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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Wells Center for Pediatric Research

Pediatric Research Summer Internship Program

The Pediatric Research Summer Internship is an eight-week program that offers participants the opportunity to engage and learn among expert scientists at one of the largest public medical schools in the United States. The program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students with a strong aptitude for science to gain hands-on experience in pediatric bench research.

The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research is committed to providing students with a program experience full of diverse thoughts, perspectives and abilities. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Apply for the 2025 Summer Internship

The next Wells Center Summer Internship Program will run from June 2 to July 25, 2025.

Applications are open until the deadline of Jan. 31, 2025. 

Inspiring the Future of Pediatric Research

The goal of the Summer Internship Program is to enhance interest in careers in pediatric health research, particularly at IU School of Medicine.

Throughout the program, students work closely with faculty mentors and participate in lab work. Students are expected to attend all organized events, design and execute a research project, and participate in research an average of 40 hours per week. The experience also includes informational seminar series events and opportunities to engage with faculty and peers at the Wells Center and elsewhere on campus. At the end of the program, students showcase their research with an oral presentation and are awarded a certificate of completion.

The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research has hosted hundreds of bright and eager learners as part of this competitive and prestigious internship program since it began nearly 25 years ago. Many students return to participate more than once, and several advance to pursue flourishing careers in health and science.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, enrolled as an undergraduate student and must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

Upon accessing the online application, applicants will be expected to answer several questions about their backgrounds and aspirations. They will also be asked to provide a copy of their transcripts and contact information for a professional or academic reference.

Applicants are encouraged to notify their references about a letter of recommendation request before starting the application. Applications are not considered complete until a reference has personally submitted their letter of recommendation.

Applicants can expect to take 45-60 minutes to complete all the required components of the online application.

The summer internship is an eight-week program. A one-week vacation may be permitted. Vacations must be approved by the student's mentor at the beginning of the program.

Yes. Participants receive a stipend of $4,000. 

No, housing is not provided. For information about housing on the IU Indianapolis campus and surrounding areas, visit the IU Indianapolis housing website.

Students will design and execute a research project in close consultation with a mentor. During the duration of the program, students are expected to participate in research an average of 40 hours per week.

Yes. Near the end of the program, students are expected to submit an abstract describing the research conducted during the summer. A symposium is held where students give an oral presentation describing their summer projects.

The program organizes several talks and discussion panels related to careers in research and other biomedical fields. There are also meet-and-greet arrangements that provide participants with opportunities to interact with fellow interns in the cohort.

Please send all inquiries to WellsSIP@iu.edu.

Featured Story

Four female student interns pose next to the Wells Center's sign
Pediatrics

Summer internships empower future physicians and scientists

In the summer of 2024, more than 40 high school and undergraduate students engaged in research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. They participated in the Wells Center Summer Internship, the Medical Physician Engineers, Scientists and Clinicians Preparatory (MPESC-Prep) program, and the Cooperative Center of Excellence in Hematology (CCEH) program from June to July.