• Public Health Informatics Intern – Fall 2026 – Remote

    Candidates must have secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN and the ability to work remotely while collaborating with program staff at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). 

     

    The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is seeking a highly motivated intern to join the Public Health Informatics team. This remote position focuses on critical data quality research, assurance, and control within the state's Master Patient Index (MPI). The role is ideal for students pursuing Data Science, Health Informatics, or Computer Science who want to apply technical skills to real-world public health challenges. The selected intern will directly contribute to data integrity initiatives that impact statewide health tracking and patient care outcomes. 

     

    Responsibilities

    • Identify System Mismatches: Analyze complex, multi-source health datasets to detect, investigate, and resolve demographic and patient identity mismatches.
    • Conduct Diagnostic Research: Evaluate current MPI matching algorithms to identify patterns of error, false positives, and false negatives.
    • Optimize Deduplication Loops: Design and implement data quality workflows that integrate human-in-the-loop review into automated MPI deduplication systems.
    • Collaborate and Report: Present data-driven findings and technical recommendations to senior informatics leadership to guide system upgrades. 

     

    Requirements:

    • Currently pursuing a graduate degree (and in good academic standing) in Data Science, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
    • Secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN. 
    • Interest in public health and applying technology to societal challenges.

     

    Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

    • Proficiency in data manipulation languages (e.g., SQL, Python, or R) and experience working with large relational databases.
    • Strong problem-solving skills with an understanding of probabilistic matching, entity resolution, or data cleaning techniques.
    • Ability to translate complex data anomalies into clear, actionable reports.
    • A demonstrated passion for public health applications, epidemiology, or healthcare technology systems.
    • Public health knowledge or experience is desired but not required.
    • Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
    • Strong organizational and communication skills.

     

    Schedule and Compensation: 

    This remote internship is for the fall 2026 semester (start and end dates are flexible, based on your academic schedule) and will require 15 hours per week.

     

    This is an unpaid internship, but academic credit may be available depending on your institution’s policies and guidelines – please speak with an academic advisor. 

    All applications must be submitted by 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 14, 2026 to be considered for this internship. 

    Apply Here