National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research

Visit Program Website Here

Program Purpose: 

The National Institute of Health's Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research provides an opportunity to spend the summer working side-by-side with leading scientists in biomedical research. The mission of the NIH is to enhance and apply knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. The NIH conducts research in the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and cure of human diseases; the processes of human growth and development; the biological effects of environmental contaminants; and the understanding of mental, addictive and physical disorders.

Program Description: 

NIH SIP internships are for a minimum of eight weeks, with students generally arriving at the NIH in May or June. The program includes a wide range of summer activities; among these: lectures featuring distinguished NIH investigators, career and and professional development workshops, and Summer Poster Day. These traineeships are available only in the intramural laboratories of the NIH. Most of the laboratories are located on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Several Institutes or their laboratories that focus on particular research areas are found at other sites around the country: The National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD; The National Institute on Aging and The National Institute on Drug Abuse, each in Baltimore, MD; The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Detroit, MI; The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC; The Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Phoenix, AZ, which focuses on diabetes among the Pima Indians; and The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Hamilton, MT.

Program Benefits: 

The stipends for trainees are adjusted yearly; the level depends on prior experience. For details, see the "Trainee Stipends" link on the Program Website.

Application Process: 

The NIH recommends that students apply as soon as possible after the application site becomes available, as acceptances are made on a rolling basis. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from November through April by scientists in the NIH Institutes and Centers. Individual scientists select their own summer interns; there is no centralized selection process. Candidates may specify, in their application materials, the scientific methodologies or disease/organ systems that interest them.

Eligibility: 

Current high school, college, graduate, medical, and dental students.

Selection Criteria: 

The NIH Summer Internship Program is highly competitive. In 2010, more than 6700 applications were submitted, and about 1200 interns were selected. For suggestions on how to increase your chances of being offered a position, read the SIP Frequently Asked Questions.

Citizenship: 

U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Program Deadline: 

Usually March 1.

How To Apply: 

Students or alumni, as applicable, may apply directly to this program. Applicants are encouraged, however, to work with SF State's fellowship advisor well in advance of the program deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.