Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai (AIMS) Research Internship Program — Application

Thank you for your interest in the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai (AIMS) Research Internship Program, a highly selective, merit-based summer research training program housed within one of the world’s leading academic medical centers. Each year, the Hurd Laboratory recruits a limited cohort of outstanding students through a competitive application and review process to participate in immersive, mentored research training in addiction neuroscience.

Interns receive structured, hands-on exposure to the full scientific research process, including the formulation of research questions, experimental design, data collection, and analytical interpretation. Participants work closely with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows on active research projects, contributing meaningfully to ongoing investigations while developing advanced scientific reasoning, technical proficiency, and research independence.

Research conducted within the AIMS Research Internship Program is centered on the neurobiology of opioid use disorder and related substance use disorders, with a translational focus on neural circuits, molecular mechanisms, and behavioral processes underlying addiction vulnerability and relapse-related behavior.

In addition to laboratory research, interns participate in a structured scholarly curriculum that includes attendance at scientific seminars, guided critical evaluation of primary research literature, and the development, presentation, and defense of an original experimental proposal. This training framework is designed to cultivate intellectual independence, analytical rigor, and professional readiness for advanced study in biomedical and clinical research.

Admission to the AIMS Research Internship Program is highly competitive, with applications undergoing formal evaluation based on academic achievement, research potential, and alignment with the program’s scientific focus. Applications are accepted annually from November 1 through March 1, with admission decisions typically communicated by March 31.

To apply, applicants must submit the completed application, a cover letter outlining academic and research interests, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and academic transcripts. Application materials should be submitted electronically to Dr. Alexandra Chisholm (alexandra.chisholm@mssm.edu) with the subject line: “2026 AIMS Research Internship Application.”

For additional information or program-related inquiries, applicants may contact Dr. Chisholm directly.