Opportunities for Research Students (constantly updated)

This page includes a list of research project opportunities, and structured research programs at BIDMC/BILH that are shared directly with the Office of Student Engagement and Experience (OSEE). Please read each carefully, as they vary by department, academic level, research type, etc.

If you are interested in any of the roles below, please reach out directly to the contact listed in the form, and include the OSEE (osee@bilh.org) in your email. Please attach your resume and a brief statement of interest to your email.

Additionally, if none of the roles below are of interest (and/or you want to explore additional opportunities), you can complete the research interest form as well as the BILH Careers Page. 

Research Project Opportunities for Students at BILH/BIDMC

Project Title:  Neurobiology of REM Sleep

Project Contact: Dr. Vetrivelan Ramalingam (vramalin@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Basic Science and Translational Research

Status: Flexible (full-time or part-time options available)

Work Modality: In-Person

Academic Level: Undergraduate, Graduate, Medical Student

Pay: Unpaid

Project Description: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a distinct sleep state during which vivid dreams occur. This stage of sleep plays a critical role in emotional processing and several cognitive functions. Several neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, are associated with severe dysregulation of REM sleep, but the underlying neural mechanisms are not well understood. The major goal of the project is to identify the neural circuit dysfunction responsible for REM sleep abnormalities in such disorders. The student who works on this project will be able to learn and apply advanced conditional genetic tools (e.g., optogenetics, chemo genetics, photometry) and behavioral techniques in animal models to study this complex problem.

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Project Title:  Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Word Finding Difficulty in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury 

Project Contact: Hsueh-Sheng Chiang (hchiang3@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Clinical Research

Status: Flexible (full-time or part-time options available)

Work Modality: In-Person

Academic Level: High School- 18+, College Undergraduate Student, Undergraduate Medical Student

Pay: Unpaid

Project Description: The purpose of this study is to learn more about how brain stimulation affects word finding problems in people who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The type of brain stimulation used is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS delivers low levels of electric current to the brain and high definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) delivers the current with multiple electrodes on the scalp. This current is delivered with HD-tDCS to parts of the brain that may help with remembering things. The investigators hope that this can help to improve word finding and memory problems in people with TBI.

Project Title: MindApps

Project Contact: Dr. John Torous (jtorou@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Clinical Research

Status: Part-time/flexible

Work Modality: Remote/hybrid

Academic Level: High School,. College Undergraduate, College Graduate, Medical Student, PhD

Pay: Unpaid

Project Description: MindApps.org is a free, independent resource developed by the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. Our mission is to help the public, clinicians, and researchers make informed decisions about mental health apps by providing transparent, evidence-based ratings. We are seeking volunteers to help review and rate mental health apps using our standardized evaluation framework. Volunteers will assess apps across key domains such as privacy, clinical foundation, usability, and engagement. Your ratings will be shared publicly on MindApps.org to help people worldwide choose safe and effective tools.

Project Title: Volunteer Research (Kirby Lab)

Project Contact: Dr. Yanqing Huang (yhuang@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Translational Research

Research Environment: Translational Research

Status: Flexible (full-time, part-time, or per-diem available)

Work Modality: In-Person or Hybrid

Project Description: The currently available Kirby Volunteer Research Intern Position provides hands-on training in advanced biomedical research, with an emphasis on developing novel antimicrobial combination therapies designed to be both effective and less toxic, addressing drug resistance in hard-to-treat pathogens. Training will be tailored to align your individual learning goals with ongoing research projects, ensuring a plan that matches your current stage of development.

 

 

Genetics Projects

Project Title: Research Student

Project Contact: Dr. Jingyi Wu (jwu35@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Opportunity Type: Basic & Translational Research

Research Environment: Wet Lab

Pay: Unpaid (stipend available)

Work Modality: In-person, remote, or hybrid

Student Level: College Undergraduate, College Graduate Student, Medical Student, PhD Student, Postdoc Fellow

Project Description:  The Wu Laboratory develops and applies cutting-edge genomics technologies to uncover the role of epigenetics in cancer. Like other tumor suppressors, epigenetic regulators are frequently mutated in cancer, raising two fundamental questions.

First, how do epigenetic changes contribute to tumorigenesis? While most studies have focused on epigenetic alterations impacting the expression of coding genes, largely due to technological limitations. Our lab seeks to push the boundaries by developing and deploying innovative genomics assays to investigate changes in non-coding regions.
Second, what epigenetic vulnerabilities can be targeted to develop novel therapies? Tumor-specific epigenetic alterations often make cancer cells more susceptible to conventional treatments and highly sensitive to epigenetic inhibitors. However, the mechanisms driving these vulnerabilities remain poorly understood. To address this, our lab will harness advanced epigenetic tools to dissect the pathways through which these therapies exert

Project Title:  Research opportunity on Pan-viral alternative splicing

Project Contact: Dr. Malika Boudries (maid@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Basic Science and Translational Research

Status: Flexible (full-time or part-time options available)

Work Modality: In-Person

Academic Level: College Undergraduate Student, College Graduate Student 

Pay: Unpaid

Project Description: Unfunded Master’s/PhD Thesis Opportunity — Pan-Viral Splicing (BCGE @ CVVR)
BCGE at CVVR seeks a motivated Master’s or PhD student for a thesis project on pan-viral RNA splicing. You’ll analyze short/long-read RNA-seq and multi-omics to map conserved and virus-specific splicing programs, build reproducible pipelines, and generate publication-quality figures. This position is unfunded and best suited for students receiving thesis credit or with external support.

