Clinical Research Site Operations Intern

Job Description

Clinical Research Site Operations Intern | aQua Dialysis

The Tone:
This is an 8-week unpaid summer internship opportunity at Aqua Research Institute, located in [Insert City, State]. Aqua Research Institute LLC, operating in partnership with Boson Health, has launched a structured program designed to cultivate the next generation of clinical researchers. This vital role offers foreign medical graduates, master’s students in clinical research, and transitioning professionals a comprehensive, real-world learning experience in the intricacies of clinical trial site operations. Interns will gain first-hand exposure to the daily workings of a high-performing research site, benefiting from direct mentorship provided by experienced leaders in the field. This program is also part of a broader commitment to supporting women from South Asian backgrounds and other underrepresented groups in STEM, fostering their growth within the clinical research domain.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Unpaid, Seasonal (Summer Internship)
• Location: In-person strongly preferred, [Insert City, State]
• Mission: To provide comprehensive, real-world learning in clinical trial site operations for foreign medical graduates, master’s students, and transitioning professionals, while supporting underrepresented groups in STEM.
• Commitment: 20-30 hours/week

What You’ll Actually Do
• Develop a thorough site introduction overview and gain comprehensive training on the clinical trial lifecycle, providing a foundational understanding of research site operations from initiation to close-out.
• Engage in critical study start-up activities by preparing essential documentation such as Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, developing Informed Consent Forms (ICF), and organizing regulatory binders to ensure compliance and readiness.
• Contribute actively to the strategic development and implementation of patient recruitment and retention strategies, learning methods to optimize participant engagement throughout clinical studies.
• Seize opportunities to shadow Clinical Research Associate (CRA) visits, observing monitoring activities, and gaining practical exposure to Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and meticulous source documentation.
• Familiarize yourself with effective sponsor/Contract Research Organization (CRO) communication through template review, and acquire basic knowledge of site feasibility assessments, budgeting principles, mock delegation logs, and study-specific training logs.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates must be a Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) or currently enrolled in a Master’s program focused on clinical research or public health.
• Experience: This program is designed to provide first-hand experience; therefore, no prior specific experience is required, though a foundational understanding of healthcare or scientific principles is beneficial.
• Skills: A strong aptitude for learning, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to apply new knowledge in a structured clinical research environment.
• Bonus: Strong preference for an in-person commitment of 20-30 hours per week for the entire 8-week duration of the internship.