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Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center Internship Program

The PRC offers training opportunities in preventive health research to qualified applicants at its Griffin Hospital site in Derby, CT. These opportunities include:

  1. academic internships for graduate students or highly motivated undergraduate students in public health, nutrition, health sciences, or related fields
  2. informal volunteer experiences for students or recent graduates of academic programs or graduates of medical school
  3. rotations for Griffin Hospital medical residents in internal or preventive medicine

The training provides experience in applying skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom while working on research projects. Participants help PRC staff develop and implement community-based participatory research and/or clinical research projects focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and/or other aspects of chronic disease prevention. Most projects take place at Griffin Hospital, but some involve site visits in nearby communities. 

Internship FAQs

Students currently enrolled in master’s level training programs at accredited schools of public health, and medical residents in internal or preventive medicine, may apply for the internship program. Highly motivated undergraduate students who are interested in public health and preventive medical research are also considered. In special cases, we will also consider students or recent graduates of public health or related programs who would like to volunteer their time on an informal basis. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or hold visas permitting permanent residence in the U.S. to be eligible for the internship program.

Duration and start date of the internship positions are flexible, but start dates usually coincide with the beginning of summer or the start of the fall or spring semester. The actual start date and weekly schedule are mutually agreed upon by the student and internship mentor.

The internship opportunities are primarily located at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center based at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT, but may also involve site visits in nearby communities.

Most internships do not provide compensation. However sometimes we are able to offer a small stipend depending upon the availability of funding.

All applications undergo a two-phase review process. In the first stage, they are reviewed by the Associate Director and Internship Coordinator based on the following criteria: public health interest/background/experience, academic achievement/transcript, and letters of recommendation. Applicants approved by the initial review are required to come in for an interview with senior and project staff for the second phase. Relevant members of the research staff conduct a final assessment of the applications to decide which of the candidates applying for the individual projects are most suited for the internships.

Intern performance will be evaluated by senior PRC project staff responsible for direct student supervision. A comprehensive evaluation plan outlining the evaluation criteria will be shared with the intern at the start of the internship, and will be coordinated with the student’s educational institution.

?How do I apply to the Program?

You may apply for an internship by completing our online application. For program information, internship descriptions and status of completed applications please email Beth Comerford.

The Yale Griffin Prevention Research Center notifies applicants of the results of the review approximately 4 weeks after application submission. Those chosen to participate in the internship program receive instructions on how to formalize starting and ending dates for the duration of the internship project.