UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Programs

The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program is distinct and separate from the hospital-based volunteer program.  

These UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program provides the on-boarding and clearances for invited students and other eligible individuals to participate in laboratory-based assignments, clinical research/quality improvement projects, administrative projects, and/or educational endeavored volunteer programs. Additionally, these programs processes clearances for individuals who have been invited into one of our Approved Formalized Shadowing Programs. Invitation and eligibility into the program is at the discretion of these departments and the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office. Priority will be given to UCLA undergraduates.

Research volunteer opportunities are geared towards undergraduate students as a learning opportunity, and for an introductory research experience, as well as to supplement their pre-health curriculum on the Health Sciences campus under the close supervision of our faculty and staff.

Please note, we do not recruit for the health sciences volunteer programs, and students must be invited by a faculty member or an approved staff sponsor to participate.

Program Selection

Please select (click) which program you will be part of for more information about the clearance process:

UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Programs for Minors (ages 16-17 only)

This program is designed to process clearances for:

• Prospective Volunteers/UCLA SRP Students invited by UCLA Health/Health Sciences faculty/staff to assist with Administrative Projects and/or Basic Science Research Projects.

Clinical UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program (ages 18 and older only)

This program is designed to process clearances for:

• Prospective Volunteers/UCLA SRP Students invited by UCLA Health/Health Sciences faculty/staff to assist with Clinical Research which includes IRB-Approved, IRB-Exempted studies, and Quality Improvement Projects.
• Prospective Volunteers invited by UCLA Health Sciences faculty/staff to assist with Administrative Projects which includes clerical tasks, program support, and outreach.
• Prospective Volunteers/UCLA SRP Students invited by UCLA School of Dentistry Faculty/Staff.
• Prospective Volunteers/UCLA SRP Students accepted into an Approved Formalized Shadowing Program.

Non-Clinical UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program (age 18 and older only)

This program is designed to process clearances for:

• Prospective Volunteers/UCLA SRP Students invited by UCLA Health/Health Sciences faculty/staff to assist with Non-Clinical Research which includes laboratory experiments, literature review studies, etc.
• Prospective Volunteers invited by UCLA Health Sciences faculty/staff to assist with Non-Clinical Administrative Projects which includes clerical tasks, program support, and outreach. 
• Please see "Clinical UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Program" for School of Dentistry invited volunteers/UCLA SRP students

For any questions, please contact the UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Office.

Due to high volumes of questions, if it is a shadowing inquiry, please read the shadowing policy note before contacting the program coordinators.

The UCLA Health Sciences Volunteer Programs do not provide, offer, or approve shadowing/observation opportunities.