Paid NIH Summer Research Internship

The US National Institutes of Health runs a paid summer research internship inside its Intramural Research Program, open to graduating high school seniors and to college, graduate and professional students. Interns work full time in a lab or research group led by an NIH Principal Investigator, on the Bethesda campus or another NIH campus, in fields from biology and chemistry to psychology, engineering, computer science and nursing. There is no central selection: you apply once and then contact the researchers whose work interests you.

What you get:

• A monthly stipend set by your educational level and adjusted every year
• A full-time research placement in an NIH lab, with basic, translational or clinical research
• Professional development, career programming and a well-being and resilience programme
• A Graduate and Professional School Fair in July and Summer Poster Day in early August
• Free parking on each NIH campus

What you'll do:

• Work full time in a research group led by an NIH Principal Investigator
• Present your research to the NIH community at Summer Poster Day

Key dates:

• Applications opened October 13, 2026 at 9 am ET
• Applications close January 26, 2027 at 12 pm (noon) ET
• Reference letters due February 2, 2027 at 12 pm (noon) ET
• Researchers interview and make offers from early January; selection finishes by April 1, 2027
• The 2027 programme runs from May 10 to August 31, 2027

More information:

• Apply through the NIH Application Center, then email NIH Principal Investigators directly and point them to your completed application
• NIH does not provide housing, and interns must show proof of health insurance
• Questions: SIP@nih.gov

• US citizen or US permanent resident; permanent residents must attend or be accepted at a US institution
• At least 18 years old by September 30, 2027; a graduating high school senior who is 17 on June 1, 2027 but turns 18 by September 30, 2027 must have a permanent home address within 40 miles of an NIH campus
• Enrolled at least half time as a high school senior (graduating before the internship starts), or as an undergraduate, graduate or professional student at an accredited US community college, college or university, or accepted into an accredited graduate programme for the fall
• High school graduates who completed a single gap year and start college in the fall are also eligible
• Full-time and in person; remote appointments are not allowed
• Applicants with a family member working at NIH are subject to NIH's nepotism policy