Internships for ETH students: Exploring Health Ethics and Policy Research
Interested in the ethical and policy dimensions of healthcare innovation? The Health Ethics and Policy Lab offers internships for ETH students and from different fields of study and levels. Our lab tackles complex ethical challenges in digital health, precision medicine, genetics, biomedical engineering, data governance and public health health. We use a multidisciplinary approach that blends philosophy, social science, medicine, public health, data science, policy, and law. By doing an internship in our lab, you will gain hands-on research experience and contribute to our Ethics Resource Platform.
Who can apply?
Bachelor of Medicine Students
Prepare for your master's degree while gaining crucial "bench to bedside" experience in our Translational Research Internships (TRIs). These internships last six weeks and take place from May to July. Specific project details are announced early in the year on Moodle.
Master's Students
Deepen your expertise in health ethics and policy and gain hands-on research experience through a research internship or semester project in our lab.These internships vary in duration depending on workload.
External Students
We welcome motivated students from other institutions! Explore the cutting-edge of health ethics alongside our team. Please note: external students are responsible for securing their own funding.
What you will gain
- Contribute to meaningful research with real-world impact.
- Develop valuable skills and build your professional network.
- Explore the intersections of healthcare, ethics, technology, and policy
Testimonials from past interns
Projects our Interns worked on in 2024:
- Ethical AI in health in Switzerland
- The intersection of AI ethics in medicine and climate research
- Ethical guidelines in machine learning for health science
- Technical advances and regulatory developments in biomedicine and bioengineering
- Ethics related to genomic and multiomic sequencing in children
Testimonials
"This experience has not only enhanced my understanding of qualitative research methodologies but also deepened my appreciation for the ethical complexities involved in genomics. It has reinforced my interest in educating myself in this field and has equipped me with practical skills that will be beneficial in my future career. The supportive and collaborative environment of the Health Ethics & Policy Lab played a significant role in making this internship a highly rewarding and educational experience, which I am very thankful for.” - Valentin Herrera
Key activities of the internship in 2023
- Individual Research Projects: Interns worked on individual projects focused on bioethics and translational research, exploring the ethical considerations surrounding these fields.
- Journal Clubs: Participated in weekly discussions of research articles, fostering critical thinking and knowledge sharing.
- Lab Engagement: Actively engaged in lab events, contributing to a collaborative and dynamic research environment.
- Mentorship and Skill Development: Benefited from mentorship by established researchers, developing analytical skills and gaining practical research experience.
- Translational Research Focus: Interns, particularly those in specific programs, gained insights into the "bench to bedside" process, learning how to translate research into real-world medical applications.
Key activities of the internship in 2022
- Research Projects: Conducted individual research projects and contributed to lab projects examining diverse topics within health ethics and policy, such as attitudes towards gene editing, ethical issues in precision medicine, digital health promotion, and the implementation of global ethics guidelines.
- Skill Development: Gained foundational knowledge in health ethics and policy, while deepening their expertise in a specific subfield.
- Lab Collaboration: Participated in the lab's intellectual environment, fostering discussion and collaboration with researchers from diverse backgrounds.
Testimonials
"The internship was an extremely rich experience. I have for the first time dealt with literature so closely and it opens many perspectives for my future research projects. The team working in the Health Ethics and Policy Lab was very welcoming and kind, we had the opportunity to get to know each other and also share great conversations during journal clubs as well as during coffee breaks.” - Faustine Fuld
"In general, I very much liked the work here at the Lab. I therefore recommend this research internship to students who are interested in ethics in the context of medicine and technology, and who would like to gain broad overview of these topics.” - Marec Weibel
"I am glad that I picked this internship. It is different from an internship in the laboratory or a clinic. Instead of dealing with cell cultures, I dealt with thoughts about gene editing and its potential availability. Personally, I got a glimpse into how scientists and postdocs, coming from different fields in the humanities, work academically.” - Sumanie Gächter
"The translational research internship was a great completion of our bachelors’ program. I was able to deepen my knowledge in topics that I am really interested in. Moreover, I earned a new perspective on research in general and got a better understanding of what translational research is. With this new knowledge I have a better feeling of how I want to create my future and what possibilities I have” - Lena Supe
"This internship has improved my critical thinking skills as I encounter new findings and treatments, and it has improved my understanding of various forms of research. This internship provided me with many insights and practical skills in how bioethical research is conducted. I very much look forward to potentially continuing the research on Nanomedicine and feel very grateful for the knowledge and skills I acquired during these past six weeks.” - Sara Walder