Wake Forest University School of Medicine is accepting applications for a paid summer research internship in biomedical engineering and informatics in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Undergraduate and master’s students spend 10 weeks doing real research with faculty mentors for hourly pay and housing.
The programme is run by the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR). Funded by an NIH R25 award, it admits up to 12 students each summer.
This internship is open only to students enrolled at a United States academic institution: United States citizens, nationals and permanent residents, and international students on an F-1 or J-1 visa, with only limited places for international students. If you study outside the United States, you cannot apply.
The key facts at a glance
| Programme | Biomedical Engineering and Informatics Summer Research Internship |
| Organisation | Wake Forest University School of Medicine |
| Location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States |
| Length | 10 weeks, from 25 May to 30 July |
| Who it is for | Undergraduate and master’s STEM students enrolled at a United States institution |
| Places | Up to 12 students each summer |
| Pay and housing | Hourly pay; shared apartment-style on-campus housing for non-local students |
| Application deadline | 29 January |
| How to apply | Online application: personal statement, resume or CV, transcripts and one academic reference |
Who can apply, and who cannot
You can apply if you are an undergraduate or master’s student in a STEM field, such as engineering, informatics, computer science, biology or chemistry. You must be at least 18 by the start of the programme, have completed at least two semesters by then, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
You must still be enrolled on 25 May, so graduating before that date makes you ineligible. Do not apply if you are enrolled outside the United States or cannot stay for the full 10 weeks.
What you will actually research
Your work sits at the meeting point of medicine, engineering and data. Projects cover advanced imaging and diagnostics for brain tumours, maternal health and retinal analysis. Others use machine learning and artificial intelligence, such as language models for genomic data and explainable AI for ECG readings, or predictive models for disease progression and public-health data science.
What your 10 weeks actually look like
After orientation, your main work is 10 weeks of research, with seminars and journal clubs alongside your project. At the end of the summer, you give an oral presentation at a symposium on Thursday 29 July; all students must take part.
Do not take summer classes at the same time: the programme strongly discourages it, saying it can affect your application. Shared apartment-style housing is provided to non-local students, but travel is not covered.
What the pay and housing really mean
Selected students receive hourly pay and on-campus housing. The official pages state no hourly rate or total amount for the summer, so this article does not give one. Do not plan around a pay figure seen elsewhere.
How to apply
Apply online through the official application form before the deadline on 29 January.
- Write a one-page personal statement about why you want this research.
- Prepare your resume or CV, listing your study and projects.
- Get your academic transcripts, official or unofficial.
- Ask one academic or professional reference to support you, giving their name, title, email address, phone number and relationship to you.
- Submit the online application before the deadline on 29 January.
Your reference will be emailed a reference form to complete; a letter of recommendation is optional but highly encouraged. Choose a teacher or supervisor who knows your academic work; personal references are not accepted.
How to make your application strong
More than 600 students typically apply each year for up to 12 places. Show clearly why you fit this programme: start with the project list on the official page, and pick one or two research areas that match your courses. If you are comparing summer research options, also look at the CERN Summer Student Programme, the Caltech SURF and the MIT Summer Research Program, which offer similar full-time research experience.
In your one-page personal statement, say what you study, what research question interests you, and what you hope to learn. If you have done a lab project or data analysis, say what you did and what you learned. Ask your reference early, so they can use real examples.
Questions applicants ask
Q: Who can apply for the Wake Forest Summer Research Internship?
A: Undergraduate and master’s STEM students enrolled at a United States academic institution, aged at least 18, who have completed two semesters and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Q: Is the internship paid?
A: Yes. Selected students receive hourly pay and on-campus housing. The official pages do not state an hourly rate or a total amount.
Q: Can international students apply?
A: Yes, but only for international students at a United States academic institution on an F-1 or J-1 visa, with only limited places available. Students enrolled outside the United States cannot apply.
Q: When is the application deadline?
A: The deadline is 29 January. Decisions start in mid-February, with final results by the beginning of April.
Q: Is travel covered?
A: No. Travel is not covered, but shared apartment-style housing is provided to non-local students.
