Extracurriculars for a Career in Medical Research
Medical researchers study diseases and develop new treatments. Lab research internships, science fairs, and biomedical summer programs let high schoolers do real research early.
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Programs for a Career in Medical Research
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on research in BU labs with faculty mentors, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Participants engage in biochemistry and genomics research, core disciplines for medical and life sciences research.
Why it fits: Students conduct original research projects under faculty guidance, directly mirroring medical research careers.
Why it fits: Hands-on lab work and scientific research training align directly with medical research methodologies.
Why it fits: Hands-on research projects across disciplines provide foundational experience in scientific inquiry and research methodology.
Why it fits: Competition emphasizes original research and scientific methodology central to medical discovery and innovation.
Why it fits: Students conduct hypothesis-driven biomedical research in Stanford labs alongside faculty and postdocs on medically oriented projects.
Why it fits: Students gain early exposure to academic research environments and scientific inquiry methodologies.
Why it fits: The program builds foundational research skills including data interpretation, scientific writing, and technical presentations.
Why it fits: Students engage in hands-on laboratory activities and medical research topics directly aligned with this career path.
Why it fits: Students conduct original biomedical research projects in professional labs under scientist mentorship.
Why it fits: Lab tours and scientific research skills developed in the program are foundational for research careers.
Why it fits: Hands-on research experience with scientists and graduate students mirrors early-stage research career pathways.
Why it fits: Students develop independent research projects that advance scientific understanding in life sciences and biotechnology.
Why it fits: iGEM emphasizes original research design, lab execution, and presentation of novel biological findings.
Why it fits: Students perform original research and present findings at symposiums, core to medical research careers.
Why it fits: Builds foundational chemistry and scientific research skills applicable to pharmaceutical and medical research.
Why it fits: Competition develops scientific methodology and lab techniques foundational to medical research careers.
Why it fits: Develops research skills and scientific thinking essential for medical research careers.
Why it fits: Interns conduct original research using state-of-the-art equipment across disciplines including molecular medicine, drug discovery, and disease diagnostics.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on translational medical research in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics alongside leading scientists.
Why it fits: Participants engage in scientific research and interdisciplinary learning with expert scientists over four weeks.
Why it fits: College-level research programs in neuroscience, cancer, and surgical research develop independent research projects and data analysis skills.
Why it fits: Students conduct full-time biomedical research under Principal Investigators at a leading research institution.
Why it fits: Seven-week intensive research apprenticeships directly mirror the hands-on research work medical researchers conduct.
Why it fits: Applied mathematics projects include computational biology research alongside mathematics mentors.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on cancer research projects with lab kits and collaborate with experts nationwide.
Why it fits: Participants conduct investigations, collect data, and learn integrative approaches to medicine through laboratory visits and demonstrations.
Why it fits: Students tour research labs, meet faculty researchers, and explore cutting-edge biomedical research topics firsthand.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on genetic engineering and biology research in a real lab with scientist mentors.
Why it fits: Two-week intensive hands-on laboratory experience mirrors early career scientific research and discovery.
Why it fits: Program emphasizes original research projects and scientific methodology applicable to biomedical and life sciences research.
Why it fits: Medicine and Sciences courses introduce research methodologies and scientific inquiry central to medical research.
Why it fits: Students engage in hands-on research with faculty mentors, directly mirroring the laboratory work of medical researchers.
Why it fits: Students conduct original cutting-edge research projects in cancer biology, psychiatric disease, and infectious disease alongside Broad scientists.
Why it fits: Students conduct authentic, open-ended research projects under mentorship, building foundational skills for medical research careers.
Why it fits: Young Scientist and SLSIP programs provide 8-week paid research internships conducting independent biomedical and neuroscience projects.
Why it fits: Students conduct independent research projects using molecular and cell biological techniques in a laboratory setting.
Why it fits: Students conduct directed research in cancer biology, drug discovery, and biomedical fields with real lab work and publications.
Why it fits: RSI program emphasizes advanced research methodology and scientific inquiry at high school level.
Why it fits: Clinical Research Coordinator is featured prominently, offering exposure to research careers and healthcare investigation pathways.
Why it fits: Students conduct real research projects under university scientist mentors in bioscience labs.
Why it fits: Students learn about brain disorders and neuroscience research, preparing them for careers investigating treatments and cures for neurological conditions.
Why it fits: Rigorous chemistry knowledge from this exam builds a strong foundation for pharmaceutical and biomedical research.
Why it fits: Competition focuses on translational research in healthcare biotechnology, from genomics to drug development.
Why it fits: Students conduct original undergraduate-level research projects with faculty mentoring, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Students conduct supervised research projects at Harvard Medical School, gaining direct exposure to medical research methodology and practice.
