15 Healthcare Internships for Undergraduates in Houston
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 18
- 11 min read
If you are an undergraduate student building a career in medicine, research, or public health, gaining experience through a healthcare internship can be a smart step to take. These opportunities allow you to work with professionals, gain practical experience, hone technical and interpersonal skills, and understand whether a specific field of healthcare is the right fit for you. Internships can also help you build your resume, which is helpful for graduate school applications and pathways to return offers at the host company.
Houston is home to top universities and research institutions that actively support undergraduate training. For undergraduates in Houston, participating in a healthcare internship will provide access to advanced facilities, research projects, and diverse patient populations. Whether in cancer research, clinical shadowing, or public health initiatives, healthcare internships for undergraduates in Houston offer networking opportunities and industry exposure.
To help with your search, here’s our list of 15 healthcare internships for undergraduates in Houston.
15 Healthcare Internships for Undergraduates in Houston
1. ITERT - STEP
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Up to $6,800
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students with a valid visa who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at a college or university with good academic standing
The Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training (ITERT) STEM Training and Education Program (STEP) program is offered by MD Anderson’s Department of Translational Molecular Pathology. It is a full-time 10-week summer research training experience for undergraduates interested in translational cancer research and molecular pathology. You are mentored by faculty to carry out lab work, culminating in a formal research presentation to peers and faculty. You also take part in professional development workshops (e.g., scientific communication, CV and IDP building, career path awareness), audit a graduate-level course, and engage in networking and peer support groups.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, or gap year students who can commit 5–10 hours per week for 8 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective program that connects you with fast-growing start-ups to choose a project that aligns with your interests. You have the chance to contribute to a real-world project, like an app, report, or strategy, gaining hands-on experience in problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation. The program features companies across diverse industries, ranging from AI/ML and deep tech to healthcare, consulting, and more, with most start-ups having raised over a million dollars in funding. At the end of the internship, you present your work directly to the company, building both confidence and professional skills. Applications are competitive and can be submitted here.
Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Stipend: Approximately $5,400
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA; freshmen applicants must have prior research experience
The SMART (Summer Undergraduate Research Training) Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a 9-week paid summer research experience in biomedical science. You are placed in laboratories across a broad range of fields, including bioengineering, computational biology, molecular biology, and more, and receive faculty mentorship. The program supplements lab work with seminars, discussion groups, professional development activities, and cohort events designed specifically for researchers like you. Housing is provided near Baylor, and compensation typically includes both salary and allowances for travel or housing, depending on funding. Admission is competitive; applicants must commit to the full program, and non-U.S. citizens must coordinate through Baylor’s international services for work authorization.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: $7,200 (before taxes)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident students currently enrolled in a degree program in the spring and fall semesters (please check the ‘Eligibility’ section here for full details)
The Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP) Summer Research Experience at MD Anderson is a 10-week, full-time paid internship that immerses undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in cancer prevention research. You undertake mentored research with the help of faculty and attend seminars about cancer prevention and career development. You present your findings in both a scientific poster and a concise 90-second elevator speech. In addition to mentorship and research training, you may receive support for housing, travel, and research-related expenses. This internship places a strong emphasis on communicating science to both professional and general audiences, helping you build skills that go beyond the lab. Admission is competitive, and you must commit to the full 10 weeks, remain enrolled in a degree-granting program, reside in Texas during the fellowship, and demonstrate interest in cancer prevention.
Location: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 4 students per session
Dates: 6 weeks during the summer; dates TBA
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: College juniors with a minimum 3.6 GPA and a strong interest in pursuing medicine
The Mary Ann Lunsford Externship is a 6-week clinical healthcare internship for undergraduates in Houston focused on cardiovascular medicine. It offers 2 sessions each summer and admits a total of 4 students with a $1,000 stipend awarded after completion. Through research opportunities and mentorship in collaboration with Memorial Hermann Hospital and McGovern Medical School, you will gain in-depth exposure to various areas in the cardiovascular field, ranging from diagnosis to prevention of cardiovascular disease. You may observe procedures such as imaging and diagnostic testing, while also engaging with physicians and clinical staff to understand patient care workflows. To apply, you must be completing your third year, maintain a GPA of 3.6 or higher, and express a strong interest in a career in medicine.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200 (before taxes)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: TBA in October
Application Deadline: Applications open November 17
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with strong academic performance; also open to high school and graduate students
The Therapeutics Discovery and Development Internship is a 10-week, full-time, on-site opportunity at MD Anderson. You will work in a biotech-style, industry-academia environment that’s focused on discovering and developing novel cancer therapeutics. You participate in real research projects in platforms including biomarker discovery and validation, target discovery, disease modeling, and more. You gain hands-on lab skills and exposure to cross-disciplinary work with scientists from biology, chemistry, and computational fields. With access to experienced clinician scientists, you get to anchor your research in real clinical insight. To be eligible to apply, you must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate (or graduate or incoming undergrad) program in good academic standing, and submit transcripts, a statement of research experience and interest, and 2 letters of recommendation.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200 (before taxes)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: First- or second-year veterinary students and pre-veterinary undergraduate students
The DISCOVER Program at MD Anderson is a 10-week summer fellowship combining biomedical research and practical experience through the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Some learning experiences include common procedural skills like necropsy, tissue collection, surgery, suturing, and more, while auditing graduate-level coursework in mouse cancer biology and pathology. You are matched with faculty mentors and carry out original projects before presenting your results at MD Anderson’s Summer Student Symposium. Throughout the program, you also attend lectures and career development events. During admission, veterinary medical students in their first or second year receive first priority, but exceptional pre-veterinary undergraduates may also apply.
Location: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Stipend: Up to $7,200
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks during the summer; exact dates TBA
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current high school or undergraduate students who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, with disabilities, or a first-generation student (please check the ‘Eligibility’ section here for full details)
The UPWARDS Summer Program at MD Anderson is a paid, full-time 10-week research training experience that aims to encourage high school seniors and undergraduates to pursue STEM, biomedical research, and cancer research careers. You will work in the lab of a dedicated faculty mentor while also attending scientific lectures, seminars, career development events, and presenting your work in a poster session at the end. There is also a required outreach activity during the summer to engage with the community and build broader interest in STEM. Along with technical lab skills, you can also expect to learn scientific communication for academic and professional growth. Additionally, MD Anderson offers the UPWARDS Academic Year Program if you’re interested in a long-term healthcare internship for undergraduates in Houston.
Location: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: May 26 – August 5
Application Deadline: Opens December 1
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students entering their junior or senior year with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The Houston Methodist Summer Scholars Program is a 10-week healthcare internship for undergraduates in Houston, where you work within a non-clinical department of the healthcare system to explore various career paths. Under the mentorship of leaders, you are provided with resources that enable you to understand how to meet growing patient needs. You also attend professional development sessions to get a broad perspective on the healthcare ecosystem. The combination of departmental immersion plus structured exposure to a wide array of health system roles makes it suitable for students interested in healthcare beyond clinical work. To be eligible, you must be entering your junior or senior year and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, and you must commit to full-time participation throughout the 10 weeks.
Location: 2 weeks virtual and 4 weeks in person at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 2 – July 12
Application Deadline: November 1 – February 5
Eligibility: College freshman and sophomore students with a minimum of 2.5 GPA overall (please see the complete criteria in the ‘Our Program’ document provided here)
The UTHealth SHPEP is a 6-week enrichment program for college freshmen and sophomore students to explore careers in dentistry, nursing, and the medical field through lab, clinical, and professional development experiences. The emphasis on interprofessional exposure means you rotate among medicine, dentistry, and nursing settings at UTHealth. This includes working with patient simulators, engaging in dental procedures, nursing healthcare management, shadowing healthcare professionals, and more, along with sessions on personal statement writing, interviewing skills, and application processes. The first 2 weeks are virtual, with the remaining 4 weeks held in person. The program provides a stipend, meals, lodging, and travel assistance. Admission eligibility requires being a U.S. citizen, a freshman or sophomore in college (or equivalent credits), having a minimum GPA, and not having previously participated in SHPEP.
