Life Sciences Internship at Maricopa County, USA | Apply Now For MDI Intern Position
If you are an advanced undergraduate student or recent life sciences graduate looking to build a high-trajectory career in forensic medicine, this full-time internship with Maricopa County is an exceptional find. Located on-site in Phoenix, Arizona, this role embeds you within the Investigations section of the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME). For detail-oriented individuals searching for an elite Life Sciences Internship, this contract position gives you direct exposure to the 4th largest Medical Examiner jurisdiction in the United States. It serves as a definitive operational launchpad for a long-term Maricopa County career and stands out as a premier Internship in USA for anyone seeking a highly specialized Life Sciences Internship in USA.
- Position: MDI Intern
- Job Requisition ID: JR23954
- Location: 701 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85007, USA
About Organization
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner is a vital county agency charged under Arizona law to perform objective medical investigations into sudden, unexpected, or non-natural deaths. The ultimate goal of these investigations is to accurately determine the medical cause and manner of death to strengthen public health, legal clarity, and community safety. By joining this collaborative, service-minded team, you will contribute directly to a greater public purpose while gaining unparalleled technical training in medicolegal death investigation protocols.
Life Sciences Internship – Key Responsibilities
As an MDI Intern, you will work under the direct guidance of experienced Medicolegal Death Investigators, learning to collect evidence, map medical histories, and process vital statistics.
Your day-to-day forensic and investigative duties will include:
- Jurisdictional Triage: Receiving incoming notifications of deaths from law enforcement, hospitals, and outside parties to help determine if a case falls within the legal jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner.
- Field & Telephone Investigations: Conducting systematic death investigations to obtain physical information and evidence; this includes investigating the aspects of natural deaths over the phone when appropriate.
- Forensic Specimen Collection: Obtaining fingerprints and collecting biological specimens from decedents post-transport, as well as traveling to local hospitals for critical specimen retrieval.
- Medical Record Auditing: Contacting healthcare facilities and private physicians to obtain, review, and summarize complex past and present medical histories.
- Interviews & Collaborations: Interviewing family members, witnesses, and associates of the decedent. You will also collaborate with law enforcement, funeral homes, and organ donor agencies to expedite case logistics.
- Case Reporting & Data Entry: Preparing detailed written investigative reports and logging critical comments into the DAVE (Database Application for Vital Events) system for death certificates.
Qualifications & Requirements For Life Sciences Internship
This position balances strict scientific education with rigorous physical and emotional stability standards.
- Educational Foundation: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited Bachelor’s degree program or be a recent graduate with a degree in a Life Science field.
- Preferred Assets: Completion of at least two years of college coursework; bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish; prior volunteer/work experience in a coroner’s environment; or possession of (or ability to obtain) an ABMDI certification.
- Working Conditions: Must possess sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse, malodorous conditions closely with decedents in various stages of decomposition.
- Background Screening: Candidates must pass a comprehensive pre-employment background and fingerprint check, including statutory drug and alcohol testing.
- Logistics: Full-time contract role located entirely on-site at 701 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ. Shifts can include nights, weekends, and holidays.
Compensation, Timeline & Benefits
- Hourly Pay Rate: $17.00 per hour.
- Overtime Eligibility: Fully eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 within a designated workweek.
- Contract Benefits: This position is classified as a Contractor with Benefits, granting you access to select Maricopa County employee protections and perks.
- Strict Application Window:
- Application Deadline: June 7, 2026
- End Date: June 8, 2026 (Only 4 days left to apply from the posting date!)
In short, the MDI Intern position at the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner is a definitive, fast-paced route to transitioning your academic degree into the highly specialized field of forensics. Securing this role allows you to build a competitive professional resume in death scene tracking, database charting, and tissue donor coordination. If you meet the life sciences criteria, possess the emotional resilience required for field pathology, and are ready to serve the Phoenix community, apply online before the June 7, 2026 deadline to lock in this premier Life Sciences Internship.
