The summer internship opportunity is a 10-week, paid residential internship. Students selected for this internship will receive a stipend and on-campus housing. The research internship program typically runs between late May and early August each summer, with some flexibility for students at universities that end semesters later. Usually, well over 700 students from around the country apply for one of 5-15 slots.
There are many benefits to these internships, not just the typical skills and experience boost for the students, but also for Wake Forest and the mentors. Over the years we have identified several particularly skilled interns that became full-time employees after graduation. Other interns have continued in extended internships working beyond the end of the summer and published papers with our faculty mentors.
At the end of the internship, we survey the students on their experience. Several have reported that due to the internship they have changed their future plans to include applying to Wake Forest for graduate school. Other students have said the internship has opened their eyes to the extensiveness of the field of biomedical informatics, particularly the wide range of career options.
Connection to REU Program from Wake Forest/ Virginia Tech Biomedical Engineering
Our WFBMI Informatics Summer Internship is a part of the REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) Program held by jointly by WFBMI and Wake Forest and Virginia Tech Biomedical Engineering. Informatics interns are primarily selected from those who apply to the REU Program. However, alternative application avenues such as
internships.com are available for high school and graduate students.
At the end of the summer REU Internship program, students present their work at a Symposium. Awards are given for the best presentation for each category, and some awards include covering the cost of presenting the research at a conference. Informatics interns have routinely scored well and won awards each year.
Imaging and Mechanics-based Projects on Accidental Cases of Trauma (IMPACT) and Culturally augmented learning in biomedical informatics research (CALIBIR)
The Summer REU program is a 10-week program focused on multidisciplinary BME and informatics-based research. Exciting projects are offered on topics including, but not limited to:
- Injury prediction model development
- Military, sports and spaceflight safety
- Diagnostics and therapies for cancer patients
- Biomedical informatics
- Imaging and Artificial Intelligence
- Academic Learning Health Care Systems
All students participating in the program will carry out research under the supervision of prominent BME and informatics research faculty, write a research abstract, present their work and have additional opportunities to see their work published.
Students admitted into the program will receive a $5,500 stipend for their participation and on-campus housing.
The program is competitive. Applicants should be undergraduates pursuing degrees in engineering, mechanics, bioengineering, biotechnology, informatics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, biology, premedicine and related fields to be eligible and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on the 4.0 scale). They must have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate education and be at least 18 years of age by the first day of the program. International students who currently have a J-1 or F-1 visa and who are already attending school in the United States are eligible to apply.
There are limited slots for some master’s level graduate students who have an interest in biomedical informatics research. Please contact Brian Ostasiewski (bostasie@wakehealth.edu) or Dr. Metin Gurcan (mgurcan@wakehealth.edu) for more information.
We are committed to providing research opportunities to all students, with special interest in applications from students typically underrepresented within fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These include African Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, disabled individuals, and those disadvantaged socioeconomically. First generation college attendees and those attending colleges with limited research opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are also highly encouraged to apply.
The main criteria for the selection of summer scholars will be personal scholarship and academic excellence and the match of applicant interests with those of participating researchers. In addition to the completed online application and personal statements, please submit the following documentation: A complete transcript of your undergraduate study to date and one letter of recommendation; this may be requested from professors related to your major, an advisor, and/or department chair. Please do not use family members.
