General Overview
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has internships available for interested students throughout the school year. Internships provide students with experience in a range of departments within the organization. The paid internship is a part-time, temporary employment opportunity averaging 20 hours per week.
PCORI was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). We are in the “start-up” phase of operations and welcome new staff members able to thrive in an exciting new environment. The purpose of the Institute is to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy makers in making informed health decisions by advancing the quality and relevance of evidence concerning the manner in which diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed through research and evidence synthesis that considers variations in patient sub-populations, and the dissemination of research findings, with respect to relative health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, and appropriateness of medical treatments and services.
General information on the available internship and the application process is found below. Please read all of this before completing an application (also found below).
Pay Range and Employment Status:
Interns shall be classified as temporary, part-time employees who are hired as interim replacements, to temporarily supplement the workforce, or to assist in the completion of a specific project and who are temporarily
scheduled to work less than PCORI’s full-time schedule for a limited duration. Employment beyond any initially stated period does not in any way imply a change in employment status. Temporary, part-time workers are not eligible for PCORI benefits.
Current undergraduate students will be paid $10.00 per hour.
Current master’s level and above students will be paid $15.00 per hour.
Purpose of the Internship:
PCORI seeks to provide students with an experience rich with meaningful responsibilities. Prospective interns can request specific areas of work, as well as specific departments. Some examples of types of work include:
- Policy Analysis
- Evaluation and Research
- Project and Program Management
- Communications and Dissemination
The students may choose to apply for opportunities at PCORI in:
- Science/Research
- Patient Engagement
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Contracts/Grant Making
- Communications/New Media
Criteria for Participation:
Participants the PCORI Graduate and Undergraduate Student Internship Program:
- Must be currently attending an accredited college or university and show proof of enrollment to participate in the program.
- Must be enrolled not less than half time in a course of study related to the work to be performed.
- Must be willing to sign a written document of agreement between PCORI and the student and his/her educational institution outlining the responsibilities of each.
- Student interns must be at least 16 years of age.
Application Process:
Applicants for the PCORI Student Intern program will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling application schedule. Applications need to be received at a minimum of a month before the proposed start date to be considered; however, it is highly recommended that applications be submitted much further in advance due to high demand for spots in the program (especially for the summer season).
2012 -2013 KEY DATES
Fall Deadline: October 15 | Fall Start: Late October | Fall End: Early December
Spring Deadline: December 15 | Spring Start: January |Spring End: Mid-April
Summer Deadline: April 12 | Summer Start: Early June | Summer End: Mid-August
After an application is received, the applicant may receive a request for an interview and then may be offered a second round of interviews with relevant intern supervisors. After notified of PCORI’s decision, accepted applicants will have a week to either accept or decline the position offer. The whole process from application submission to receiving an offer may take several weeks, depending on the demand for intern positions and the timing of the submission.
Application Instructions:
PCORI will only consider complete applications that include:
- A cover letter
- An up-to-date resume
- Undergraduate and graduate school unofficial transcripts
- A copy of the internship application (found below)
Cover Letter Instructions:
Express why you would like to work at PCORI; briefly summarize past experiences in the field of health, if applicable, and list specific departments (noted above) where you would be interested in working.
E-mail the complete package of all three documents to pcorijobs@pcori.org with the subject heading “[Last Name], [First Name]: [Term] Intern Application.”
For example, if your name was John Smith and you were applying for the fall term, the e-mail containing your completed application would have the following heading: “Smith, John: Fall Term Intern Application.”
If you are applying for multiple seasons or are late in one term, pick the earlier term that you are applying for. If you have any questions on submitting an application, e-mail pcorijobs@pcori.org.
