Internship opportunities for trainees
General Internship Logistics
The GPS Office classifies two types of internships. The first (1) is one that is facilitated by our office through a joint partnership of the Univ of Minnesota Medical School with a given company. The second (2) type is internship opportunities that are independently provided by a given company.
In both scenarios the GPS Office can assist trainees with the internship opportunity. This includes: covering tuition and stipend, working with the graduate programs and faculty advisors to receive approvals, providing travel and housing financial support and ensuring adequate healthcare coverage (i.e. no lapse), among other way to which the GPS Office can facilitate.
Providing these resources to the trainee, for both situations, ensures that the priority is placed on the experiential learning opportunity. As such, the GPS Office works to alleviate the logistical and financial burdens that may dissuade trainees from participating in these invaluable experiences.
Eligibility criteria for students:
- Good academic standing (i.e. not on probation)
- 3rd or 4th year students are eligible.
- 1st, 2nd or 5th year students are NOT eligible
- Successful completion/passing prelims
- Approval of graduate program DGS and Faculty Advisor
The GPS Office will support the travel and housing for the internship position. Stipends will continue to be covered with no lapse, albeit monies will be paid by the GPS Office during the 8-12 week internship (as opposed to your faculty advisor or graduate program paying stipend). There will be no lapse in student health insurance.
Note: as the employers/businesses can operate differently with respect to Human Resource restrictions/rules, there may be some noticeable changes within how a trainee will be classified at that company. The GPS Office will work with the company/employer to coordinate all backend financial and logistical hurdles on behalf of the approved trainee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the GPS Office help with internships
The GPS Office team members can provide:
- work with trainee to identify, apply and onboard for internship positions
- provide ancillary financial support for housing and travel
- cover tuition, stipend and healthcare
- provide logistical backend support for transitioning into the internship position
- work with the company to assure eligibility status criteria are met
Are postdoctoral scholars eligible?
Yes. Although less frequent as most postdocs desire transition into academia, there are opportunities and slots available for postdoctoral scholars to participate in internships
Can the internship opportunity be extended beyond the 8-12 weeks?
No. Internships facilitated by the GPS Office have a maximum allowable of 12 weeks. Graduate students chief role is training in their mentor(s)' research laboratories and remaining on track towards graduation. Any longer than 12 weeks of internship is believed to negatively impact the training.
Can a trainee participate in several internships over the course of their graduate or postdoctoral training career?
For graduate students, the general answer is no. The GPS Office does not support multiple internship opportunities. However, there are unique opportunities and circumstances that warrant such activities. These circumstances will be assessed by your independent graduate program and research mentor for allowability. However, the GPS Office will not provide funds to support multiple internships of a given trainee.
For postdoctoral trainees, the GPS office will fund only one internship opportunity.
Internship Opportunities
The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office provides opportunities for both graduate and postdoctoral trainees to engage in internships within the biomedical sciences. Graduate students who identify a reputable internship opportunity for the summer are eligible for funding through the GPS Office to help defray costs from participating in the experiential learning opportunity. In addition, the GPS Office will help to facilitate backend logistics that ensure covered health benefits, housing and travel costs, as well as work with your graduate programs and faculty mentor to support the summer experience.