The Academic Clinical Research Office (ACRO) Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Program supports the clinical research community by providing coordinator support to investigators conducting clinical trials across the institution.
This internship is designed for individuals interested in exploring a career in clinical research within an academic medical center. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of clinical trial operations, research regulations, and research team workflows while receiving structured mentorship and hands-on learning experiences.
The Research Internship program provides students and trainees an opportunity to develop basic research skills. Interns in this program are provided the opportunity to experience and observe many different aspects of basic, translational and/or clinical research. This program offers interns a unique experience, which is intended to provide a wealth of knowledge about the numerous options for a career in healthcare research. Typically lasting not more than a twelve-month period, this internship will expose participants to a diverse spectrum of clinical and non-clinical based research investigations. Under direct supervision from the assigned Postdoctoral Scientist, senior-level Research Associate and/or Principal Investigator, the intern will be provided with basic research instruction, will be oriented to the Institutional Review Board and other Human Subjects courses, and will be introduced to new and innovative research practices and techniques.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite
Compensation: $25.00/hour
Internship End Date: September 11, 2026
Throughout the internship, you will build a foundational understanding of:
As a Clinical Research Intern, you will:
- Organize and maintain research files and documentation
- Support research team administrative and operational activities
- Assist with regulatory file preparation and tracking documents
- Observe clinical research workflows and multidisciplinary collaboration
- Participate in team meetings and educational sessions
- Contribute to research infrastructure improvement projects
- Complete required research training modules and certifications
- Present a summary of your internship project and learning outcomes at the conclusion of the program
This internship includes a structured mentorship experience with experienced clinical research leaders. Participants will receive:
- Weekly mentorship focused on academic clinical research, clinical trials, and career development
- Daily supervision and hands-on guidance supporting current research operations
- Orientation to the Academic Clinical Research Office and collaboration across research teams
- Ongoing feedback, coaching, and professional development throughout the internship
Week 1 - Orientation & Introduction to Clinical Research
- Complete onboarding, systems access, and workplace orientation
- Complete required CITI research training
- Learn about the clinical research office and CRC Program
- Introduction to clinical trials and the research environment
- Review foundational educational materials
Week 2 - Good Clinical Practice & Research Ethics
- Begin foundational clinical research training modules
- Learn Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles
- Understand participant protections and informed consent
- Shadow research staff during routine administrative activities
- Assist with organizing research documentation
Week 3 - Regulatory Basics & Compliance
- Continue and complete foundational research training
- Learn about FDA, IRB, and regulatory oversight
- Understand documentation standards and compliance requirements
- Support preparation of regulatory files and tracking documents
Week 4 - Research Operations & Collaboration
- Observe multidisciplinary research team operations
- Learn the clinical trial lifecycle
- Participate in research team meetings
- Support day-to-day research operations through assigned administrative projects
Week 5 - Applied Learning
- Take on increased responsibility supporting research activities
- Apply knowledge to real-world research operations
- Contribute to research infrastructure improvement projects
- Participate in professional development focused on communication and collaboration
- Meet with mentors to review progress and learning goals
Week 6 - Integration & Career Development
- Complete assigned projects
- Present internship accomplishments and key learnings
- Participate in a career development discussion with research leadership
- Reflect on skills gained and future career interests
- Receive final feedback from the mentorship team
Qualifications
- Interest in clinical research, healthcare, life sciences, or related fields
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively in a professional healthcare environment
- Detail-oriented with a willingness to learn
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
Education
- Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's Degree in Life/Physical Sciences or related field, which includes a minimum of two years lab coursework. - preferred
Experience
- Basic understanding of general research objectives.
Licenses and Certifications
- No license or certification required
- Receives instruction & training in the areas of basic, translational, and/or clinical research.
- Receives orientation to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other Human Subjects Courses.
- Shadows staff and gains exposure to a variety of scientific procedures and techniques.
- Provides support with research data collection and data entry, literature searches, basic patient screening tasks, and may assist with basic scholarly writing.
- Assists staff with keeping accurate and detailed project records of experiments and results.
- May assist with the operation and maintenance of lab equipment.
- Observes and complies with safety standards and procedures.
- May be assigned increasingly advanced research laboratory support functions, dependent upon level of education and technical ability.