Pathways to Psych Careers Internship and Mentorship Program

The summer internship program will last approximately 9 weeks, from June 10, 2024 to August 5, 2024.

The internship will begin with an Orientation session, including a “Psych Careers Panel” during the week of June 3, 2024, that will introduce students to various paths that psychiatry and psychology faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine have taken in shaping their careers.

Students will have the opportunity to work within the NewYork-Presbyterian multi-hospital system with campuses across the state. Students will participate in research and clinical work at the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center main campus in Manhattan, NY or the NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health campus in White Plains, NY.

Each student participating in this internship program will receive a stipend of $4,000 and reimbursement of any travel expenses related to commuting to and from any of the NewYork-Presbyterian or Weill Cornell Medicine campuses.

Students selected for this program will be placed in laboratories at Weill Cornell Medicine under the supervision of an experienced faculty member.

Students will have the choice of performing research in one of the following areas:

• Exploring efficacy of technology aids in psychotherapy
• The development of psychosocial interventions for middle-aged and older adults with depression, suicidal ideation, chronic pain, or cognitive impairment
• Exploring strategies for addressing the psychological barriers and stigma that deter adults from utilizing mental health care
• Other topics to be determined

Students’ work will be guided by mentors and consist of any of the following research activities: data collection (i.e.: distributing surveys), data entry and quality checks, research participant recruitment, scientific manuscript preparation.

Students’ research activities will culminate in the production of a poster presentation, which will be presented at an academic conference hosted by Weill Cornell Medicine during the final week of this internship program.

Students will have a unique opportunity to gain clinical experience during this summer internship. Students will be placed in a volunteer status on selected inpatient psychiatric units at the NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health campus. There, they will engage with psychiatric patients, shadow psychology and psychiatry trainees, and engage in supervision from experienced clinicians. Units that students may be placed on include an Affective (Mood) Disorders unit, Personality Disorders unit, or an Adolescent Psychiatry unit.

Near the conclusion of the internship, students will present their poster during an end-of-summer Academic Conference. Students will present their work as first author on their poster, with their primary mentor as the final author.

Students will have the opportunity to attend lectures and didactic seminars, focusing on different areas of mental health treatment, such as various applications of cognitive behavioral therapy.

Students will engage in ongoing career mentorship during and following the summer internship program. All students selected for this program will meet every other month with a faculty member at Weill Cornell Medicine who will follow each student throughout their remaining time enrolled in their undergraduate institution. Career development meetings will center around strengthening readiness and competitiveness for a higher education program in mental health – i.e., enrolling in a doctoral program in Psychology, or enrolling in medical school to pursue a specialization in psychiatry. Specifically, students will receive guidance surrounding preparation for entrance exams, drafting a personal statement, strengthening one’s application, networking, and other relevant topics.

Individuals from groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences:

• The following racial and ethnic groups:
  • Black or African American
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • American Indian or Alaska Native
  • Native Hawaiian
  • Other Pacific Islander
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
  • Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
  • Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families.
  • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years.
  • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants.
  • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child.
    
• Grew up in one of the U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer.

Please submit all application materials through our application form. If you have any questions, please contact us at pathways-to-psych@med.cornell.edu. Do not respond to any emails that are sent from an email address not including "@med.cornell.edu." 

Personal Statement

Include a personal statement indicating why you would like to participate in this internship and mentorship research program. Discuss any relevant previous research or professional experiences you have had, and also describe your goals related to a career in mental health. Please keep your essay limited to 1500 words.

Transcript/Academic Record

Please upload an unofficial transcript(s) as part of your application. Transcripts for every college or university you have attended must be submitted.

Letter of Recommendation

Please upload 1-2 letters of recommendation as part of this application.

It is recommended that at least one letter of recommendation be from:  1) A research faculty member from a lab you have worked in or who is familiar with your research work. 2) A letter of recommendation from a science faculty instructor whom you have engaged in coursework with, or 3. A program director such as one from any of the following programs: MARC, RISE, McNair, etc.

Your letter(s) of recommendation should comment on your motivation and readiness to begin your pursuit of a career in mental health.

Resume/CV

Please upload the most up to date version of your resume or CV. You can also find a resume template here. 

Proof of Citizenship

Please upload one of the following as proof of US Citizenship or permanent resident visa status:

          1) U.S. Citizenship: A copy of your birth certificate or US Passport

OR

          2) Permanent Resident Visa: A copy of your Permanent Resident Visa card.

Privacy Notice: As part of this application, we recognize that you are disclosing private and personal information. Please note that all application materials will only be viewed by leadership of this program to determine acceptance into the program, and that no private information will be shared elsewhere.

All applications are to be submitted by January 12, 2024. Applications submitted following this deadline will not be reviewed or considered.

Submit your application here.