Metcalf Clinics

Gain experience and grow your network with the Metcalf Clinics program! Metcalf Clinics are co-op, project-based experiences for UChicago students facilitated by employer partners. During the project, teams of undergraduates take a deep dive into their field of interest and build relevant experience. These clinics are a wonderful way to build your research, analysis, and strategic thinking skills. After working on a two-week project, teams will have the opportunity to give a presentation on their results. Students will receive access to coaches, industry experts, and the opportunity to network with successful alumni.

Metcalf Clinic projects center on key themes with a focus on emerging and future careers including the arts, clean energy, biotechnology, quantum information sciences, and finance. Past employer partners included organizations such as: Alpha Sophia Technologies, Cornerstone Research, Hollister, IBM Quantum, and North Star Investment Management.

Metcalf Clinic Projects Currently Accepting Applications

The Revival Theater & UChicago Chicago Studies: Laugh Tracks & Spotlight Stroll, A Chicago Performing Arts Walking Tour

  • Project Description: Students will research and develop narratives around the history of the performing arts (inclusive of music, theatre/vaudeville, film production, burlesque, minstrelsy, and comedy) in the South Loop.

  • Applications Due: February 2, 2025

  • Project Dates: March 3-May 26, 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

Climate & Science Reporting

  • Project Description: Students would serve as a research and reporting cadre to help support the practitioners’ current projects. Students will learn about the current state of environmental, science and climate writing, publishing and media.

  • Applications Due: February 23, 2025

  • Project Dates: Spring Quarter 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

Illinois Environmental Council

  • Project Description: Students will be working closely with the organization to conduct environmental policy research to gather and organize data to support IEC’s legislative priorities.

  • Applications Due: February 23, 2025

  • Project Dates: Spring Quarter 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

Illinois Workers in Action

  • Project Description: IWA is seeking individuals who are passionate about getting involved in the labor and immigrant rights movements, focusing on community outreach, research, and the creation of social media and fundraising campaigns.

  • Applications Due: February 23, 2025

  • Project Dates: Summer 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

JMA Music: Festival University

  • Project Description: Students will develop fundraising and a marketing plan for the establishment of Festival University, a music education initiative that takes students behind the scenes of major global music festivals to meet and learn from musicians, producers, record labels, and promoters.

  • Applications Due: February 23, 2025

  • Project Dates: Spring Quarter 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

United African Organization

  • Project Description: Students will support a dynamic coalition of African community-based organizations that promotes social and economic justice, civic participation, and empowerment of African immigrants and refugees in Illinois.

  • Applications Due: February 23, 2025

  • Project Dates: Spring Quarter 2025

  • Apply and Learn More

Summer 2025 Metcalf Clinic Projects

If you’re interested in learning more and joining a project, applications will open on Handshake in March 2025. Students are welcome to work from anywhere in the world on Metcalf Clinic projects.

Key Dates for Summer 2025 Metcalf Clinic Participants:

  • March 26: Applications open

  • May 14: Decisions released

  • June:

    • Students matched to project teams

    • Mandatory virtual orientation and coaching session

    • Project teams introduced to employer partners

  • August 11- 22: Work on Metcalf Clinic with your team!

    • During the full-time (approx. 80 hour) project, teams will work together to tackle projects with employer partners; projects will occur fully remotely

  • August 22-29:

    • Present project findings to employer

    • Celebrate a successful project, return to campus, and kick off the new academic year!

Past Metcalf Clinics

Get inspired by reviewing these Metcalf Clinics from previous programs!

Alpha Sophia

  • Project Description: The Metcalf Clinics team built an algorithm that would match LinkedIn profiles of physicians with leads in Alpha Sophia’s proprietary database.

BallotReady

  • Project Description: The group developed multiple high-impact content pieces to boost the BallotReady brand and drive traffic to their website.

Blackthorne Capital Management

  • Project Description: Students worked as a team to analyze macroeconomic and financial data, develop quantitative models, and gain hands-on experience in financial modeling and consulting for global macro futures markets.

Cornerstone Research

  • Project Description: In this Metcalf Clinics project, students leveraged industry research and conducted data analysis to assess the impact of a corporate merger.

Hollister Incorporated

  • Project Description: The students conducted market research to explore adjacent uses and markets for hydrocolloid biomaterials.

IBM Quantum

  • Project Description: The team created a guide to help K-12 students navigate an educational game on key concepts in quantum computing.

International Space Elevator Consortium

  • Project Description: The project group produced a digital animation on a multi-modal interplanetary transport system, complete with a research-supported script.

National Space Society

  • Project 1 Description: UChicago students created a strategic plan for boosting U.S. student participation in the organization's space policy debates program.

  • Project 2 Description: The Metcalf team created a resource bibliography and literature review of lunar mapping and atlases.

North Star

  • Project Description: The project focused on assessing the extent of AI adoption among companies in the Russell 2000 Index.