Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging

Summer Research Internship

The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) is committed to advancing AI research in medicine for public good, promoting health equity and excellence in healthcare. In this spirit, we are excited to launch our annual Summer Research Internship for high school students interested in exploring technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare.

View our Stanford AIMI Summer Programs Info Sheet for a summary of our offerings this summer for high school students.

Program Overview

During this two-week virtual program, we aim to spark interest and empower the next generation of AI pioneers in medicine. On a day-to-day, the internship generally consists of: 

  • Introductory and technical lectures on AI in healthcare fundamentals
  • Mentoring activities with Stanford Student Leads and researchers 
  • Hands-on group working sessions for research projects
  • Social activities
  • Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers representing academia, industry, non-profit, government. etc. 

An extended independent research internship opportunity may be available for interested program participants. Our hope is to inspire students to develop innovative AI solutions to advance human health. Students who attend the entirety of the internship will receive a Certificate of Completion once the program is complete. 

This year we will also be holding an AI in Medicine Bootcamp program for high school students. Learn more about the Bootcamp here.

There is no fee to apply or to participate in this unpaid internship program. We will be adhering to Stanford's policies for COVID-19 and programs and activities involving minors.

A recording of the AIMI High School Summer Program (Research Internship & AI Bootcamp) Info and Q&A Session that was held on January 20, 2024, can be viewed here. 

Key Dates 

  • Applications for Summer 2025 will open sometime in January. Please stay tuned! 

Eligibility

  • Must be high school students (entering 9th grade through 12th grade in Fall 2025) 
  • Must be over the age of 14 by the start of the program
  • Strong preference for students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
  • Due to limited space, we expect students to commit to participating for the full-day agenda (9am-12pm) throughout the entirety of the 2-week program
  • US Applicants only

Stanford AIMI embraces inclusion, integrity, diversity, and team-science as pillars for success. We encourage students from all backgrounds to apply, particularly students from groups under-represented in AI, including, but not limited to, first generation students, students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds, students with disabilities, students who are members of federally recognized tribes, students who have been underrepresented in the field on the basis of gender identity or expression of sexual orientation, or students with work, educational, or life experiences that contribute to the diversity of the field of AI in medicine.  Applications are open to individuals of all backgrounds and will be reviewed and selections made in conformance with applicable law.

Application

The online application consists of questions related to your background, short-essay questions and uploading your CV/resume and unofficial transcript. You will receive a copy of your completed application upon successful submission. Applicants who apply for the internship will be given the option on the application to be considered for the AIMI Summer Bootcamp 2024 without having to apply separately.

Contact

Please email aimicenter@stanford.edu for any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there an application fee?

There is no fee to apply to or participate in this program.

How many students will be accepted into the program?

We accept around 25 students into the program. 

Do you accept applications after the March 31 deadline?

We receive a high volume of applications during the application period and are not accepting any additional applications past the deadline.

Are international students able to participate?

Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, the program will be geared towards students residing in the US. We invite international students to participate in our year-round NextGen webinar series. 

Can students include letters of recommendation in their application? 

Letters of recommendation are not a requirement to complete the application and therefore may not be considered during the selection process.

Why do I get an error message when trying to access the application link?

You are likely logged into a Google account from an organization that does not allow you to share files outside of your organization. Please double check this setting and if the problem persists, try submitting from a non-restricted account.

I do not have a background in computer science or coding but am interested in the internship. Can I still apply?

For the Summer 2024 Internship program, we have a strong preference towards students with a strong computer science, math, and/or biology background. Students with little to no coding experience are encouraged to explore the Summer AI Bootcamp.

What is the difference between the Summer Research Internship and Summer AI Bootcamp?

The Summer Research Internship geared towards students with strong technical skills and is more project-focused, as students are tasked with solving a practical problem in the AI in medicine space with little guidance. The Summer AI Bootcamp is geared towards learners of all levels who are interested in learning about the fundamentals of machine learning in healthcare, and will be more lecture- and discussion-focused. 

Can I apply for both the Summer Research Internship and Summer AI Bootcamp?

Yes, you may apply for both. If you apply for the Summer Research Internship, you may indicate at the end of the application that you would like to also be considered for the Summer AI Bootcamp, with no an additional application required. Students who apply to the AI Bootcamp this way will be considered equivalent to those who applied to just the Summer AI Bootcamp. If you are only applying for the Summer AI Bootcamp, the Summer AI Bootcamp application is required. 

Are the AP courses listed in the application required for this internship? What if I am enrolled in the course but haven't taken the course/exam yet? Do you accept IB courses?

The AP courses listed in the application are not required for the internship. If you have plans to complete the course/exam or have taken/plans to take a related non-AP course (through IB, community college programs, etc.), there is a section of the application titled "Other Academic Experiences" where you may indicate this.

What can interns expect in terms of continuous engagement with Stanford researchers and faculty after the internship program concludes (for ex. publishing research findings in academic journals, poster presentations, etc.)?

We cannot guarantee continuous engagement after the internship at this time. The internship project is small in scale and would likely not be sufficient to constitute a publication.

Will participating in the internship guarantee a Letter of Recommendation for my college applications?

Letters of Recommendation for college applications/future programs from Stanford AIMI Faculty/Staff are not guaranteed, and may depend on a variety of factors such as intern participation, performance, engagement, and quality of work. Participating in the Summer Research Internship will not guarantee admission into a Stanford undergraduate program. 

Are AIMI Summer Programs credit-bearing?

Participation in AIMI Summer Programs is not credit-bearing, meaning that completion of either programs will not directly contribute towards fulfilling academic requirements or earning course credits toward graduation. Instead, it serves as an enrichment opportunity aimed at fostering additional skills and experiences outside the traditional academic curriculum.