Weill Cornell Medicine’s MS programs are always looking to partner with institutions and organizations across a range of fields. One of our most important collaborations is for our capstone projects.
What are capstone projects?
Capstone projects are a core component of the curriculum in our MS programs. They are an opportunity for graduate students to apply their experience and advanced education in a professional setting, while continuing to build industry knowledge. In return, our students provide valuable services to our client partners, which may include data analysis, literature reviews, statistical modeling, policy analysis, data visualization, survey design and administration, and more.
Projects may come from clients in academia, hospitals, startups, consulting firms, research foundations, health departments, insurance companies, technology, community organizations, think tanks, and beyond.
Why should my institution participate?
Our capstone teams of approximately 4 students spend several months engaged with their capstone client. These students bring a wide variety of professional backgrounds; some may be right out of college looking to make a difference in the field of research and policy, some are trained doctors and nurses looking to advance their knowledge in a new area, and others might be mid-career professionals looking to pivot professionally.
Our students come from three distinct programs:
• MS in Biostatistics and Data Science
• MS in Health Informatics
• MS in Health Policy and Economics
Capstone projects are performed by our graduate students without any monetary compensation from our client partners since our students receive academic credit towards their degree for this work.
Additionally, all capstone projects are overseen by a Weill Cornell Medicine departmental faculty member who will keep the project on track, ensure an appropriate approach by the students, and be available to the client should there be questions or concerns.
Capstone projects also provide an excellent way for clients to build a talent pipeline on our campus and to build visibility for their organization.
How are capstone projects submitted for consideration?
Organizations that have an idea (or multiple ideas) for a capstone project, should submit information about it through our capstone proposal form. Once submitted, the proposal will be reviewed by our Education Team, which may approve a project proposal as is or discuss potential adjustments with the client. If it gains approval, it will be matched with a faculty advisor and presented to students in the MS programs. Students receive a list of potential projects and will be matched to projects by the Education Team based on their interests and relevant qualifications to complete the client’s expected deliverables.
Please note: While we would like to match every potential client with a student capstone team, there may be instances when the project deliverables or required timeline do not align with the needs of the program. The number of proposals may also exceed the number of projects we can run in a given cycle.
Potential clients who are not yet sure about their proposal topic (or whether a capstone may be a good fit) are welcome to submit a capstone inquiry form. After completing the form, the Education Team will follow up to discuss possible ideas.
What kind of project should I submit?
The projects that are most successful should have a defined scope and specific deliverables in mind that are reasonable for a group of approximately 4 graduate students in our disciplines to complete in the allotted time.
Review some of our recent projects for inspiration.
What kind of timeline can I expect as a potential client?
Health Informatics (HI) and Healthcare Policy and Economics (HPE)
| Dates for 2024-2025 | Capstone Project Milestones |
|---|---|
| September 15 | Prospective clients must submit all project proposals for review and sign off on the Capstone Client Agreement. |
| Mid-Late September | Prospective clients will be contacted about possible proposal adjustments. |
| Early October | Prospective clients are notified if their project will be sent forward to the next stage of the process. |
| Early October | Approved projects are shared with students who then rank their preferences of projects for which they are both interested and qualified. |
| Early November | Students are notified about the project with which they have matched. Prospective clients are notified about whether they have been matched. |
| Mid-November | Students reach out to their client to begin the collaboration process. |
| January-June | Students have regular check ins with their client and faculty advisor to move the project forward and produce any agreed-upon client deliverables. |
| July | Students submit a final paper and give a final presentation on their project to their academic program at Weill Cornell. Clients are highly encouraged to attend. |
Please note: These dates are used for our full-time students. We also have a smaller number of part-time students who are matched to projects in June and present their finished projects the following April.
Biostatistics and Data Science (BDS)
| Dates for 2025 | Capstone Project Milestones |
|---|---|
| February 1 | Prospective clients must submit all project proposals for review and sign off on the Capstone Client Agreement. |
| Early February | Prospective clients will be contacted about possible proposal adjustments. |
| Mid-Late February | Prospective clients are notified if their project will be sent forward to the next stage of the process. |
| Mid-March | Approved projects are shared with students who then rank their preferences of projects for which they are both interested and qualified. |
| Early April | Students are notified about the project with which they have matched. Prospective clients are notified about whether they have been matched. |
| Mid-April | Students reach out to their client to begin the collaboration process. |
| May-July | Students have regular check ins with their client and faculty advisor to move the project forward and produce any agreed-upon client deliverables. |
| October | Students submit a final paper and give a final presentation on their project to their academic program at Weill Cornell. Clients are highly encouraged to attend. |
Curious to learn more or chat with us about capstones?
If you’re still unsure about pursuing a capstone project partnership with Weill Cornell Medicine’s Master of Science programs, complete our inquiry form found below.
Alternatively, you may contact the Associate Director of Career Development and Employer Engagement, Miriam Miller at mim4027@med.cornell.edu.
We also welcome your organization to explore additional ways of engaging with our students and alumni. Learn more about career services for employers, including internships, on our career services page.
Ready to submit your project proposal?
We encourage you to complete a capstone proposal form for your institution and join us as a partner organization!