NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Application Link
NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Program Description

Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. (At NIH "biomedical research" includes everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics.)

Internships can be located at multiple NIH locations which include the 240-bed Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center and more than 1150 laboratories/research groups located on the main campus in Bethesda, MD, and in the surrounding areas including:

  • Baltimore, MD
  • Frederick, MD
  • Research Triangle Park, NC
  • Hamilton, MT (limited number of positions)
  • Framingham, MA (limited number of positions)
  • Phoenix, AZ (limited number of positions)
  • Detroit, MI (limited number of positions)

Application Due Date
Mid-November to March 1

Eligibility

The 2024 Summer Internship Program is for students who:

  • Are 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2024
  • Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents

AND

  • Are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited college (including community college) or university as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional school student at the time of application*

OR

  • Have graduated from high school, but have been accepted into an accredited college or university program for the fall semester

All fellowship offers are contingent on your ability to successfully pass a federal background check, which is required for logical and physical access to NIH facilities and systems. 

NIDCR encourages students from diverse backgrounds to apply, including but not limited to students/individuals:

  • From racial and ethnic groups that have been underrepresented in health-related sciences
  • With disabilities
  • Who are Pell Grant-eligible
  • Who are enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Who identify as LGBTQ
  • Disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters

Length
Minimum of eight weeks, 40 hours per week

Award Benefits

The stipends for trainees are adjusted yearly; the level depends on education completed prior to starting at NIH. For details, see the Trainee Stipends page. The Institute/Center (IC) in which you work or your research group pays your stipend.

How to Apply

The process of applying includes these four steps:

  • Complete the on-line application which includes:
    • A resumé
    • A list of coursework and grades
    • A cover letter broadly describing your research experience, current interests and career goals
    • The names and contact information of three references
  • Search databases and develop a list of PIs in the Intramural Research Program whose work interests you. Note that some PIs may reach out to you to see if you are interested in working in their group.
  • Send personalized emails to PIs expressing interest in their research group and highlighting why you are a strong candidate for their program.
  • Interview, virtually or in-person

Please read information on finding mentors in the Intramural Research Program, which provides important information on how to find research groups and factors to be aware of as you interview and consider positions.

For additional information, please visit the Application FAQ page.
Staff Contact
Last Reviewed on
March 2024