Molecular Pathology and Genomics Summer Internship

The Division of Molecular Pathology and Genomics (MPG) at the University of Minnesota Medical School is offering an unpaid 10-week summer internship starting for an undergraduate or graduate student interested in genomic data integration, clinical informatics, and translational research.

Call for Interns

Summer Internship Opportunity – Molecular Pathology and Genomics
University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Molecular Pathology and Genomics
Location: Minneapolis, MN | On-site with hybrid flexibility
Duration: 10 weeks (June–August 2026)
Commitment: Full-time preferred; part-time considered
Application Period: January 26 – March 16, 2026

Position Overview:

The intern will join the Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory, working under the mentorship of faculty in Cytogenetics and in Computational Pathology, with close collaboration from laboratory scientists and informatics staff. The laboratory team consists of 40 professionals, including clinical laboratory scientists, geneticists, genetic counselors, and pathology technicians. This internship will support an ongoing project to integrate genomic data from multiple clinical testing platforms into a unified system for clinical interpretation and research Discovery.

Project Focus:

The primary goal of this internship is to help prepare, structure, and document genomic and clinical data so that it can be incorporated into a centralized database and genome visualization platform used in a clinical laboratory setting. Specific activities may include:

• Assisting with organizing and structuring genomic data from multiple sources (e.g., cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes, arrays, and whole genome sequencing, and clinical annotations)
• Help design a process for data collection and processing for inclusion in a genomic visualization software for clinical and research use
• Performing limited scripting or coding tasks (e.g., data parsing, validation), with mentorship and support from our computer programmers
• Collaborating with faculty, laboratory staff, and programmers to ensure data are accurate, consistent, and usable

This role emphasizes data organization, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration, rather than advanced software engineering.

Work Environment:

Primarily on-site within the clinical laboratory environment.  Some hybrid work may be possible depending on project needs and training Requirements. Regular interaction with laboratory professionals and faculty members.

Eligibility:

Current undergraduate or graduate-level students. Interest in clinical laboratory science, genetics or genomics, computational biology, bioinformatics, data science, molecular diagnostics, software engineering, or health informatics. No prior clinical experience is required; training will be provided  

Key Benefits:

• Mentored research experience
• Exposure to real-world clinical laboratory environments
• Opportunity to contribute to a platform with direct clinical impact
• Development of practical skills in data organization, informatics, and interdisciplinary teamwork
• Networking with professionals in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Preferred Qualifications:

Applicants do not need to meet all criteria. Curiosity and willingness to learn are most important.

Helpful skills include:

• Comfort working with structured data (tables, spreadsheets, CSV/TSV files)
• Basic familiarity with databases or data organization concepts
• Introductory experience with Python, R, or similar scripting languages (helpful but not required)
• Attention to detail and ability to follow data standards
• Strong written communication skills for documentation
• Interest in applying computational approaches to real clinical problems