The Child Health Research Internship Program, jointly sponsored by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and CCHRI, provides early-career trainees with meaningful experiences in child health research. This highly competitive program brings together motivated high school seniors, undergraduate students, and first-year medical students for an immersive, hands-on summer research experience with an emphasis on child health research.
Over nine weeks, interns work closely with faculty mentors across a wide range of disciplines, from clinical and translational research to basic science. Through weekly seminars, collaborative project work, and a final research presentation, students gain a deeper understanding of research methodologies while developing critical thinking and communication skills. Outside of the lab, interns build connections through social events and peer engagement, fostering a strong sense of community. Beyond the summer, the program expands its impact by supporting student travel and presentations at national conferences – helping bring their research to wider audiences beyond Children's Hospital and CU Anschutz and into the broader scientific community.
A defining strength of the program is its sustained mentor engagement and project diversity, which expose students to fields they may not have previously considered. Alumni consistently highlight the program as a pivotal experience – one that shapes career paths, sparks curiosity and opens doors to future opportunities in pediatric research.
“In a world where there is great concern about the future of science in the field of pediatrics, we are thrilled to give promising young students the opportunity to experience science in action. This opportunity includes working closely with a senior pediatric scientist mentor. The success we have seen both during the summer program and beyond has been phenomenal.”
–Steve Daniels, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
With more than a decade of impact and over 240 alumni, the program remains committed to its ultimate goal: inspiring promising students to pursue careers as independent researchers.
The 2026 summer program includes 24 participants and runs from Monday, June 1 through Friday, July 31. For more information, please visit the Child Health Research Internship webpage. Information regarding the 2027 program and application process will be available on the website in December 2026.
Interested in hosting a student? We are seeking faculty mentors and labs to participate in future programs. Please contact Claire.Brendel@childrenscolorado.org to learn more.