Research Internship Program

Question: Does every applicant receive a position?
Answer: We are grateful for your interest to join our internship program. Due to the high level of applications we receive, we are often not able to accept all applicants. Applicants are welcome to reapply for another session if all positions are filled.

Question: Is this a paid position?
Answer: This is not a paid position as this is an unpaid research internship. However, students and other eligible applicants are encouraged to seek compensation through sponsorship by their university or organizations that provide individual funding for research.

Question: What is my time commitment?
Answer: Research Interns are asked to commit a minimum of two days per week for the internship period. Some universities provide their students with compensation for participating in research programs. If you would like your college to participate in this program, please have them contact the research department to discuss requirements. If your college requires a certain number of hours to satisfy the internship requirement, please indicate that in your application to let us know. Some universities will provide academic credit for internships. Anyone receiving academic credit for interning through a university must be processed through the Department of Medical Education. Please call 860.972.4187 for more information.

Question: May I commit to more than two days a week or more than one session?
Answer: Two days a week is the minimum requirement; you are absolutely welcome to commit more time than this minimum if it fits your schedule and our schedule. If you would like to commit to another session, you will have to reapply as before. We cannot reserve positions.

Question: How much does it cost to be a Research Intern?
Answer: The only out-of-pocket cost for our Interns is the transportation to and from the hospital. Hartford Hospital will provide free parking and a free t-shirt.

Question: Is there a dress code?
Answer: Yes. Research Interns are required to abide by the professional image policies of Hartford Hospital. Interns cannot wear shirts with words (other than Hartford Hospital logos), shorts, skirts above the knee, jeans, or scrubs (in non-clinical settings). Open-toes shoes are not allowed in patient care areas.

Question: Can I check my health status in EPIC while collecting data for research
Answer: No. Even though it is your own information, this is considered a HIPAA violation. You are not allowed to look up medical information on yourself, family, friends, or any person not on the list of approved research patients.

Question: Can I use my personal computer to work on data for IRB-approved research?
Answer: No, all Hartford HealthCare (HHC) studies that involve protected health information (PHI) are approved by the IRB only to be accessed on desktops and laptops that are registered and maintained within the HHC secure system.

Question: Can I transfer or discuss research data through my personal or school email?
Answer: No. You should always use your HHC email for communication regarding research studies and PHI.

Question: Can I share anesthesia research studies with my college friends and work colleagues?
Answer: No. Our studies are unique, and we try to maintain them this way until we publish them in different medical journals. We would ask that you do not share any information from these projects with anyone outside of this institution, as we value the uniqueness of the ideas of our research projects. However, please share your research experience with your friends and encourage them to participate.

Question: Will becoming a Research Intern guarantee me a job at the hospital, should I decide to apply for a paid position?
Answer: No, we cannot guarantee that Interns will obtain a paid position. Employees are selected for jobs based on their experience, skills, references, and credentials. Interning is a great way to take a step towards future employment, but it does not guarantee a position.

Question: What medical information will I need to show to become a Research Intern?
Answer: All new Interns will be asked to provide documentation of completed COVID-19 vaccinations, MMR vaccinations, Varicella vaccinations or history of chickenpox, a flu vaccine during the flu season, and have a Tuberculosis skin test within the last 12 months. The Tuberculosis test and flu vaccines are the only tests that can be provided here at Hartford Hospital. If you do not have documentation of your vaccinations, you will need to provide proof of immunity through titer testing (blood test). Titer testing is not provided through Hartford Hospital. Applicants will need to obtain the titer test at their own expense through their family physician.

Question: Will I need a flu shot?
Answer: Yes, Hartford Hospital requires all staff, including our Research Interns, to have a flu vaccine during flu season. Certain exceptions can be made for medical or religious reasons. Individuals with approved exceptions will be required to wear a mask during flu season.

Question: Can I shadow an anesthesiologist in the operating room?
Answer: Though shadowing is not necessarily a part of our Research Internship Program curriculum, we provide Research Interns with all of the necessary resources to shadow if there are opportunities available. These opportunities depend largely on the physician mentors and hospital staff. Though, most of our past Interns have been able to obtain shadowing experience through our program. The operating rooms are highly restricted areas, and all Interns intending to shadow are required to complete a Hartford Hospital training course prior to shadowing. Arrangements of shadowing do not occur through our program but through the Intern and the supervising clinician being shadowed.