Clinical Research Internship Program

Be a part of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation’s exceptional 12-week cardiovascular clinical research internship designed for undergraduate students who are pre-med or planning a career in medicine. During this unique educational experience you will be paired with a physician mentor who is actively engaged as a clinician and researcher at a nationally recognized hospital. You will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in groundbreaking cardiovascular research
• Shadow a physician mentor in hospital rounds, watch procedures and listen as care teams discuss cases.
• Observe an open-heart procedure.
• Attend case conferences where cross-functional care teams discuss difficult cases.
• Shadow cardiovascular nurses in the ICU and post-surgical care area.
• Observe leading-edge cardiovascular diagnostic services.
• Reflect on your career options while hearing physicians’ candid stories of career journeys and passions during lunch and learns.
• Participate in interactive medical device industry tours and a hands-on tour of cardiovascular specimens at a nationally renowned heart registry.

At the conclusion of the internship, you will showcase your research work at an open house and poster session. Many projects result in the intern having the opportunity to be an author on an article published in a national scientific journal. Some interns will also have the opportunity to present their work at a national cardiovascular conference.

Location: On the campus of the flagship hospital of Allina Health, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Program dates: May 27-August 14, 2026

Compensation: A $680 per week stipend paid bi-weekly to assist with expenses for housing and living expenses (no direct housing provided). Scholarship opportunities may be available for accepted applicants who need further support for travel or living expenses.

Application Opens: November 7, 2025

Deadline: Midnight on January 4, 2026

Virtual Interviews (Finalists): February 2026

Selection Notification: March 9, 2026

Program Dates: May 27-August 14, 2026

• Undergraduate or recent graduate from a four-year college and not yet accepted to medical school. Preference will be given to those who have completed their junior year by the start of the research internship. Strong applicants who have completed their sophomore year or just graduated from college may also be considered.
• Must be enrolled in or a very recent graduate from an accredited degree program and not yet accepted to medical school.
• GPA of 3.60 or above.
• Applicants must be US citizens or have Permanent Resident status (be able to provide proof of employability through completion of the I-9 Form).
• Must be able to complete 8-12 hours of independent, online CITI training (basic training required to participate in human subjects/clinical research) by April 29, 2026.
• Available to participate full-time (at least 40 hours per week) in the internship May 27 through August 14, 2026

• Review the sample application PDF and prepare responses to the short answer and essay questions. Please note: this is an example and the application for the next cohort may change.
• Write a personal motivation statement (3,500 characters including spaces).
• Prepare a one-page resume (save as PDF or Word doc with file name First Name_Last Name).
• Note that you will have the opportunity to make changes to your application before submitting.

In preparing for a career in medicine, this experience will position you well through a unique opportunity to participate in cardiovascular clinical research, shadow clinicians in action and witness everything from a routine day to extraordinary life-saving procedures.

• Orientation: Three days of orientation will prepare you for your research project, ground you in cardiovascular essentials and introduce you to the colleagues you will be working with, including your research physician, staff mentor and fellow interns.
• Research project: You will be paired with a physician who is the Principal Investigator on a research project and a staff mentor. In addition to capturing data from the electronic health record, organizing and analyzing the data and preparing conclusions, you may also write case reports and support other research projects.
• Observations: To provide you with exposure to what a career is really like in the field of medicine, you will observe various cardiovascular procedures, shadow healthcare professionals and visit cardiovascular related departments at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Additionally, interns shadow healthcare professionals in the ICU and post-procedural care areas.
• Field Trips: Minneapolis is a hub for headquarters of major medical device companies and start-ups. You will have custom tours of some major medical device companies, the renowned Visible Heart Lab at the University of Minnesota and the Jesse E. Edwards Registry of Cardiovascular Disease. This registry is a repository for heart specimens of almost every known type of heart disease, including rare congenital and adult heart diseases.
• Poster Session: The culminating event of the research internship program, you will display your outcomes on a research poster and present to mentors, other medical professionals, MHIF board members, family and friends.
• Cohort Activities: The internship draws talent from across the country. Many interns gain friends for life through their summer experience in Minneapolis. In addition to MHIF-organized activities, interns plan activities for the weekends. Past interns have enjoyed camping, hiking, canoeing, BBQs and exploring the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

How many applications do you typically receive?
150-250 each year.

How many research interns are accepted?
7-9 new interns plus one lead intern from the previous cohort.

Should I apply if my GPA is below 3.6?
A 3.6 GPA or above is highly preferred. The application has a space to explain extenuating circumstances.

Is a social security number (SSN) required to participate in this research internship?
Yes, a SSN is required by the US Internal Revenue Service of all employers who report wages (stipend). Further information regarding SSNs can be found on the Social Security fact page.

Can I submit a letter of recommendation with my application?
No. The online application with an attached resume are the accepted items.

The academic calendar for my school ends after Memorial Day or starts before the research internship program ends. Can I still apply?
Interns are to be available to participate full-time in the internship from May 27 through August 14, 2026 with the first three days of orientation being key to a successful internship. Explain your circumstances in the eligibility section for consideration.

I anticipate attending summer classes. Can I still apply?
This research internship is a full-time endeavor. It is not advised to apply.

What are the typical days/hours for this internship? What if I have a conflict?
Core intern work days/hours are Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Projects may require additional hours as deadlines approach. There are also some evening events or early morning observations.

MHIF is closed on June 19 and July 4. If interns have an important conflict, it should be pre-approved and should be limited to no more than 1-2 business days during the internship.

I will be applying to medical school or doing medical school interviews during the summer. Can I still apply?
Completing medical school applications is acceptable and needs to be completed outside of the research internship work hours. Attending medical school interviews are possible as long as the intern fulfills the expectations for the internship, which can require additional hours over and above scheduled work hours.

What statistical and software skills are needed?
Research projects will require basic understanding of data collection and statistical analysis. Interns will be using REDCap, Word, and PowerPoint to build and maintain data dictionaries and verify, organize and present data. While some training will be provided, a working knowledge of these tools will be helpful.

Do you provide housing support?
Generally we are not able to offer housing support. However, we share intern contact information for roommate collaborations and recommend researching the University of Minnesota campus (approximately two miles away), Facebook and Craigslist for short-term rental or sublet options. Scholarship opportunities may be available for accepted applicants who need housing/transportation support.

Can I apply again, if I am not selected this time?
Yes, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

How does MHIF support diversity in its hiring process?
The program welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, including but not limited to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals, individuals who are historically underrepresented in health-related sciences and medical fields, individuals who face greater obstacles to educational achievements and individuals who can contribute to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the health-related sciences and medical fields.

Where can send a question if my question is not answered here?
Email researchintern@mhif.org