High School & College Students

College and postbaccalaureate students identify their academic strengths and interests, and begin identifying an appropriate career. Students interested in biomedical science may be majoring in a science field, or “pre-med,” or in the liberal arts.

Training Grants Sponsored by NIDCR

• Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 
  Provides research training and career development support for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Funding is awarded to principal investigators on active NIDCR grants who will serve as mentors for the diversity supplement candidates. The activities proposed in the supplement application must provide research training experiences that will facilitate the research and career development of the candidate. Eligibility is limited to citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or to individuals who have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (i.e., in possession of a Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551). Individuals interested in diversity supplement support may contact the NIDCR Training Director  . For individuals interested in finding an NIDCR funded  mentor, see How to Find a Mentor. For preparing an application, see NIDCR guidance on preparing diversity supplement applications.

• Notice of Special Interest to Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for PA-20-222: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  This notice is part of the NIH’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid public health crisis. The NIH HEAL Initiative (see https://heal.nih.gov) is a trans-NIH effort to (1) improve prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction and (2) enhance pain management.

  Only existing awards funded or supplemented by the HEAL Initiative are eligible for diversity supplements under this NOSI.

  Application Due Date(s) – November 15, 2020, February 15, 2021, May 15, 2021, November 15, 2021, February 15, 2022, May 15, 2022, November 15, 2022, February 15, 2023, May 15, 2023, November 15, 2023, February 15, 2024, and May 15, 2024 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Training at NIDCR (on the NIH campus)

• NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program offers scholarship support, paid research training at the NIH during the summer, paid employment and training at the NIH after graduation.
• NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
  Intended to provide exciting research experiences on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland or at selected off-campus NIH locations. Summer internships generally last from eight to ten weeks. A stipend is provided. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited U.S. high school and be at least 16 years of age prior to June 1st. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence is required.
  • SIP Sub-programs
    • High School Scientific Training and Enrichment Program (HISTEP)​​ - Students who are at high schools with a large population of financially disadvantaged students are eligible to apply to HiSTEP. 
    • Community College Summer Enrichment Program (CCSEP) - This special Summer Internship Program (SIP) is designed to recruit community college students to the NIH. Students in CCSEP can take advantage of all the opportunities available to other SIP interns. In addition, they will make a commitment to completing an enrichment curriculum. 
    • Amgen Scholars - The program will give preference to undergraduates who lack opportunities to carry out independent research during the school year due, for example, to family responsibilities, economic exigencies, or inability of their institutions to provide such opportunities.
    • Graduate Summer Opportunity to Advance Research (GSOAR) - In summer 2016, the NIH will launch a SIP program designed around the unique experiences of graduate students in the biomedical sciences. This program is a partnership between the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity and the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education.
      • GSOAR students at NIH will spend the summer working at NIH's main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, side-by-side with some of the world's leading scientists. In addition to working in a research group at the NIH, GSOAR students will participate in an enrichment curriculum to develop critical thinking skills and graduate school survival skills, receive career guidance and mentorship focused on the broad array of biomedical careers, and attend leadership training focused on the skills needed to successfully work in team-oriented global research environments. If you are interested, please visit the GSOAR Program Web page for more information.The application for this program is not yet available.
      • Students from diverse backgrounds and students who have faced disadvantage that impacted their educational or research opportunities earlier in their educational careers are especially encouraged to apply.