Weill Cornell Medicine Biostatistics Internship: A Comprehensive Guide

The Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) Biostatistics Summer Internship Program offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to delve into the world of data analysis and its impact on healthcare. This article provides a detailed overview of the program, its components, requirements, and benefits, drawing upon information from the Division of Biostatistics at WCM.

Introduction

The Biostatistics Summer Internship Program at Weill Cornell Medicine is designed for undergraduate students with a keen interest in data analysis and a passion for improving healthcare access and outcomes. This paid internship provides comprehensive training in biostatistics and public health research, fostering an impactful learning experience for the next generation of statisticians and data scientists. The program is offered through the Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Population Health Sciences.

Program Overview

The program runs for 7 weeks (9am-5pm) and is located in midtown Manhattan. Participating students receive a $5,000 wage stipend, housing, travel reimbursement, and funding to attend an academic conference within the year following completion of our program. The program is also accepting a limited number of graduate students to support the cohort as a teaching assistant.

Internship Components

The Weill Cornell Medicine Biostatistics Summer Internship Program is structured around four key components:

Real-World Health Research Project

Students work in small groups to complete an applied health research project. This involves:

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Conceptualizing the statistical analysis plan.
Cleaning the data.
Conducting the analysis.
Reporting the conclusions.
Creating and presenting a poster presentation.

In 2025, the cohort of nine undergraduate and two graduate students completed applied health research projects aimed at improving care on individual, system, and social levels. Students used foundational statistical methods, regression analysis, and advanced statistical techniques in their work, ultimately completing a poster presentation.

Nathalia Lugo Ciriaco, a senior at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, noted that her favorite part of the research was "applying my academic knowledge to real-world data and seeing how biostatisticians can directly inform health care decision-making." She added that she "enjoyed learning new statistical methods, working with large datasets, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team."

Educational Lectures

Several lecture series are held to enhance student knowledge and exposure to the field of biostatistics and related careers:

R Crash Course: An introductory course in the first week to familiarize students with R basics.
Fundamentals and Hot Topics in Biostatistics: Weekly lectures on important methods in public health data analysis.
Research Spotlight Series: Weekly lectures on exciting research projects WCM biostatisticians are working on to showcase the breadth of topics one can work on in public health.
Career Development Series: Weekly lectures on different careers for biostatisticians and related health data analysis professionals.

Daniel Ugo-Omenukwa, a medical student at the CUNY School of Medicine, stated that "The lectures, mentor pairing, and support for my research provided me not only with a greater understanding of biostatistics and public health, but also much-needed clarity about what I want to accomplish." He described the experience as "truly… a transformative experience."

Individualized Professional Development Support

Students receive personalized guidance through:

Weekly 1-on-1 meetings to discuss career goals.
Assistance with professional development.
Soft skills training, including networking and resume building.

Each student was also paired with a personal biostatistician mentor to discuss career goals and next steps.

Community Building Events and Activities

Located in NYC, the program offers access to unique community building events and activities. Outside of their academic endeavors, students attended community-building events, including a baseball game at Yankee Stadium and a trip to the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Eligibility and Requirements

The program is seeking undergraduate students with an interest in healthcare and data analysis. No prior experience is necessary, but previous R coding experience is a plus. The program is also accepting a limited number of graduate students to support the cohort as a teaching assistant.

The ACCESS program strives to be inclusive and identify PhD-bound undergraduate students with a broad range of experiential backgrounds that are essential for advancing scientific discovery. These experiences include those who are first generation in college, those with socioeconomic disadvantage, those with chosen experiences that generate a keen orientation to the needs of marginalized individuals and underserved communities, persons with disabilities, persons from under-resourced educational backgrounds, and those who have overcome significant hardship in pursuit of higher education. All candidates who believe they meet this description are encouraged to apply.

Academic Level: For most summer research programs, this is your upcoming status as of the fall.

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How to Apply

Applications are now open.

Program Leadership and Growth

The program is led by Caroline Andy, research biostatistician III. Since its launch in 2024, the program has more than doubled in size, tripled its research output, and created opportunities with 12 academic institutions and 13 industry partners, including the NYU School of Global Public Health, Columbia University, Pfizer, and Merck, among others. Former interns are coauthors on abstracts and manuscripts they completed during the summer and are pursuing higher education in biostatistics, medicine, pharmacy, and more.

Caroline Andy, program director, emphasizes that "Our goal is not only to teach students statistical methods, but to show them how these tools can directly impact patient care and health policy."

ACCESS Program Details

The ACCESS program runs for 9 weeks during the summer and is scheduled to begin on June 1st to July 31st, 2026. At the end of the program, a celebratory award ceremony is held in which students give poster and oral presentations on their research.

Location

Weill Cornell Medicine is located in the heart of New York City, one of the world's foremost capitals of science, campus culture, arts, and business. Situated in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, overlooking the East River, WCGS enjoys one of the loveliest residential neighborhoods in the city. Within walking distance are the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, The Frick Collection, The Asia Society, The Hispanic Society, and a plethora of art galleries.

Housing and Stipend

Each student participating in the regularly planned on-campus program receives a generous stipend of $6,000 and up to $500 for travel expenses. On-campus housing is provided free of charge to those who are not from the New York City area. If the program is run virtually, the stipend and duration of the program may be reduced.

Curriculum Laboratory Experience

Selected students are placed in laboratories at Weill Cornell Medicine or the Sloan Kettering Institute under the supervision of an experienced faculty member that is invested in fostering the intellectual and professional growth of students at different levels of their career. ACCESS students present their summer research to the Leadership Alliance community at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium which occurs in late July.

Professional Development

Students attend these sessions geared towards applying to a PhD, attending a conference, next steps after graduation, networking tips, stereotype threat, just to name a few.

Community Building Activities

ACCESS students have the opportunity to experience New York City by attending different community building activities organized by the program's graduate assistants.

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