The National Institute on Drug Abuse Offers
Summer Internship Opportunities
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), announced that today kicks off the
application period for summer research training opportunities at
its Intramural Program (IRP) facility in Baltimore, Maryland. The
internship program — now in its 21st year — is part
of NIDA's commitment to introducing the science of addiction
to some of the best and brightest young scientists in America.
Students who are accepted to the program will work closely with
some of the world's leading addiction scientists in an environment
devoted exclusively to leading biomedical research. The IRP facility
includes numerous basic research laboratories, a brain imaging
facility, and an outpatient treatment clinic. Examples of research
projects include: drug-seeking behavior in rats, smoking cessation,
genomic studies for nicotine dependence, and the effects of methamphetamine
and cocaine on the brain.
"NIDA's program offers students the opportunity to obtain
hands-on training and experience that most would not otherwise
receive through their high school or college curriculum," said
Stephen J. Heishman, associate director for education and training
at the IRP and coordinator of the NIH Summer Internship Program. In
addition to their research projects, students attend seminars about
the various facets of drug abuse research and participate in a
poster session at the conclusion of the internship in which they
present their findings to NIH scientists.
The Summer 2008 Internship Programs are for students 16 years
of age or older who are enrolled at least half-time in high school,
have finished high school, or are attending an accredited U.S.
college or university. All internships pay monthly stipends based
upon education levels, but housing costs are not paid. To be eligible,
candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The internships
run a minimum of eight weeks, with students generally arriving
at the NIH in May or June.
Like many of the research training programs at the NIH, the Summer
Internship Programs are very selective. NIDA is particularly interested
in recruiting students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and
from ethnic groups whose participation in science has been traditionally
limited. Information about the Minority Research Training
Program at the NIDA IRP can be obtained from Christie Brannock
at 410-550-2953 ext. 372 or cbrann@intra.nida.nih.gov.
Prospective candidates should apply electronically via
the Internet — the application deadline is March 1. For
more information, visit http://www.training.nih.gov/student/sip/index.asp.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National
Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NIDA supports most of the world's research on the health aspects
of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large
variety of programs to inform policy and improve practice. Fact
sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information
on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA
home page at www.drugabuse.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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