Application Deadline: March 1st, 2022
Summer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide an opportunity to spend a summer working at the NIH side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research (At the NIH “biomedical research” includes everything from behavioral and social sciences, through biology and chemistry, to physics, mathematical modeling, computational biology, and biostatistics).
Internships generally cover a minimum of eight weeks, with students arriving at the NIH in June. The NIH Institutes/Centers and the Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) sponsor a wide range of summer activities including an orientation to help interns get off to a good start, Summer Lectures featuring distinguished NIH investigators, career/professional development workshops, wellness activities, and Summer Poster Day.
Eligibility
The 2022 Summer Internship Program is for students who
- are 17 years of age or older on June 15, 2022,
- 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 student at the time of application*, OR
- have been accepted into accredited college or university program for the fall semester.
All summer interns will also be expected to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
*Individuals who are U.S. permanent residents must be attending or have been accepted into institutions in the U.S.
Requirements
SIP is only for college, graduate school, and professional (e.g., medical, dental, pharmacy, etc.) school students.
- If you are a high school student, please apply to High School SIP (HS-SIP), HiSTEP, or HiSTEP 2.0.
- SIP subprograms organized by the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education (CCSEP, C-SOAR, AMGEN, G-SOAR, and GDSSP) are described at the end of this page. Be certain to take a look and see if any of them interest you.
- You can also apply directly to two additional summer subprograms using the SIP application: the Biomedical Engineering Internship Program (BESIP) and the NIDDK Diversity Summer Research Training Program (DSRTP) for Undergraduate Students.
- Subprograms are “exclusive”. If you apply to one of them, your application will be visible only to the selection committee for that subprogram until their selections have been finalized. If you are not selected, your application will be released to the general SIP application pool.
- Finally, several NIH Institutes and Centers run their own summer programs. You can find a list of these programs here. All of them require that you complete the general SIP application, but they may have other requirements or eligibility criteria as well. Please contact the programs directly if you have questions.
Stipend Information
The stipends for trainees are adjusted yearly; the level depends on education completed prior to starting at the NIH. For details, see the Trainee Stipends page. The Institute/Center (IC) in which you work, or your research group, pays your stipend.
Application Procedure
Prospective candidates must apply online. The application is available from mid-November to March 1. It requires submission of
- a curriculum vitae or resume,
- a list of coursework and grades (please note: we do not need a transcript at this time),
- a cover letter describing the applicant’s research interests and career goals, and
- the names and contact information for two references.
Candidates may also specify the general subject areas, scientific methodologies and/or disease/organ systems that interest them.
Official Website: NIH Summer Internship Program 2022
