Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) is an independent research institute and one of the largest institutes in the nation that focuses on reproductive biology and women’s health and infants’ health. Our High School Summer Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to participate in basic, translational, or clinical scientific research with the goal of fostering interest in biomedical research as a potential career.

During the 4-week program (160 hours total) each student will have the opportunity to work on their own research project under the guidance of an investigator and their staff at MWRI and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. Housing is not provided.

The Institute includes basic, translational, and clinical faculty researchers from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, as well as from other departments at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

In addition, students will attend informal Lunch & Learn sessions, where investigators will discuss biomedical science as a career from their personal perspectives and journeys in the field.

At the end of the program, students will present their research findings in a PowerPoint presentation to other participants and MWRI faculty and staff at the annual High School Internship Presentation Day.

We accept applications from January 21, 2019 through March 15, 2019. No applications are accepted beyond the deadline.

• Application is open to all high school students interested in biomedical research. We typically focus on applicants in their junior year. Our previous experience has found that the summer after junior year is an ideal time for students to be exposed to biomedical research. High school seniors are also eligible to apply and participate in the program in the summer immediately following graduation.
• Students who do not live within commuting distance are responsible for their own living arrangements, as our program does not cover housing or other residential assistance. No unsupervised (without live-in adult sponsor) living arrangements.
• Students under the age of 18 who are selected for the program will be required to obtain a work permit card issued by their school district prior to their arranged start date.

Applications must be submitted electronically (in a single PDF file saved as Last Name_First Name Application) to MWRHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu no later than 5:00 PM Friday, March 15, 2019.

The application packet must include:

• Application and Demographic Information Form
• Cover letter including work history (if applicable). If applying from outside the Pittsburgh area, a statement of intended living arrangements is required. Our program does not provide housing or other residential assistance. Acceptable living arrangements include staying with relatives in the area or the student and a parent making living arrangements in the area. Also, please include the names of the two references that will be completing recommendation letters.
  
• A one-page compelling personal statement. We are looking for a personal statement that conveys something distinctive about you or your life story and why you are interested in biomedical research and participation in the research program. Be sure to identify which area(s) of research performed at MWRI you are most interested in participating and indicate if you have a preference of basic science or clinical research.
  
• High school transcript
  

The program will begin on June 17, 2019. Students will be paid an hourly minimum wage. Housing is not provided. Application packets must be complete to be considered (see the check list).

Additional supporting documents must be emailed directly to the program coordinator from the provider (not the student) at: MWRHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu.

Minimum of two letters of recommendation, preferably from science teacher(s) and/or guidance counselor(s). Letters are to be emailed directly to the MWRI High School Program Coordinator at MWRHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu.

All documents must be provided by the deadline in order for the application to be considered by the review committee.

As in previous years, we anticipate the 2019 program to be highly competitive and less than 10 percent of the students who apply are chosen. (We typically receive over 150 applications.)

Teaching Healthy Eating Behavior in Low-Resource African American Neighborhoods: The Kids Can Cook Program

MicroRNAs in Human Breast Milk

Screening for Novel Fertility Factors Using RNA Interference

Stem Cell Therapies for Male Infertility

The Effect of Flow on Glycocalyx Assessments in Preeclampsia and Healthy Pregnancies

Understanding Critical Design Factors for Development of Antiretroviral Suppositories for HIV Prevention

Genomics of Treatment Refractory Depression

Reproductive Health During Preteen-Adolescent Pubertal Transition in Girls: Role of Social Media, Social Pain and Depression During the Pubertal Transition

Investigations of the Cardiovascular Health of a Novel Preeclampsia -Like Mouse Model

The Battle of the Sexes: Stress Resistance in C. elegans

Genetics of Cardiomyopathy and Sudden Death

Genetic Predisposition to Pulmonary Fibrosis

Genetic Predisposition of Hypospadias

Health Education Disparity: From Research Intervention to Social Entrepreneurship

• Year the program was established – 1995
• Number of scholars completing the program – 227
• Number of institutions (high schools) scholars have come from – 68
• Number of faculty who have participated as mentors – 58

Mrs. Marjorie Ann Seskey
MWRHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu