Development and Assessment of a Sustainable PhD Internship Program Supporting Diverse Biomedical Career Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Career Development
• Higher Education

Background:

• Doctoral trainees require structured support for career exploration and transition.
• Experiential learning is crucial for developing specialized skills in life sciences.
• Academic institutions can foster career readiness through tailored internship programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes and sustainability of a doctoral-level biomedical sciences internship program.
• To assess the benefits and challenges for interns, host sites, and faculty supervisors.
• To provide a framework and best practices for establishing similar programs at other institutions.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys and focus group interviews.
• Data collection focused on intern experiences, host site satisfaction, and faculty attitudes.
• Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to assess program impact and stakeholder perceptions.

Main Results:

• Over five years, 123 internships were completed across diverse life science career paths.
• The program yielded significant benefits for interns (skill development), hosts (performance), and supervisors (cultural shift).
• Faculty attitudes towards internships became more accepting post-implementation, indicating cultural adaptation.

Conclusions:

• The internship program successfully supported biomedical trainees' career transitions and skill enhancement.
• A sustainable, institutionally funded model was achieved, demonstrating program viability.
• The findings offer valuable resources and best practices for replicating internship programs in academic settings.