prospective interns may not be related to a staff/faculty member within the department

If you are considering providing an opportunity for an internship or for more information on the process and questions regarding unpaid internships, please contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu. Please note, internships must be approved by the School of Medicine Human Resources Group before an individual starts an internship.

Students interested in an Unpaid Internship or an Undergraduate Visiting Student Research Internship  at Stanford are encouraged to reach out to a lab of their choice. You can find a list of our labs here.

Independent Study

Stanford Students - Path 199 or Equivalent

Undergraduate Stanford students are eligible to participate in a Pathology lab by enrolling in an independent study course. Students interested in research experience at Stanford are encouraged to reach out to a lab of their choice. You can find a list of our labs listed here. Please note enrolling in an independent study course may impact your tuition as tuition is based on enrolled units. You can find tuition details here.  If you have any questions, contact Jessica Mondragon at jessxm@stanford.edu.

Contingent Hire

An undergraduate student is eligible to be hired as an hourly employee if they are not in the lab for course credit. Please contact Pathology Human Resources for more information.

Other Opportunities

Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP)

Stanford Undergraduate students can also apply to the Stanford Summer Research Program (SSRP), where participants are matched with a Stanford faculty member and work in one of Stanford's state-of-the-art research facilities. Applications are accepted between November and February 1st each year.

Stanford Bio-X Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP)

The Stanford Bio-X Undergraduate Summer Research Program (Bio-X USRP) began in 2006 and has provided 926 undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct hands-on and virtual research, build awareness of interdisciplinary areas, and network with Bio-X faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and each other. This formative experience influences their subsequent work at Stanford and beyond.

Canary CREST Program

The Canary Center at Stanford is a world-class research center dedicated to early cancer detection. Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the program offers a 10-week research experience in one of our state-of-the art labs. Each participant will be matched with a Faculty mentor who will help them craft a research project.

Visiting Observer Program

Non-Stanford Students

Stanford Medicine's Department of Pathology Visiting Observers Program is an opportunity to delve into the fascinating field of medical diagnostics and research. Whether you're a medical student eager to explore pathology or a seasoned professional seeking to expand your expertise, our program provides a unique chance to learn from leaders in the field. Stanford Pathology offers two observation opportunities, Visiting Observer which contains your observation for 30 days or less and Stanford Healthcare Observation which is for 30+ days.

Conditions for Visiting Observership:

• Allowed 30 consecutive days
• Not for credit
• Not requiring hands on training
• No VISA sponsorship
• Not allowed to add experience on resume. May ask host for letter of recommendation but cannot be on Stanford letterhead
• Visiting Observers, under the supervision of their host, can observe patient care, procedures, or the use of special equipment at SHC or SCH. They can not participate in patient care, conduct any administrative work, access any protected health information, or use any of the information that he or she is exposed to for research purposes. Visiting Observers cannot take any pictures, audio, or recordings of patients.
• Not allowed to be given any cases to look at independently or handle any information that has any patient identifier

Conditions for Stanford Healthcare (SHC) Observers

• Allowed excess of 30 days and/or requesting hands on activity
• Visiting Scholars and IRB fall under this category regardless of duration/task
• Background screening needed (fee required)
• Health screening needed
• Allowed to be on resume
• No VISA sponsorship
• Not allowed to be given any cases to look at independently or handle any information that has any patient identifier

If you would like to host an observer or apply as a Pathology Observer, please read about the program here: Visiting Observers Program.

Please do not reach out to faculty members regarding observerships. Individuals who reach out to faculty will not be considered for an observer position.