Experience should include good knowledge of omics technologies (e.g., RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics; ), proficiency in Python or R, and basic Git/reproducible research practices.

To apply: send a CV, brief statement of relevant experience/interest, and your timeline to [maid@bidmc.harvard.edu]. Use subject: “Pan-Viral Splicing Thesis — BCGE @ CVVR.”

Project Title: INTERNSHIP AT THE BIDMC TECHNOLOGY VENTURES OFFICE (TVO)

Project Contact: Cindy Wong (cwong2@bidmc.harvard.edu)

Research Type: Translational Research

Status: Part-time

Work Modality: Hybrid

Academic Level: College Graduate Student, Postdoctoral Fellow

Pay: Unpaid- Stipend Available

Project Description: The mission of the Technology Ventures Office (TVO) is to help translate BIDMC research and innovation for society's benefit. By working closely with our investigators and researchers in the labs and clinics, we manage BIDMC intellectual property, negotiate pre-clinical research and license agreements, and catalyze alliances with industry. 

Internship Overview
The Intern will learn about the process of technology transfer in a medical center setting and gain transferrable real-world business skills by assisting the TVO team. This will be an unpaid internship (stipend available) and activities may include: 
•    Research Project Review - Solicit and help evaluate BIDMC research projects as part of the process for industry sponsored collaborations and industry alliances 
•    Technology Review - Participate in evaluation of invention disclosures as part of the process for patentability and commercial assessments 
•    Commercial Positioning - Prepare materials for promoting BIDMC research projects and inventions, including drafting non-confidential descriptions, revising pitch decks, and identifying potential contacts to approach
•    Marketing - Update TVO technology search website/database and initiate contact with potential collaborators/licensees 
•    Educational Events and Materials - Assist in organizing TVO events and in creating TVO-related learning materials

Qualifications & Requirements
We are looking for curious and driven individuals with excellent communication skills and capable of delivering results in a timely manner and at the highest levels of quality. All applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:
•    U.S. citizen based in Massachusetts
•    Graduate student (3rd year or higher) majoring in biological sciences; Postdoctoral fellow in training may be considered
•    Able to work in-person in Boston office and remotely
•    Commitment of 10-20 hours per week for 6-12 months period with start date TBD

Application Process 
•    Submit your resume, a brief statement of interest, a professional writing sample, and a PowerPoint presentation sample to Cindy Wong (Senior Manager, Business Development and Strategic Alliances, TVO) at cwong2@bidmc.harvard.edu
•    Qualified candidates will be contacted for an initial interview with the hiring manager
•    Candidates who advance to the next round will be asked to participate in additional interviews and for letters of recommendation

Structured Program Opportunities hosted by BIDMC/BILH

About Mass EQHLS:  

Mass EQLHS* is one of 16 nationally designated Centers of Excellence in learning health system science** working to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. The institute aims to advance the development of learning health system scientists, accelerate the science of learning health systems, and forge a strong cross institutional alliance between our Mass EQLHS partners who care for over 4 million (57%) of Massachusetts patients annually at community hospitals, safety net hospitals, and academic health systems. *https://www.masseqlhs.org/

Mass EQHLS has available research opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, medical students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows. Available opportunities with Mass EQHLS program are listed below.

Available Opportunities:

• Learning Health System Science Methods Incubator Projects -- Students are recruited to work part-time with our Mass EQLHS core team on short term projects to advance methods of learning health systems science. Projects last anywhere from 2 months to over a year, depending on the project and students' capacity. 


• Student Proposed Project -- Students can propose a unique, one-page project that aligns with the goals of learning health systems-using data, research, and partnerships to continuously improve health outcomes and system performance. Proposed projects may build on existing Mass EQLHS initiatives or introduce new ideas that advance the science or practice of LHS within participating institutions. Projects can last anywhere from 2 months to over a year, depending on the project and students' capacity. 


• Mass EQLHS Faculty Scholar Projects -- Students can work part-time with one our Mass EQLHS faculty scholars on their 1-2 year projects. Students report directly to faculty scholars to manage timelines and work expectations. 
• Year-Long Student Scholar Full Time Appointment -- Medical or graduate students who can set aside one year as part of their degree program, can work with Mass EQLHS full time on a variety of our methods incubator projects and/or their own proposed project. 

If you are interested, please review the application steps outlined on their webpage here: Student Inquiries — Mass EQLHS, and submit your application materials to the Mass EQHLS team at bidmc-masseqhls@bidmc.harvard.edu

 

 

The Harvard Medical School Fellowship in General Medicine and Primary Care offers 2-year academic fellowships to prepare talented physicians for careers in academic medicine. Since the program began in 1979, we have trained over 300 fellows, who now work in prestigious institutions nationally and internationally. Funded by a federal grant and participating clinical institutions, the Program offers each Fellow an appointment at Harvard Medical School and one of its affiliated hospitals or departments. All fellows qualifying for acceptance to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health pursue a rigorous curriculum that can lead to a Master of Public Health or Master of Science degree. Each Fellow is expected to design, conduct, present, and publish several original investigative projects that lay the foundation for future careers as leaders in general medicine and research.

You can read more about the fellowship program here: https://www.hmsgenmedfellowship.org/

Program Contact: GIMFellowship@bidmc.harvard.edu