Training

Participants of this 9-week Summer Training in Aging Research Internship held by Penn ADRC will experience hands-on research, classroom-based learning, and faculty mentoring. Participants will receive a $4,500 stipend.

Who should apply?

• Current undergraduate, graduate or medical school student

• Full-time in any year or degree program

Identities and experiences the reviewers will consider:

• Students from underrepresented groups (URG), such as:

  • Racial/ethnic identities such as but not limited to Black or African/American, Latino/ Hispanic

  • Persons with disabilities

  • First generation college attendees

  • Persons with disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds

  • Persons who identify as LGBTQ

• Residents of Pennsylvania

How do I apply?

To apply for this program, please submit:

• A cover letter with your name, address, email, and telephone number, as well as your enrolled university, major, and year of study.
• A two-page essay: (1) Background including any identities or experiences (see list above) to be given special consideration (2) Interest in research or care of older adults with neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s (3) Commitment to health equity with a focus on the Black/ African American community (4) How this internship will advance your future studies and career (single-spaced, 12- point font with one-inch margin)
• Unofficial college transcript
• Resume
• Two letters of reference

Contact: Dr. Kathy Jedrziewski at jedrzmk@upenn.edu

FAQ

Program Details

• What does this program entail?
  • This is a 9-week mentorship-based program. You will be paired with a mentor based on your interests and career goals.
  • The Penn Memory Center is currently following a hybrid work model. As such, some of your mentorship experiences may be remote, while some will require in-person attendance. 
• What will we be doing during our mentorship?
  • Each mentorship will vary and is based on a mentorship plan. Mentorship plans are designed to engage students in a variety of projects being undertaken at the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Some projects are grounded in clinical research, and some involve basic research. There are also opportunities to get involved in projects related to communications, social work, clinical care and the brain bank. There is an emphasis on research, learning research skills and exploring clinical care.
  • At the end of the program, students are required to give a final presentation on their mentorship experience. 

Mentorship Opportunities Available

• What types of mentorship opportunities exist?
  • The Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) is a multifaceted network of professionals, including neurologists, geriatricians and other physicians, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, nurses, research coordinators, social workers, communications and outreach experts. Most are involved in a mix of clinical care and research endeavors. Mentors for this program are drawn from Penn ADRC faculty and staff. A match between intern and mentor is made based on the interests of the summer intern, as well as the mentorship opportunities offered by Penn ADRC faculty and staff. Periodically, opportunities will be offered to shadow physicians, research coordinators, physician assistants, nurses and social workers.

Program Requirements

• Are there any other requirements for the program?

  • There are several mandatory meetings that students must attend during their summer. These include a weekly consensus meeting, during which all patient data is discussed and evaluated to reach a diagnosis; presentations from faculty and staff and a weekly debriefing session. Mentors may also add mandatory meetings and other activities for the summer interns assigned to them.

  • Additionally, students will be required to complete CITI and HIPAA training before the first day of the program. Details regarding completion will be given upon acceptance.

• What is the dress code?
  • In general, the dress code for summer interns is business casual unless otherwise specified by mentors. It is the responsibility of summer interns to follow up with their mentors regarding specific dress codes for the locations in which they will be completing their training. For example, lab and clinical care settings may have certain mandatory requirements.

2023 Internship Dates: June 10 - August 9, 2024

Application deadline: February 19, 2024

2024 Flyer
 

Watch a Recap of the Aging Summer Research Internship

The Penn Memory Center is committed to assuring that the diverse population of older adults in the U.S. receive the care they need and participate in research that improves that care. To achieve this goal, we need to increase the diversity of clinicians and researchers in the field of aging research. In response to this need, the Penn Memory Center is pleased to announce the creation of the Penn Minority Scholars in Aging Research.

Who should apply? 

Candidates are students currently enrolled in a medical or doctoral degree program. We invite applicants from minority groups that are underrepresented in the field of aging research: Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. A successful applicant will tell us about their inspiring interest in research or clinical care focused on cognitive health, cognitive impairment (including dementia or mild cognitive impairment), Alzheimer’s disease, or other neurodegenerative disorders. We would also like to know how the applicant came to this interest and how this interest shapes the applicant’s vision of his or her career.

What is involved?

The Penn Minority Scholars in Aging Research Program comprises a paid internship that spans 12 weeks during the academic year. This program is co-directed by Jason Karlawish, MD, Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Neurology, and co-director of the Penn Memory Center; and Roy Hamilton, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Neurology, Assistant Dean for Cultural Affairs and Diversity for the Perelman School of Medicine, and Vice Chair for Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Neurology.

Scholars will:

• Work with Penn faculty mentor(s) on a scholarly project(s)
• Have an opportunity to observe clinicians in practice
• Attend weekly Penn Memory Center consensus conference to observe patient diagnosis determination and didactic sessions
• Present a final presentation on their project
• Where applicable, scholars will be strongly encouraged to present their work at academic meetings or in peer-reviewed publications.

Topic areas to consider: Applicants are strongly encouraged to tell us what interests them. The center faculty and staff have particular interests in the biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging, ethics, quality of life, clinical care and diagnosis, stigma, caregiving, public medical communication, and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques.

Applicants are encouraged to tour the Penn Memory Center website to learn about faculty research interests.

