For Preceptors

Because unpaid interns are not Duke employees, they can't do all the same things a study coordinator can do. There is significant risk associated with allowing someone who is not employed by Duke to do certain tasks. In addition, in many cases Duke is contracted to complete study activities on behalf of the study sponsor – and cannot pass that work off to someone who is not employed by Duke. Therefore, what an intern can do depends a lot on the agreements that have been signed as part of their experience.

For more details on acceptable and unacceptable internship activities, please review the online Clinical Research Internship Preceptor/Mentor Training. Register here: DOCR-CRISP-103 | 00187656

To ensure a successful internship experience for both the intern and your research team, there are several elements to consider incorporating. Remember, interns are here to learn and grow in a supportive environment. They are representing Duke when they are here and also need to learn the expectations for a variety of work environments they may encounter. By providing them with a valuable learning experience, you contribute to the future of the clinical research workforce while also benefiting from their contributions to your projects.

• Clear Expectations: Set clear and achievable goals for meeting the internship objectives, outlining tasks, responsibilities, and learning opportunities.
• Supervision and Mentoring: Assign qualified supervisor(s) to guide and mentor the intern and ensure they know what activities are allowable for the intern.
• Training and Orientation: Provide a comprehensive orientation to familiarize the intern with the research facility, team members, and standard operating procedures.
• Regular Feedback: Schedule regular feedback sessions to provide constructive feedback and address any questions or concerns.
• Learning Opportunities: Offer opportunities for the intern to attend Duke workshops or trainings that are related to their professional development.
• Inclusion and Team Collaboration: Involve the intern in team meetings and activities to foster a sense of belonging and collaboration.
• Ethical Considerations: Educate the intern about the importance of ethical conduct in clinical research, including participant confidentiality and informed consent.
• Networking Opportunities: Introduce the intern to other professionals in the field to expand their network and career prospects.
• Safe Space: Invite the intern into a welcoming and inclusive environment with a study team that values different perspectives.
• Professional Development: The internship experience should match their professional development goals and launch them in the right direction toward those goals.
• Professionalism: You and your team should model professional behavior and provide guidance for presenting themselves in a variety of professional contexts.
• Accountability: Set and communicate expectations about professionalism in the workplace, and hold them accountable to those expectations.

CRISP personnel will work with you to onboard your intern.  Below are the actions that must be completed by the preceptor/study team:

• Notify your CRU’s RPM (or ARPM, if applicable) that you wish to engage an intern in your research.
• Complete the online Clinical Research Internship Preceptor/Mentor Training 
• Sponsor a guest account for the intern (external students only)
• Complete Drug Product Form (clinic settings only; provided by CRISP)
• Complete Exhibit A Form with learning objectives (provided by CRISP)
• Request a background check for the intern as needed

The preceptor/study team must collect the following items from the intern and send to CRISP:

• Copy of health insurance (external interns only)
• Copy of vaccination records
• Documentation of TB test completed within the past year (clinical settings only)
• DUHS TB Attestation Form (clinical settings only; provided by CRISP)
• DUHS Confidentiality Agreement Form (provided by CRISP)
• Duke External Intern Clinical Research Participation Agreement (external students only; provided by CRISP)
• Duke Intern Clinical Research Participation Agreement (Duke students only; provided by CRISP)

The preceptor/study team must ensure the intern completes the following, and then the preceptor/study team should submit documentation to CRISP:

• Background check
• Getting Started with Your Clinical Research Internship (online training)
• Clinical Research Intern “Time Out” Training: Pausing to Protect Study Participants + Their Privacy (online training)
• CRISP pre-internship survey 

Submit your opportunity via our online portal.

The individual is a DUKE CAMPUS GRADUATE STUDENT.

This information is for individuals who are current Duke graduate students on Duke Campus and NOT part of the School of Medicine

If the individual who will be the intern is a Duke Campus Graduate student and the individual WILL be interacting with study participants, the CRISP Internship Request needs to be completed and submitted.

If the individual is a Duke Campus Graduate student and who WILL NOT be interacting with study participants, do NOT complete and submit the CRISP Internship Request. The individual should be added to study Key Personnel as a “Graduate Student.”

The individual is a DUKE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OR NURSING GRADUATE STUDENT

If the individual who will be an intern is a current graduate student in the Duke School of Medicine or Duke School of Nursing, do NOT submit a CRISP Internship Request.  The individual should be added to study Key Personnel in the most appropriate role.

The individual is a DUKE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

The individual will be paid for work OR it is part of work-study, do NOT submit a CRISP Internship Request if they will be PAID for their work on the study or if it is part of work-study.  Please add the individual to study Key Personnel in the most appropriate role.

The individual will NOT be paid.

Whether or not you need to complete and submit a CRISP Internship Request depends on what type of data the individual will be accessing.

Do NOT apply to CRISP if using:

• • • De-identified data
    • Identifiable data that has been collected via consent for a research study
    • Unconsented data collected solely for the purposes of recruitment and consent

Apply to CRISP if using:

• Nonconsented data (DUHS data not collected in the setting of consent).  Example:  Retroactive chart review to populate a database

The individual is NOT AFFILIATED WITH DUKE.

In order to be eligible to participate in an internship at Duke, A STUDENT MUST BE FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS:

• Duke University
• Campbell University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Durham Technical Community College
• East Carolina University
• Elon University
• Greensboro College
• Meredith College
• NC A&T
• North Carolina Central University
• Northern Illinois University
• Robert Morris University
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina, Charlotte
• University of North Carolina, Greensboro
• University of North Carolina, Wilmington
• University of North Florida
• Warren Wilson
• Watts College of Nursing

If the potential intern is currently attending one of the institutions listed above and wants to participate in an internship at Duke, please complete the CRISP Internship Request. 

If the potential intern is not currently affiliated with one of the institutions listed above, then the individual is not eligible for CRISP.  Please refer to the Other resources for individuals not from a CRISP Participating institution.

It usually takes 3-6 months to formalize the legal agreement between Duke and an institution so that Duke can accept potential interns.  We generally partner with schools from which we expect a steady stream of interns. If you are aware of institutions from where there are multiple students interested, we would be happy to consider an agreement.  Please contact us at crisp@duke.edu.

Other resources for individuals not from a CRISP participating institution. 

Duke has several additional resources for individuals who are not from a CRISP-affiliated institution. 

• Center for Pathways Program: For students and professionals, the Center serves as a starting point from which anyone interested in STEM or medicine can find programs that fit their interests and life stage. Visit their website for more information.

• Duke’s STAR Program: The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program provides a high-quality research experience for undergraduate students, high school students, and middle and high school teachers during the summer academic break. Visit their website for more information.
• Work-study: If you are a Duke students who has applied for financial aid and have been offered work-study, you have an opportunity to gain great work experience and network with professionals in the Duke community. Visit the Duke Office Undergraduate Financial Support for more information.
• Volunteering: Duke University Hospital is pleased to offer a volunteer program for college students. Although the program is designed to meet core competencies for students considering a career in health professions, volunteering is open to all majors. Visit the website of the DUH College Student Program for more information.

After the Internship Request is reviewed and the intern is determined to be eligible, a CRISP coordinator will reach out to the intern and the identified preceptor to begin the onboarding process.   Multiple items are required from both the preceptor/study team and the intern, as detailed above.

If all onboarding documents and trainings are completed and submitted in a timely manner, CRISP onboarding can be completed in 4 weeks.

Contact CRISP at crisp@duke.edu