For Preceptors

So, you are thinking about hosting a clinical research intern! Hosting an intern to help them learn about clinical research studies can be a beneficial decision for your team and for the intern's professional development. There are several benefits including:

• Developing an Early-Career Individual: By hosting an intern, you have the opportunity to mentor and guide an early-career individual. This allows you to share your knowledge and expertise, fostering the next generation of clinical researchers and helping them develop essential skills and competencies.

• Growing the Clinical Research Workforce: Internships play a critical role in cultivating a skilled clinical research workforce. By providing hands-on experience and professional development opportunities, you contribute to the growth and sustainability of the clinical research field.

• Leadership Experience: Supervising an intern provides valuable leadership experience for your team members. It allows you to enhance your mentoring, teaching, and management skills, which can be beneficial for your own professional growth and career advancement.

• Innovative Projects: Interns can bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to your projects. Their unique viewpoints and enthusiasm can lead to creative solutions and improvements in your research processes, contributing to the overall success of your studies.

Interns learn about various professional expectations during their "Getting Started with Your Clinical Research Internship" training. These expectations are essential for creating a positive and productive environment for both the interns and the study team. While you, as the internship preceptor, will establish specific expectations for each intern’s experience, the general guidelines below are the standards we encourage all interns to strive for:

• Punctuality: Interns are expected to arrive on time for meetings, shifts, and assignments. This is not only a sign of respect but also ensures that they make the most of their learning opportunities.

• Communication: Clear and respectful communication is key to a successful internship. Encourage your intern to maintain open lines of communication with you and your team, ensuring that questions, concerns, and updates are shared promptly.

• Dress Code: Your department may have a specific dress code. Interns should adhere to these guidelines as it demonstrates their commitment to professionalism and helps them integrate seamlessly into the work environment.

• Confidentiality: We require students to sign agreements that indicate they must respect the confidentiality of patient data and sensitive research information.

• Curious: Interns should be curious and seek guidance. We want them to clearly identify their needs and organize their thoughts to make the most of the internship.

• Accountability: Interns should act in a professional manner by taking accountability for their work.

• Open-Mindedness: In the training, we encourage interns to keep an open mind, avoid jumping to conclusions, and develop informed opinions by observing how you and your team organize your ideas and respond to questions. 

• Flexibility: Intern responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of your project. We encourage students to remain flexible and open to completing different and unexpected tasks.

• Advanced Notice: Interns should keep you informed by providing advanced noticed when they will be away or busy due to classes, exams, holidays, vacations, or sick days.

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 take the Clinical Research Internship Preceptor/Mentor Training for more details. Register here: DOCR-CRISP-103 | 00187656.

Below are the required items that are needed. For more details, refer to our CRISP Onboarding Checklist.

The following items are required for 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 Clinical Research Internship Preceptor/Mentor Training | Register here: DOCR-CRISP-103 | 00187656

• Sponsor a guest account for the intern (External Students Only)

• Complete Drug Product Form (Clinic Settings Only)

• Complete Exhibit A Form with learning objectives

• Request a background check for the intern via the Duke Background Check Center (BGCC) at bgcc@duke.edu (If background check not already done by intern’s home institution within the last year)

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. Vaccination requirements are enumerated in item 12 of the Clinical Research Participation Agreement.

• 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 (must be requested by mentor or designee, as above; instructions routed from BGCC to intern)

• Getting Started with Your Clinical Research Internship | Register here: DOCR-CRISP-101 | 00187657

• Clinical Research Intern “Time Out” Training: Pausing to Protect Study Participants + Their Privacy | Register here: DOCR-CRISP-102 | 00187658

• CRISP Pre-Internship Survey: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eIMAIsyRjMaPJhI

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.

Submit your opportunity via our online portal.