Summer Internship Program Application Webinar

Webinar Summary: NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Program Overview

• The NIH is the U.S. biomedical research institution. Its intramural program conducts research across the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences, including basic, translational, and clinical research.
• SIP is an in-person summer research opportunity for eligible college, graduate, medical, and other professional students, as well as qualifying graduating high school seniors.
• The general program typically hosts about 1,000 interns. There is no central selection committee: individual NIH principal investigators (PIs) review applicants and select their own interns.
• Some NIH institutes and centers (ICs) run separate cohort programs with different deadlines, placement processes, or selection rules. Applicants should contact those ICs directly. The MSOR program mentioned during the Q&A was not expected to run in 2026; medical students could still apply through general SIP.

Eligibility and Timing

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Permanent residents must attend, or have been accepted to, an educational institution in the United States.
• Applicants must be at least 18 by September 30, 2026.
• A graduating high school senior who will be 17 on June 1, 2026, may qualify if they will turn 18 by September 30 and live within 40 miles of an NIH campus. High school juniors are not eligible for SIP; the high school internship program was described as discontinued.
• Applicants must meet the program’s enrollment or acceptance requirements, such as being enrolled at least half-time in an eligible school or program, or having been accepted into one.
• The application deadline is February 18 at noon; recommendation letters are due February 25 at noon.
• General SIP placements usually run 8–10 weeks, with start dates generally from around May 18 through mid-June and work continuing into August. Dates may vary by IC-specific program.
• The presenter advised applying and contacting PIs early—December is best—because some positions begin filling in January and February.

What Interns Can Expect

• Full-time, in-person biomedical research on meaningful projects, with mentorship from scientists and supervisors.
• An opportunity to present summer work at the NIH Summer Poster Day.
• Career exploration and professional development, including a graduate and professional school fair, workshops, networking, journal club, and activities focused on research skills, resilience, mentoring, and well-being.
• A stipend based on educational level. Parking is free but limited; some interns near the Bethesda campus may qualify for public-transit support.
• NIH does not provide housing. Applicants who are relocating should consult the program’s housing guidance.

How to Apply

1. Create an Account and Complete Your Profile

• On the SIP application site, use the sign-in options marked for people outside NIH (the green-check options), not the NIH staff options.
• Create an account and complete the profile thoroughly. It includes contact details, citizenship, education, coursework, references, and a CV or résumé.
• Enter all completed courses and grades, as well as courses in progress; mark current courses “in progress.” Use full course titles rather than abbreviated labels such as “Bio 101.”
• Transcripts are not required to submit the application, but an official transcript is required if accepted.
• Add at least two references. The system allows up to six, but only the first two to submit letters will be associated with the application. Choose people who can discuss your academic strengths, accomplishments, and research potential. Suitable references include research mentors, STEM instructors, and program directors. Do not use family members or friends.
• Ask references before listing them, give them plenty of notice, provide materials such as your résumé and personal statement, and follow up with them.
• Prepare a concise CV or résumé describing education, research and work experience (including volunteering), skills, languages, awards, and leadership. The webinar suggested roughly one or two pages for a résumé.

2. Start and Submit the Application

• Select the Summer Internship Program from the application options and check eligibility using the online yes-or-no screening tool.
• Choose the general SIP or Biomedical Engineering Summer Internship Program, as appropriate.
• Import relevant information from your profile, then add any required personal statement and preferred training locations.
• The personal statement should explain:
  • Your interest in research and motivation for applying to NIH.
  • Your preparation for the program, including relevant academic, work, or research experience.
  • What you hope to gain and how the experience connects to your future goals.
  • Why NIH interests you and, where relevant, why the research area interests you.
• Keep the statement complete but concise, write clearly, and ask others for feedback. The application requires a personal statement, not a cover letter.
• After you submit the application, references receive a unique link to submit their letters. Letters do not have to be submitted before you begin contacting PIs.

3. Identify Research Groups and Contact PIs

• Search for potential labs using the NIH intramural research website, where you can search by research topic, institute, or investigator.
• You can also use the NIH intramural annual-report database to search projects by year, institute, and keyword. The webinar noted that a tutorial video is available for using the database.
• After applying, contact PIs whose work interests you. PIs can search the applicant database by details such as keyword, major, or institution; some may apply GPA or other criteria.
• Contact multiple PIs at once. The presenter said it may take outreach to 20 or more investigators to find a suitable opening.
• Avoid generic mass emails. Personalize each message with:
  • A brief introduction.
  • Why you are interested in that PI’s research specifically.
  • Relevant experience or skills and what you hope to gain.
  • A reference to your completed application; including its application number can make it easier for the PI to find.
• PIs may interview applicants virtually or in person. They make offers directly; there is no separate central acceptance decision. The PI also funds the intern’s position.
• Offers may be made through March 31, and PIs have until April 1 to accept their interns. Applicants who are accepted receive a welcome letter; those not accepted receive a rejection notice.

Additional Guidance from the Q&A

• Applicants do not need prior experience in the exact research field. They should explain how their existing experience and skills prepare them to learn and contribute. College lab experience can also be relevant.
• One poor course grade is not necessarily disqualifying, and not all PIs consider GPA.
• Recent graduates may qualify if they meet the enrollment or acceptance requirements—for example, if they will enter an eligible program in the fall.
• Check the program’s website and FAQ first for further questions. The presenter recommended using plain-text tools to draft statements, since formatting from word-processing software may not paste cleanly into the application.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Main presenter: NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education staff member; name not stated in the subtitles.
• Austin: Webinar colleague and moderator who helped manage questions.
• Natasha: Colleague who gave the closing remarks.
• Audience participants identifiable in the Q&A: Matt, Asia, Sunanda, Andy, Vicky, Kaylee, and Daniel. Other attendees asked questions anonymously or were named but did not have an audible exchange.
• Sources and resources referenced: NIH Summer Internship Program website and FAQ; NIH intramural research website; NIH intramural annual-report database and its tutorial; NIH CV and résumé guide; NIH housing guide; and the Office of Intramural Training and Education.