How do I apply? 

To apply for this program, please submit:

• Unofficial transcript
• Resume
• A one-page essay that explains your background, your interest in aging research, how you came to this interest, what you’d like to do and your career vision. If you have an interest in working with any of the faculty listed on the Penn Memory Center website, please state that on your application.
• The names and contact information of two references

The Christopher M. Clark Scholars Program provides a unique training opportunity for a diverse group of individuals who are post-doctoral (MD or PhD) trainees, graduate students or junior faculty to train at the Penn ADRC for a career focused on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The spectrum of training opportunities includes basic, translational and clinical research and is available for up to 2 years.

Clark Scholars will:

• Join the Penn ADRC community and have ready access to the faculty and many resources provided by the center including lectures, retreats, journal clubs, team meetings, focused discussion groups and a rich array of data
• Acquire a keen appreciation of how basic findings inform clinical research and clinical findings inform basic research
• Be provided with research skills training
• Have two types of mentors – career and scientific
• Be supported in the pursuit of an academic career focused on ADRD
• Write a career development grant proposal with the support of their mentors
• Receive financial support as needed
  • A Clark Scholar can receive financial support of up to $20,000 per year if justified in their application and approved

Application:

• Write an essay (no longer than 4 pages) that includes your:
  • Background and qualifications
  • Research focus
  • Career goals
  • How your plans will enhance diversity
  • Potential research project and mentors (if identified)
  • Financial support needed
• NIH format biosketch
• Include a cover page that includes your full name, address, email and telephone number

We strongly encourage applicants to contact us ahead of applying to discuss their ideas and application.

Application deadline: March 18, 2024

Flyer.

The ADRC and PMC support MD or MD/PhD clinical research fellowships in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Fellows in this program should be pursuing a career as physician-scientists in the field of ADRD clinical research. Individuals in the disciplines of neurology, psychiatry and geriatric medicine are encouraged to apply, but those in other disciplines are also welcome. Fellows will be engaged in mentored clinical evaluations, as well as clinical trials and other patient-oriented research. They will also have protected time for scholarly work with the expectation that grant support will be pursued by the end of their training. For persons interested and eligible, United Council on Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship participation is available. Visit the Neurology Fellowships Program page for more information. 

The ADRC and PMC support two-year post-doctoral research fellowships (PhD, MD-PhD, MD) in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Areas of work may overlap with ADRC faculty and collaborators but could also include other diverse areas of study. Examples of areas of work include, but are not limited to, clinical trials, basic science, health services research, economics, genetics, biomarkers, social-psychology, proteomics, novel molecular imaging, bioinformatics, etc.

This certificate program is available to qualified students currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD at the University of Pennsylvania who have acquired a body of knowledge that is key to improving the health and psychosocial outcomes for our aging population.

This multi-disciplinary certificate is housed in Penn’s MPH program, but draws from courses in the School of Social Policy & Practice, School of Nursing, and the Perelman School of Medicine. This program is directed by Jason Karlawish, MD, Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Neurology, and Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center (PMC).

Students in a wide range of graduate programs are eligible including, but not limited to, the Schools of Nursing and Social Policy and Practice as well as the Neuroscience Graduate Group and of course the Master of Public Health Program at the Perelman School of Medicine.

Course Requirements:

• PUBH 589 "The Alzheimer’s Crisis: why it happened and what we can do about it"

• PUBH 502 “Introduction to Priniciples and Methods of Epidemiology” or other relevant epidemiology course

• A course related to public policy, law, ethics, and healthcare management. (Courses already approved are PUBH 505: “Public Health Policy & Administration” and PUBH 507: “Public Health Law & Ethics”)

• An elective relevant to public health and cognitive aging

Additional Requirements:

• Attend at least five PMC consensus conferences, at which clinicians review patient diagnoses
• Attend or view recordings of at least five PMC didactic presentations given by PMC clinicians, faculty, or staff or invited researchers
• An oral or written presentation

How to apply
To apply for this certificate program, you will need to submit:

• Unofficial Penn transcripts
• Resume
• Approval from Graduate Program director and academic advisor
• A brief (one-page) essay outlining how the courses and other requirements will train you to develop expertise in the public health dimensions of cognitive aging

Contact: Kathy Jedrziewski
jedrzmk@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

The Penn Memory Center has opportunities for MSW students to complete their foundation and clinical year field placements.

We accept one Foundation Year intern to assist our Program Manager with programs supporting people living with dementia and their family caregivers. Interns have an opportunity to work on an intergenerational program, Time Out, which matches college students with families to provide companionship to older adults and respite to caregivers. Other opportunities include leading weekly mindfulness meditation sessions and coordination of other social engagement programs. Students will gain experience interviewing clients, administering assessments and some program evaluation. 

We accept up to two Advanced Clinical Year interns to work individually with families living with dementia. Advanced year interns meet with families at the time of diagnosis to provide psychoeducation, resource referrals, and support. Interns develop relationships and provide ongoing counseling and therapy sessions to family caregivers during their internship. Interns are involved as co-facilitators in caregiver classes and support groups. 

Interested students should ask their Field Office representative reach out to Alison Lynn and Felicia Greenfield by emailing them at alison.lynn@pennmedicine.upenn.edu and felicia.greenfield@pennmedicine.edu.