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: Information unavailable
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not selective
Dates: Year-round internships; dates arranged individually with the supervisor
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students with an interest in public health and the work of the Health Department.
The Houston Health Department offers full- and part-time internships throughout the year in areas such as public health, environmental health, clinic services, policy development, and health education. You may assist with epidemiology projects, community outreach, writing policy briefs, or similar, in support of ongoing public health efforts. Through this work, you develop skills in public health research methods, communication, program planning, and more under the guidance of health department staff. You can also receive academic credit (by coordinating with your supervisor) for your work. To apply, you submit a resume and cover letter via the department’s internship portal, and supervisors arrange the internship schedule and duration directly with you.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: $4,000 scholarship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: 10-week program; upcoming dates TBA
Application Deadline: Opens in late January
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the University of Houston with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the University of Houston (UH) offers you a 10-week, full-time research experience under the mentorship of UH faculty, with participants receiving a $4,000 scholarship. You participate in a focused research project based on your interests, attend weekly lectures, and at the end of the term, present a poster during Undergraduate Research Day. You can expect to strengthen skills in research, analysis, scientific communication, and independent inquiry in a faculty-guided setting. SURF is integrated with the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement (HCCE) transcript recognition (3 points awarded). Admission is competitive; eligible students must be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors, typically have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or 3.5 for those with few UH credits), and cannot have participated in SURF before.
Location: Hosted at national and international locations
Stipend: Provided with offer letters; covers travel and living expenses
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 1 – July 31 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rice University undergraduate students aged 18 or older with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a valid passport.
The Rice360 Global Health Technologies Summer Internship provides undergraduates at Rice University the opportunity to explore how healthcare challenges are addressed in low-resource settings. This healthcare internship for undergraduates in Houston pairs you with mentors and allows you to contribute full-time to projects that may involve designing and assessing medical technologies, as well as identifying unmet clinical needs. You gain experience in cross-cultural teamwork while also building adaptability through fieldwork in local or international settings, which includes Houston for the ongoing program. The program has a comprehensive support package, which includes international travel, a living stipend, and pre-departure orientation. The internship is appealing for those interested in global health innovation as it blends technical skills with real-world application in diverse healthcare environments.
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: $1,000 scholarship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: Semester-long program; dates TBA
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: University of Houston sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA and a minimum of 30 credits.
The Provost’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS) program funds semester-long, part-time research projects for UH undergraduates under the mentorship of a faculty member. You commit about 6-7 hours per week in your mentor’s lab or project, while attending research events and orientation activities. You receive a $1,000 scholarship to support your work and earn two points toward the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement (HCCE) transcript designation. PURS allows you to integrate mentored research into a regular semester, giving you ongoing development in research without overloading your summer. For eligibility, you must be a UH sophomore, junior, or senior with at least 30 credits completed and a minimum GPA of 3.0, and you must register for at least 12 credit hours during the award semester.
Location: Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: TBA in winter
Application Deadline: TBA in winter
Eligibility: Medical students from the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine with strong academic performance and an interest in biomedical research.
The Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Program is structured to support medical students’ engagement in original biomedical research during the summer. You work closely with faculty in the College of Medicine’s Biomedical Sciences Department, with many presenting their findings at a designated research event. This healthcare internship for undergraduates in Houston is tailored to give you deeper insight into academic research culture. For admission, you must be a high-performing medical student at Tilman J. Fertitta College of Medicine and articulate a strong interest in biomedical research.
One more option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you can apply to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs. Founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford, these are virtual programs for high-performing students. Last year, over 4,000 students applied for 500 spots, letting us shortlist the most deserving and ambitious students to join our year-round cohorts. You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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