Internships
The Rice360 Global Health Technologies Summer Internship Program gives Rice University undergraduate students from all disciplines and majors first-hand exposure to health care in resource constrained settings. In partnership with clinics, universities, and organizations working in low and middle income countries, the internships allow students to tackle global health design challenges in a real-world setting.
Watch our summer 2021 student interns work to improve global health technologies from around the world.
Rice students use UV-C light to decontaminate masks
Applications Due:
February 19, 2023
Notifications for interviews
February 20, 2023
Intern interviews:
February 24, 2023
Acceptance notifications:
March 3, 2023
Orientation:
TBD based on intern availability
Internship Dates:
May 22 - July 31, 2023
Important Dates
Want to hear more from our interns? Check out our intern blogs!
Internship Application & Requirements
Internships have been held in a number of national and international locations. In the past, our students have worked in Malawi, Brazil, and Tanzania among other locations. Through the internship, students improve their understanding of the constraints under which healthcare is provided in resource-constrained settings and design innovative solutions.
We are excited that the 2023 internship will include the bidirectional internship exchange with student peers and partners from across Africa! During the 2023 Rice360 Internship, Rice students may have the opportunity to intern in one of the following locations: Malawi, Tanzania, the Dominican Republic, or Houston. Students will be matched with an internship site and mentor based on a combination of student preference, skillset, and project priorities. Across all internship sites, student interns will collaborate with global partners on global health design projects.
Internship Expectations
Through global health collaboration with peers and global partners, intern responsibilities include:
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Design ideation and evaluation for at least one assigned global health technology
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Identifying five novel needs or technology proposals for Rice360 to adopt as future projects
The Rice360 Internship is a full-time opportunity, and interns are expected to work 8 hours per day M-F for a total of 40 hours per week. Scheduled internship activities will only occur M-F. Recognizing that the Rice360 Internship will involve extensive collaboration across time zones, meeting hours may vary.
Stipend
The Rice360 internship covers all international travel costs and living stipends. Additional details on financial support will be shared with intern offer letters. Additional need-based financial stipend support is available; please see the internship application or contact Dr. Taylor (ashley.r.taylor@rice.edu) for more information.
If you are concerned about your ability to participate in the program due to financial circumstances, please email Michelle Nodskov, michelle.nodskov@rice.edu
Eligible Applicants must:
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Be undergraduate students in good standing at Rice University
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Have successfully completed at least one of the core courses in the Global Health Technologies minor by the start of the internship and received at least a ‘B’ in the course. Courses that qualify include:
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GLHT201 Introduction to Global Health
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GLHT360 Appropriate Design for Global Health
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GLHT451/452 Global Health Design Challenges
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A global health project in BIOE451/452 Bioengineering Senior Design
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A global health project in ENGI 120 Introduction to Engineering Design
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A global health project in NSCI 120 Introduction Research Challenge
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Have a GPA of 3.0 or better
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Be 18 years of age or older
Application Materials Checklist
Interested students will be asked to provide:
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A completed application form – submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on February 19, 2023
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Statement of Interest
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Copy of transcripts
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Two references (only contact information needed)
Some applicants will be invited to interview, and interns will be selected from among the interviewees.
For more information, contact Michelle Nodskov, at michelle.nodskov@rice.edu
Questions?
Testimonials
"We need more. This statement sums up what we saw in the hospital that week. In the words of Dr. Kazembe, “We have shortages of everything… except patients.” We are here to give them more. We spent the past week compiling information and are now beginning to work on projects to fit the needs they communicated. Specifically, we are designing a temperature monitor to help catch hypothermia sooner, so babies can be rewarmed before the temperature drops significantly. We hope this tool can be used to prevent hypothermia from becoming more serious in the neonates. In a way, we hope this too can be a small part of their more.."
- Leah in Malawi
"There were the bili-lights, propped on top of the wooden incubators. I felt honored that the lights I helped make were being used. It was surreal to actually see babies under the bili-lights I made last summer. I thought about it, dreamed about it, but I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing it in a hospital setting rather than in a research lab."
- Yiwen in Malawi
"In the end, this was probably the most life changing experience I have ever had… The trip only solidified my interests, and made me proud of what I am studying and its possible applications… I think that I learned exponentially more during my trip than I could have ever been taught. I think this is the nature of living in a foreign country implementing projects of your own design– you learn (and mature) very quickly."