Intern - High School Summer Scholars Program

Join the HJF Team!

2025 USU Summer Scholars Program for High School Students

HJF is seeking applications for summer internship appointments for undergraduate students from local and national high schools to conduct research at Uniformed Services University (USU). The internship has a start date of Monday, June 16th, 2025, and will end on Friday, August 8th, 2025. Applicants will be evaluated once their complete packet is submitted. The final deadline for application submission is Sunday, January 26th, 2025. Individuals 18 years or older currently attending high school or an analogous institution are eligible for this program.

The USU Summer Scholars Program is an 8-week training program that provides unique exposure to basic and clinical research, social/behavioral research, health policy, and research administration to high school and college students.

The intent of this summer internship is to provide an opportunity for students interested in science, engineering or medical career fields to participate in research directed at improving the care of injured military service members and society at large. This mentored research experience will expose interns to ongoing efforts in integrated science, technology and engineering solutions at the nation's premier military medical school. Selected candidates will be compensated based upon full-time participation. With many different exposures to various facilities and hands-on lab experience, this is an in-person internship.

As the medical school of the Department of Defense, USU is the nation's federal health professions academy - akin to the undergraduate programs of the U.S. military academies at West Point, Annapolis and Colorado Springs. Like the academies, students are not charged tuition; they repay the nation for their education through service. In many respects, our curricula and educational experiences are similar to those of civilian academic health centers, with one important difference: our emphasis on military health care, leadership, readiness and public health sets USU apart.

Every year, trainees work with research mentors across all of the USU research departments. Past students have explored the departments of Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Microbiology, and Immunology. Those students interested in medicine have worked with the departments of Psychiatry, Pathology, the Graduate Student Nursing Program, Preventative Medicine and Biostatistics, and the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health.

Trainees will have the opportunity to attend or participate in scientific and professional development seminars, field trips, laboratory experiments and observations, and research planning meetings. At the conclusion of the program, students prepare and present abstracts on their work at the annual USU Summer Scholars poster symposium.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Chosen applicants will work closely with a USU Faculty mentor and their research team to conduct a scientific investigation in a military-relevant research focus area.
• Interns will present the findings of their research projects at a poster session at the end of the experience.

Education and Experience

• All interns must have an overall GPA of 2.5 of higher (out of a maximum of 4.0; if other scale is used, provide qualitative interpretation and/or equivalency to 4.0 scale) at their current high school.
• A science or engineering program of study is preferred, and prior research experience will also be considered.

For consideration, the applicant's CV must include the following elements

• Professional Goal and objective statement (what are your career ambitions and what are you looking for in this experience?).
  
• Academic Major (if declared) or track (if undeclared).
  
• Grade-Point Average (out of 4.0 scale; if other scale is used, provide qualitative interpretation and/or equivalency to 4.0 scale).
  
• Brief description of prior research laboratory experience(s) including specific laboratory or analytical skills (for example, electrophoresis, cell culture, etc.).
• Any relevant publications or other experience.
  
• Rank-ordered preference of three Departments in which to work.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

Compensation

• The hourly pay rate for this position is $17.60.

Some HJF employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or an approved religious or medical accommodation will be required.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.