Research Experience for Future Leaders
Undergraduate Internship Program
A prestigious opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in impactful neurosurgical research while building skills in clinical analysis, collaboration, and communication. Interns contribute to cutting-edge research in spine health and neurosurgical outcomes alongside leading researchers and clinicians.
Application Status Update
The application cycle for the 2025–2026 program is now closed. All submitted applications are under review by the admissions committee. Selected candidates will be contacted for interviews in late June 2025.
Program Overview
Our undergraduate internship program offers students the opportunity to work directly with leading faculty in neurosurgical research. Interns are integrated into ongoing studies and may contribute to publications and professional presentations. The program emphasizes mentorship, skill development, and exposure to the academic medical environment—providing insight into research workflows, clinical practice, and the intersection of medicine and technology.
Program Highlights
Research Experience
- Hands-on work with faculty mentors
- Exposure to clinical and computational research
- Focus on spine health and neurosurgical outcomes
- Integration into ongoing research projects
Mentorship & Development
- Weekly educational sessions and mentorship
- Academic, clinical, and leadership growth
- Professional skill development
- Career guidance and networking
Academic Opportunities
- Opportunities for authorship and presentations
- Conference presentation possibilities
- Publication potential
- Research portfolio development
Multidisciplinary Exposure
- Exposure to multidisciplinary approaches to spine care
- Understanding of the clinical–research interface
- Health literacy initiatives
- Patient education and outreach activities
Research Domains
SCOLI undergraduate interns gain experience across clinical and translational domains in neurosurgery and spine health.
Clinical Research
- Neurotrauma and recovery outcomes
- Effectiveness of spine treatments
- Surgical outcomes analysis
- Patient quality-of-life studies
Health Services Research
- Socioeconomic drivers of surgical care
- Health literacy and equity research
- Healthcare access and delivery
- Population health studies
Education & Outreach
- Patient education tools and outreach
- Community health initiatives
- Educational material development
- Public health research
Program Timeline & Important Dates
June 13, 2025 — Application Deadline (Closed) Application deadline has passed; submissions are under review.
Late June 2025 — Interviews Selected candidates will be invited for interviews.
July 2025 — Final Selection Selected interns will be notified of acceptance.
August 2025 — Program Begins Internship officially starts.
May 2026 — Program Completion Internship concludes with presentation of outcomes.
Eligibility & Application Requirements
We seek motivated undergraduates with strong academic records and genuine interest in medicine or neuroscience research. Candidates should demonstrate commitment to academic excellence and potential for meaningful research contributions.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current undergraduate student in good academic standing
- Interest in medicine or neuroscience
- U.S. work authorization
- Strong academic performance
- Commitment to full program duration (August 2025 – May 2026)
Application Materials
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Official or unofficial academic transcript
- Two faculty recommendation letters
- Personal statement outlining research interests and goals
- Cover letter describing motivation for the program
Application Status
The application cycle for the 2025–2026 Undergraduate Internship Program is closed. Applications are currently under committee review. For questions about your application status, please contact the program lead.
Program Contact
Dr. Ayesha Akbar Waheed, MBBS
Email: waheedaa2@upmc.edu
On This Page
- Program Overview
- Program Highlights
- Research Domains
- Program Timeline
- Eligibility & Requirements
- Application Status
Program Mission
Provide undergraduate students with structured mentorship, hands-on research immersion, and professional development in neurosurgery and spine health, fostering future leaders prepared for clinical, research, and academic careers.
Program Areas
Research Experience
Hands-on research with faculty mentors, exposure to clinical and computational methods, focus on spine health and neurosurgical outcomes, and integration into ongoing projects.
Mentorship & Development
Weekly educational sessions, structured mentorship, academic and leadership growth, professional skills training, and career guidance.
Academic Opportunities
Opportunities for authorship and presentations, conference participation, publication potential, and portfolio development.
Multidisciplinary Exposure
Understanding the clinical–research interface, exposure to multidisciplinary spine care, health literacy initiatives, and patient education activities.
Program Structure
August 2025 – May 2026 structured internship with integrated research immersion, weekly mentorship activities, and periodic progress reviews culminating in presentation of work at program completion.
Program Activities
Weekly Mentorship & Education
WeeklyDidactics, journal clubs, research methods, and skill-building sessions led by faculty and senior trainees.
Research Project Participation
Throughout programActive contribution to ongoing clinical and translational studies in spine health and neurosurgery, including data collection, analytics, and manuscript preparation.
Professional Development
MonthlyWorkshops on scientific writing, presentations, collaboration, and academic career planning.
Scholarly Output
End of programOpportunities for abstracts, posters, and manuscripts; internal presentation at program end.
Program Staff
Faculty Mentors
SCOLI Research Faculty
Neurosurgery & Spine Health Researchers
Clinical outcomes, health services, education & outreach
Faculty mentorship and research oversight
Eligibility & Participation
Current undergraduate in good academic standing with strong interest in medicine or neuroscience; U.S. work authorization; strong academic performance; commitment to full program duration (August 2025 – May 2026).
Program Benefits
Structured mentorship, hands-on research training, academic authorship opportunities, professional networking, exposure to clinical and computational methods, and portfolio development.