Clinical & Research Fellow – Ophthalmology

Job Title Clinical & Research Fellow - Ophthalmology (Gap Year Program) Position Type Full-Time, Paid (1-Year Commitment) Location Torrance, CA Compensation $17.00 per hour The Clinical & Research Fellow is a dual-role position split between direct patient clinical care, academic enrichment, and institutional research. This role is specifically designed for pre-medical or science-focused gap year college graduates seeking immersive clinical and investigative experience. Alongside clinical training, the position features a structured educational curriculum including didactic lectures and an interactive journal club to prepare the candidate for medical school or advanced graduate programs. Clinical Responsibilities (Ophthalmic Technician) Patient Workups Greet patients, document accurate chief complaints, past ocular/medical histories, and current medications.Diagnostic Testing Measure visual acuity, perform lensometry, test intraocular pressure (tonometry), and run advanced imaging such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and visual field analyzers.Clinic Flow & Scribing Assist physicians chairside, manage patient movement through the clinic, and accurately scribe exam findings into Electronic Health Records (EHR).Patient Care Prepare exam rooms, instill diagnostic eye drops, and deliver post-procedure or drop-use instructions to patients. Research & Academic Responsibilities Educational Curriculum Attend mandatory didactic lectures covering ocular anatomy, pathology, and advanced diagnostics.Physician Mentorship Receive structured mentorship and subspecialty exposure through direct, ongoing engagement with attending ophthalmologists and researchers.Journal Club Actively participate in and periodically present peer-reviewed literature to the clinical and research team.Study Coordination Screen, recruit, and consent eligible patients for active clinical trials and retrospective registry studies.Data Management Collect, clean, and input specialized clinical and surgical data into secure study databases and spreadsheets.Academic Output Conduct literature reviews and assist principal investigators with table formatting, abstract composition, and manuscript drafting for peer-reviewed publication, with the opportunity to earn co-authorship on at least one manuscript or conference poster during the appointment. Education Bachelor’s degree (completed or expected prior to start date) in Biology, Chemistry, or a related science/pre-health field. Candidate Profile We are looking for students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 from a U.S. accredited four-year college/university program with extra-curricular activities demonstrating interest in applying to medical school or an advanced science/health graduate program. Additionally, application to this position will requireOfficial transcriptOne letter of recommendation from faculty or employerCover letter detailing candidate’s interest in a healthcare/science career Commitment Full-time availability for a minimum of 12 months. Skills Strong interpersonal communication, exceptional multi-tasking skills, meticulous attention to detail, and working proficiency with standard computer applications/spreadsheets. Experience Prior clinical or research experience is preferred, but comprehensive on-the-job training will be provided USD $17.00/Yr.