Are you a Bachelor’s or Master’s student interested in completing your mandatory internship at the BIH?
Explore how to find a research group and get started with your internship application.

Duration: 6 weeks to 6 months (full-time)
Start: any time 
Location: Berlin

We primarily offer mandatory internships for natural science and computer science-related degree programs. You can find the relevant areas in the FAQ.
IMPORTANT: A prerequisite for the internship is proof of measles immunity / measles vaccination!

FAQ

  • Step 1: How do I find a research group for my mandatory internship?

    Before submitting your application documents, please familiarize yourself with the research groups at BIH. Which research focus interests you? Which group would you like to apply to? The choice of research group is entirely up to you. Please note that we do not accept general  applications.

    Helpful links for your exploration:

    Research Groups

  • Step 2: Which application documents do I need to submit?
    1. Motivation Letter
      Your motivation is important to us. Why do you want to complete your mandatory internship with us? Briefly explain why you chose a particular research group.
    2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    3. Attachments:
    • Current enrollment certificate
    • Proof that this is a mandatory internship
    • Proof of Immunization Status (Medical Certificate): According to the Infection Protection Act, individuals working in a hospital (regardless of direct patient contact) must provide proof of their immunization status for standard vaccinations against airborne diseases. This includes proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, pertussis, and diphtheria.
  • Step 3: Where should I submit my application?

    (1) Mandatory internships are available in the natural sciences, such as:

    • Biology
    • Biochemistry
    • Medicine
    • Stem Cell Biology
    • Immunocardiology
    • Genetics
    • (Bio)Mechanics
    • or similar fields.

    (2) Mandatory internships are also available in computer science-related fields, such as:

    • Medical Informatics
    • Computer Science
    • Bioinformatics
    • Digital Medicine
    • or similar areas.

    Please send your application directly to the research group or core unit of your choice.

  • Are mandatory internships paid?

    No, mandatory internships at BIH are not paid.

  • Are internships offered to non-students?

    Mandatory internships for school students or trainees as part of a retraining program are offered on a limited basis, depending on available capacity within the working groups.

Voices on the internship

Quote

I completed a six-week internship at the BIH in the field of bioinformatics. The research group focused on a variety of topics related to the use and integration of medical data for scientific research, with activities ranging from conceptual work and data analysis to software development. My tasks were extremely varied. What I found particularly exciting was the opportunity to learn new programming concepts. I worked on adapting R scripts for statistical analyses and explored data integration and visualization in Python. As part of my mandatory internship, I also developed a visualization concept to illustrate the temporal comparison of prescribed medications.

Bioinformatics B.Sc. student

Quote apprentice IT Specialist in Application Development

As part of my training as an IT specialist in application development, I completed a six-month mandatory internship in the field of Data Management and Bioinformatics Services at the BIH at Charité. During this time, I contributed to the further development of a Flask-based web platform, focusing on workflow management and UX/UI optimization using Python, HTML/CSS, and JavaScript. This role allowed me to deepen my technical knowledge through practical application and gain valuable experience in developing user-friendly, data-driven applications.

apprentice IT Specialist in Application Development

Quote Kiiu Ringuette, Schiller Gymnasium

As part of my mandatory 9th-grade student internship, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in the Brain Simulation section at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité. During my internship, I gained exciting insights into research and science. I was particularly impressed by the staff’s clear and understandable explanations, which allowed even complex topics to be presented in an accessible way. In the second week, I had the chance to work with the TVBase program and explore various concepts related to the simulation of the human brain. The internship significantly deepened my interest in scientific and theoretical subjects and gave me valuable insight into the daily work life within a research laboratory.

Kiiu Ringuette, Schiller Gymnasium