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

During the 4-week program (160 total hours) 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 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, Gynecology and 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, during which investigators will discuss biomedical science as a career from their personal perspectives and journeys in the field.

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

We accept applications through April 12, 2021. No applications and supporting documents are accepted beyond the deadline.

• Application is open to high school students interested in learning about biomedical research who are currently in their junior or senior year of high school (ie no “rising juniors”). 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.

• Waived for 2021: 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 April 12, 2021.

The application packet must include:

• Application and Demographic Information Form
• Cover letter including work history (if applicable).
• Waived for 2021: 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.
• 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 internship will begin on July 6, 2021. 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 2021 program to be highly competitive and less than 8 percent of the students who apply are chosen. (We typically receive over 150 applications.)

• A Pilot Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial of Buprenorphine Vs. Methadone for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence in Pregnancy
• Infectious Morbidity and Maternal and Neonatal Health Outcomes Among Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder
• The Effect of Air Nano-Particles on Placental Cells
• Gymnasts and Reproductive Health
• The Outrageous Divide in Maternal Mortality Rates of Black Women In America
• In Vitro Spermatogenesis
• Development of an Ex Vivo Model for Evaluating Pharmaceutical Film Mucoadhesion
• Evaluation of Mechanisms Of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes in Drug-Drug Interactions
• Uric Acid: An Early Indicator of Cardiovascular Risk in Women with Preeclampsia?
• Exploring Drug-Excipient in Pharmaceutical Formulations
• 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

• Year the program was established – 1995
• Number of scholars completing the program – 237
• Number of institutions (high schools) scholars have come from – 68
• Number of faculty who have participated as mentors – 58

Ms. Catherine Chiappa
MWRHighSchoolInternships@mwri.magee.edu