Student Opportunities
McLean Hospital has educational opportunities for college graduates, undergraduate researchers, medical students, and students at Harvard University.
Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Fellowship Program
McLean Hospital offers a two-year Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Fellowship Program for college graduates interested in pursuing a career in mental health.
This guided, entry-level professional experience is shaped by the four pillars of McLean Hospital’s mission: excellence in clinical care, groundbreaking state-of-the-art scientific investigation, training the next generation of mental health professionals, and serving the hospital and our communities.
Learn more about the fellowship.
McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program
The McLean Mental Health Research Summer Program (MMHRSP) is a 10-week (June-August) summer research program for undergraduate students interested in the fields of neuroscience, clinical psychology (research), psychiatry, and mental health research related fields.
Program features include:
- In-person 10-week research experience in a laboratory at McLean Hospital
- Extensive workshops to teach and promote strategies for success in a research career (neuroscience, clinical psychology and psychiatry)
- Participation in community engagement activities and STEM outreach in Massachusetts
- Stipend, (no housing provided)
Eligible students must be:
- Currently enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college; Massachusetts resident or attend college in Massachusetts
- At least a sophomore (4-year college) or a 2nd-year (2-year community college) as of Fall semester
- Covered by health insurance for the duration of the summer program
- Strongly interested in careers in neuroscience, clinical psychology, psychiatry, and related research field
About the MMHRSP
The program provides access to basic and clinical neuroscience research at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School’s primary psychiatric teaching hospital, to students with little to no prior research experience. In addition to a hands-on, mentored research experience and scientific networking, students participate in community engagement activities during the program.
Program FAQ
What does work in a BASIC neuroscience laboratory look like?
In general, basic science research involves conducting experiments on cells, tissues, or animals (e.g., rodent behavior and models of disease, molecular techniques)
Examples of daily expectations/experiences:
- Sectioning tissue (mouse, fly, or human brains)
- Molecular bench work on your tissue (such as gene sequencing)
- Using microscopy to visualize the cells or area of interest
- Analyzing data using graphical software and statistical techniques
- Using microscopy to image
- Rodent or fly behavior
- Literature review
What does work in a CLINICAL psychology/neuroscience laboratory look like?
Clinical research involves studies of humans (e.g., human neuroimaging, etiology, clinical trials)
Examples of daily expectations/experiences:
- Reading scientific literature related to topic of interest for research group (e.g., literature reviews, journal articles)
- Assisting with management of behavioral, clinical, and/or imaging database(s)
- Conducting or observing phone interviews for preliminary screening
- Observing diagnostic clinical interviews
- Learning how to perform preliminary data analyses with various statistical analysis platforms (i.e., SPSS, R, Excel, MATLAB), and pre-process neuroimaging data (e.g., fMRI, EEG)
- Expectations/experiences may vary based on research group
Can seniors graduating in the Fall apply to the program?
Yes
Is this program available for graduate students?
No. MMHRSP is only available to undergraduate students.
Do you have a minimum GPA requirement?
No. We acknowledge that there are many factors contributing to a GPA. If you feel that your GPA does not reflect your academic potential, please include an explanation of this which demonstrates your interest in science and explains factors contributing to your GPA in your application. There is a space for this explanation in the application.
Does the program provide housing?
No. It is expected that MMHRSP trainees will be able to come to their McLean labs Monday-Friday for the 10-week program.
How is the stipend for participating in this program handled?
Stipend is paid in two installments over the summer. The first installment will be sent out shortly after the program starts, with the intention of helping with housing costs.
Will you provide a stipend for public transportation?
Yes. We will provide MBTA passes.
How To Apply
Online application requires a one-page personal statement, an unofficial transcript, and one letter of recommendation.
Application deadline is February 13.
Interviews take place in March, with offers extended in late March. The fellowship begins in early June.
With any questions, please contact us by email.
Medical Student Education
McLean Hospital offers opportunities for medical students interested in pursuing elective studies in psychiatry.
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School (HMS) students interested in an elective at McLean Hospital may learn more on the HMS website. For more information, please contact the HMS Registrar or contact John B. Roseman, MD, director of Medical Student Education at McLean.
Non-HMS Medical Student
Students from other medical schools may apply for an advanced fourth year elective at McLean Hospital through the Harvard Medical School Registrar. HMS does not offer elective opportunities for non-HMS students prior to the fourth year of medical school.
International Medical Students
Students from international schools may learn more regarding the exchange program for international medical students on HMS’s website.
Harvard Student Opportunities
Harvard University offers a number of programs which can be fulfilled via McLean Hospital.
The Scholars in Medicine Program allows students to carry out a faculty mentored scholarly project as a graduation requirement.
The Program in Neuroscience, a PhD training opportunity, provides students with the instruction, research experience, and mentoring they need to become leaders in research and education.
Harvard College undergraduate students may coordinate an independent study at McLean.
