The Department of Genetic Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University hosts an annual, virtual, modified summer undergraduate internship program. There are a limited number of internship positions, usually about 10, each summer.

Due to patient privacy laws and other restrictions, we are only able to offer a fully virtual experience, which will NOT include direct, live patient encounter observations. However, there will be opportunities to view recorded patient encounters, engage with patient advocacy/support groups and patient case data.

The purpose of the internship is to provide undergraduate students and recent college graduates with exposure to the clinical genetics/genomics and genetic counseling fields. While best suited for individuals interested in applying to genetic counseling graduate programs, this internship is also beneficial to those who are deciding between career paths in health care or research.

Interns will receive mentoring from genetic counselors, attend virtual lectures and career development activities, and participate remotely in clinical development projects. Examples of lectures and activities include the following:

• Genetic counselor guest speakers from multiple specialties (including pediatrics, neurogenetics, research and laboratory settings) to discuss their career path and day-to-day work life
• Case discussions in a group setting to understand the process of genetic counseling
• Genetic testing overview, including variant interpretation basics
• Graduate school admissions Q&A panel
• One-on-one mentoring with a genetic counselor

This is an excellent fit for individuals interested in or actively preparing for graduate education in genetic counseling, as well as other careers in science and medicine.

Intern Requirements

Qualified applicants should be rising college juniors or seniors (at any college) or recent college graduates who have a strong academic background. College coursework in the sciences, such as introductory courses in biology, chemistry and genetics is preferred. Rising college sophomores will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should have strong organization and communication skills, and should be able to work independently.

Applicants can be from any location, although applicants will need to be available during scheduled internship activities. Applicants from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, as well as first-generation college and graduate students, are encouraged to apply, especially if they have not had prior exposure to clinical genetics and genetic counseling.

Past Interns

Since 2014, our summer interns have matriculated to and/or graduated from the following genetic counseling programs:

• Arcadia University Genetic Counseling Master of Science Program
• University of Maryland Master’s in Genetic Counseling Training Program
• Northwestern University Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling
• University of Texas Genetic Counseling Program at Houston
• University of South Carolina Genetic Counseling Program

Other internship alumnae have matriculated to medical schools and Ph.D. graduate training programs in molecular genetics.

Application Instructions

Complete the online application (available Jan. 2025)

If you have difficulty completing this form online, please submit responses by email to Weiyi Mu at [email protected].

Timeline

1. Applications will open in January 2025
2. The internship will be awarded by early April 2025.
3. Interns will complete paperwork and online training prior to the start of the internship.
4. Interns will complete the eight-week internship from during June 2025 (one to two days per week; specific dates will be announced). Exact weekly schedule can be flexible, but all interns must be available on Fridays during the internship. As stated above, the summer internship will be completely virtual/remote.

Questions? Any inquiries can be directed to Weiyi Mu at [email protected] or 443-287-2965.

More Information

For information about genetic counseling, please visit the Maryland and DC Society of Genetic Counselors and the National Society of Genetic Counselors websites.