Internship

Summer High School Research Internship

Overview:

The intern(s) will have the opportunity to learn from a multidisciplinary team that consists of research scientists, clinicians, a nurse practitioner and researchers in the BrainSPORT program. Dr. Christopher Giza leads the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Concussion Program. Dr. Giza graduated from Dartmouth College, received his M.D. from West Virginia University and completed Adult and Pediatric Neurology training at UCLA. He worked on the Yosemite Search and Rescue team before joining the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center in 1998.  He served as Vice-Chief of the California State Athletic Commission (2005-2015), as an advisor for the U.S. Department of Defense, traveling to Afghanistan (2011) and on the Board of Directors of the Concussion In Sport Group (CISG 2023-2024). He founded and directs the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT & Operation Mend BRAIN TBI programs. He co-authored concussion/mild TBI guidelines for AAN (2013), CDC (2018) and the CISG (2017, 2023). He serves on concussion advisory committees for MLS, NBA and US Soccer and is a clinical consultant for MLS/USSF, NHL/NHLPA, NBA, NFL, the LA Lakers and the LA Chargers. Dr. Giza co-leads the CARE4Kids Concussion Consortium, working to identify objective biomarkers of Persisting Post-Concussion Symptoms in adolescents.  He is the Rubin Brown Professor and Chief of Pediatric Neurology at UCLA Children’s Hospital.  The BrainSPORT Team, including Drs. Giza and Choe, are currently working hard on the largest and most comprehensive study of adolescents with persistent post-concussion symptoms. The study is called CARE4Kids: Endophenotypes of Persistent Post Concussion Symptoms and involves neuroimaging, blood sampling, autonomic nervous system testing, and cognitive assessment. Other projects are underway and applicants are encouraged to read through our webpage to gain a deeper understanding of our program prior to applying.

The intern(s) will work directly with BrainSPORT Study staff to recruit patients, enter research data, and conduct study protocols. They will have the opportunity to attend weekly Traumatic Brain Injury lab meetings with the BrainSPORT team, gaining valuable insight of the daily operations of clinical research.

Responsibilities:

Assist in research data collection and entry for study participants. Students will work directly with other interns, UCLA undergraduate and graduate medical students who work in the UCLA BrainSPORT program. A culminating project on a research topic of interest will be presented at the end of the internship.

Time Frame:

The internship with start on 6/9/2026 and will end on 8/4/2026. Your time commitment will be three to four half-days per week, for approximately 16 hours per week.

Eligibility:

Rising juniors, with the intent that one may be a mentor for a rising junior next year – please apply especially if you are interested in extending internship into the academic year