Why it fits: Participation in a neuroscience immersion at a leading research institution studying brain disorders and treatment.
Why it fits: Students engage in active research projects with faculty guidance, developing research methodologies applicable to medical fields.
Why it fits: Students conduct cutting-edge research in medicine and health at a major research university under faculty mentorship.
Why it fits: Internship at a cancer research center provides direct exposure to research methodologies and laboratory work in medical science.
Why it fits: Students conduct 8-week biomedical lab internships with mentors, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Internship at NIDA involves hands-on research in drug abuse and addiction science through the Intramural Research Program.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research in active lab projects, directly mirroring medical researcher work.
Why it fits: Students conduct interdisciplinary research projects and develop investigative inquiry skills central to medical research.
Why it fits: Students research and communicate neuroscience concepts, translating complex brain science for visual audiences.
Why it fits: Hands-on simulation experiences and exploration of medical specialties introduce research-oriented healthcare careers.
Why it fits: Students conduct university-level research projects with faculty mentors, mirroring medical research workflows.
Why it fits: Program provides firsthand research experience in a biomedical sciences environment at a cancer research center.
Why it fits: Students conduct scientific research on infectious and chronic diseases through interdisciplinary lab-based detective work.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on research in CUNY laboratories under faculty mentorship, directly mirroring research careers.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research projects alongside experienced researchers in laboratories.
Why it fits: Program includes creating research-based posters and learning advances in applied medical science.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on cancer research in laboratories under established researchers, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Students advance interdisciplinary research projects in medicine and pharmacology with publication potential.
Why it fits: Students conduct independent biomedical research projects in MSK labs under mentor supervision, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Advanced research track teaches real-world research skills and techniques for independent research projects in biology.
Why it fits: Builds scientific research and critical thinking skills foundational to medical research careers.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research projects and present findings, core activities of medical research.
Why it fits: Program explores how AI addresses real-world healthcare challenges and exposes students to research career pathways.
Why it fits: Competition focuses on designing genetic research experiments, core to medical and biological research methodology.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on research in active laboratories across biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, and related fields.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on research in STEM disciplines under faculty mentors, mirroring the core work of medical researchers.
Why it fits: Immersive exposure to medical science through labs and demonstrations introduces research-oriented healthcare careers.
Why it fits: Hands-on scientific research experience with DoD lab mentors develops core research methodology and laboratory skills.
Why it fits: Students conduct real research in 80+ university labs, directly mirroring medical research career work.
Why it fits: Students conduct directed research projects under faculty mentorship in STEM fields, mirroring research practices.
Why it fits: Camp emphasizes scientific research methods and meeting professionals pursuing impactful careers in STEM fields.
Why it fits: Core program focus is conducting research projects in maternal and child health under faculty mentorship.
Why it fits: Students design and conduct original research projects addressing real-world problems like disease diagnosis and treatment.
Why it fits: Students conduct mentored genetics and genomics research projects with increasing independence over 10 weeks.
Why it fits: Students learn fundamental neuroscience concepts and perform hands-on lab techniques in molecular neurobiology and neurophysiology.
Why it fits: Students conduct independent research projects under PhD mentors, directly mirroring medical research work.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research with DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing, and data analysis using real laboratory techniques.
Why it fits: Students conduct university-level research with faculty mentors, write research papers, and present findings.
Why it fits: Students conduct original research under faculty mentorship in anatomy, cell biology, neuroscience, and related biomedical fields.
Why it fits: Labs in gross anatomy, pathology, and microbiology expose students to medical research methodologies and scientific inquiry.
Why it fits: Hands-on lab experiences and professional lectures introduce scientific research methods in a medical setting.
Why it fits: Students gain hands-on experience with experimental research and data collection on cutting-edge projects.
Why it fits: Students conduct scientific research across basic, clinical, behavioral, and population sciences at a leading medical institution.
Why it fits: Students research and write evidence-based arguments about genetic treatments and therapies, mirroring research analysis work.
Why it fits: Competition emphasizes designing research studies and engaging with current debates in psychology and neuroscience literature.
Why it fits: Builds analytical reasoning and evidence evaluation skills central to designing and interpreting psychological research.
Why it fits: Students conduct real translational research projects under faculty mentorship, directly mirroring medical researcher responsibilities.
Why it fits: Students design original neuroscience experiments and work directly in research labs with mentors.
Why it fits: Students conduct hands-on biomedical research in top university labs and become co-authors on scientific papers.
Why it fits: Students conduct original research on topics like drug delivery, gene therapy, and disease detection.
Why it fits: Research fellowship emphasizes original academic work assessed against university rubrics, foundational to medical research careers.