Clinical Research Immersion

Through the Health Science Studies Signature Clinical Research Immersion experience, students have the opportunity to earn course credit for HP 4V79: Internship.

Junior & Senior interns will learn clinical and translational research skills to explore research methods and participate in current research studies in the Clinical Exercise Oncology Laboratory.

Team Lead

Dr. Savannah Rauschendorfer
Clinical Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation

Dr. Rauschendorfer’s lab investigates off-target toxicities of chemotherapeutics in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, physical function and quality of life in the population of adolescent and young adults with cancer.

Baylor Partner: Kim Smith, EdD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation

Application Information

Program Dates: 

Spring 2027

Application Deadline:

• Application Due Dates: Align with HHPR Internship Deadlines.

Apply Now

Qualifications:

• HSS major, earned 60+ semester hours, academic internship required, strong understanding of anatomy.
• Applications will be shared with Dr. Rauschendorfer who may conduct interviews to select the best applicants.
• Once selections are made, students will be notified through their Baylor email.

*By submitting an application for this competitive HSS experience, the applicant acknowledges the program requirement of 150 supervised clock hours with Dr. Thompson.

*If selected, the applicant will complete an internship application within Step/Module 3 in Canvas: Preparing for the HHPR Internship - HP 4V79.

Program Components

Program Goals:

• Understand human subject research methodology.
• Gain scientific writing experience and conduct exercise oncology related scientific literature review.
• Practice clinical imaging techniques and post-processing (reading computed tomography scans, basic ultrasonography,
• vascular function testing).
• Become familiar with various modalities of physical function quantification.
• Review clinical data (patient outcomes, genetics, metabolomics, etc) and conduct statistical analysis.
• Practice professional communication.
• Collaborate through teamwork.

Outcomes:

• Once the student has demonstrated proficiency with specific skills, they will then participate and contribute to a current research project in Dr. Rauschendorfer’s Clinical Exercise Oncology Laboratory.
• Our primary objective is to early detect and prevent cancer therapy related deleterious body composition changes and resultant clinical consequences including cardiovascular aging, physical function loss, and comorbid disease development.

For additional information, connect with HHPR_interns@baylor.edu