Externships
The Summer Externship Placement is a two-credit course that connects your academic training with the working world of reproductive science and medicine.
Explore a professional setting
The externship provides the opportunity to discover settings in which you might want to build a career. Explore how research informs decisions, technologies, and services. See where your science can take you!
Potential settings include biomedical research laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, IVF clinics, animal reproduction and conservation organizations, patient advocacy groups, policy organizations, and ventures focused on FemTech or reproductive technologies.
Placements are developed around student interests and host availability. Specific organizations, locations, and activities will vary; a particular placement cannot be guaranteed.
Host feedback and course assessment help you identify strengths and areas for further development. Activities in clinical or animal settings are determined by supervision, host policies, and your qualifications.
Prepare with your goals in mind
Program staff will help you connect your interests with suitable externship opportunities. Think about the questions you want to answer: What does a research role in industry involve? How does a reproductive technology reach users? How do advocacy and policy influence research priorities?
Connect learning with practice
- Observe how professionals apply reproductive science to practical problems.
- Explore research and development, data analysis, quality control, or regulatory considerations relevant to the placement.
- Learn how multidisciplinary teams communicate and make decisions.
- Build professional relationships and refine your career interests.
Current externship opportunities
- In vitro Fertilization (IVF) clinics
- Work alongside scientists in each IVF clinic to gain exposure to state-of-the-art IVF laboratories, clinical embryology, and translational research.
- Animal Conservation and Gamete Cryopreservation
- You will work alongside researchers to gain skills required to cryopreserve gametes, optimize in vitro fertilization protocols, and adapt embryological techniques to non-model species.
- Entrepreneurship, FemTech, and Industry
- Work with leaders in the reproductive medicine industry to learn about product development, industry practices, and bridging the gap between academic research, clinicians, and consumers
- Advocacy and Public Policy
- Work with international researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals to tackle intersecting inequalities that undermine rights and access to contraception, HIV and STI prevention, maternal and newborn health, safe abortion, prevention and treatment of infertility, and sexuality education, among other sexual and reproductive health needs.