War Related Illness and Injury Study Center
NJ WRIISC Research Internship & Externship Programs
Overview
The Cardiorespiratory Physiology Laboratory (CPL) is offering placements in its Research Internship Program to qualified students. The internship provides students an opportunity to work with WRIISC researchers and clinicians, in an environment dedicated to the post-deployment health of Veterans. The WRIISC is housed within the VA NJ Health Care System where we have a number of cutting edge research laboratories. The WRIISC research program is expansive and faculty pursues a variety of interests ranging from human physiology to behavioral health to healthcare delivery. We encourage you to look through the faculty profiles and active research projects, and to contact investigators directly for more detailed information.
The Internship Program is designed to be flexible and there is no predefined length to an internship. If students are seeking course credit, formal arrangements with the college/university are possible. Interns are expected to work out the details of their internship experience with their supervising faculty mentor (i.e., hours/week, duration, responsibilities, and expected outcome/products).
All interns are expected to fully engage in a wide variety of WRIISC research activities such as didactic trainings and journal clubs. Interns are also engaged in our Clinical Program whereby each intern must shadow at least one Veteran completing a comprehensive clinical evaluation during his/her internship. At the culmination of the internship, the intern will present a summary of their work and/or project to WRIISC staff and colleagues.
For questions or additional details regarding the WRIISC Research Internship Program, please contact the Internship Director, Dr. Michael Falvo (800-248-8005; Michael.Falvo@VA.gov).
Eligibility
Prospective candidates must be enrolled as a student at least half-time in an accredited college or university at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Application Procedure
Prospective candidates must submit the following to the Internship Director via email:
- A curriculum vitae or resume, with the names/contact information of two references
- A description of your current program of study and status (i.e. year in school, major, relevant courses completed)
- A cover letter describing your research interests, goals for the internship, and faculty with whom you would like to work
- Transcript
Selection Process
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and qualified applicants will be interviewed via phone, video conference and/or on-site. Individual faculty members select their own interns and serve as the Primary Faculty Supervisor; however, an intern may work with multiple faculty should there be a shared interest or joint project. At the present time, the WRIISC Research Internship Program is an unpaid internship.
Important Information
As this internship is at a federal facility, selected interns must complete a formal background check and perform on-line research trainings in order to participate in research activities. Please be aware that this process may take several months to complete. We therefore encourage applicants to contact the WRIISC well ahead of their preferred internship start date.
Overview
The Behavioral Health Research Lab (BHRL) is offering placements in its Psychology Externship Program to qualified students who are interested in clinical research, health psychology, and Veterans’ health. The externship program is a 2-day per week placement. The BHRL develops and tests behavioral health interventions to help Veterans better manage complex post-deployment health concerns including chronic pain, Gulf War Illness, medically unexplained illnesses (such as chronic multisymptom illness [CMI] and long-COVID), symptoms related to military and environmental exposures, and other complex health conditions. As part of the BHRL, externs will develop both research and clinical skills relevant to advanced study in clinical, counseling or health psychology. Research experiences include exposure to study protocols and research procedures such as assisting with study recruitment, screening, and enrollment. Interested externs may also have the opportunity to participate in a small data analysis project. Clinical experiences include learning to deliver behavioral health interventions within a clinical research study, as well as additional clinical opportunities when available in our center. Externs participate in a regular didactic program offering training in a range of topics relevant to Veterans’ health, clinical research, behavioral health, and professional development and may also attend select internal trainings, as appropriate. Our program aims to provide a collaborative, positive, and productive culture to support externs in their training goals.
For questions or additional details regarding the BHRL’s Psychology Externship Program at the WRIISC, please contact Dr. Fiona Graff (800-248-8005; FionaA.Graff@va.gov).
Eligibility
Prospective candidates must be enrolled as a full time student in an accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology and have completed at least one full year of graduate training.
Application Procedure
The BHRL Psychology Externship Program is not currently accepting applications for the upcoming academic year but may resume for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please check back and/or contact us with any questions.
Selection Process
Interview and selection process follows the NYNJADOT timeline and guidelines.
Important Information
As this externship is at a federal facility, selected externs must complete a formal background check and perform on-line research trainings in order to participate in research activities.
