Frequently Asked Questions
- What is NIH?
- What is NIAID?
- What is the difference between the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) and the NIAID Office of Training and Special Emphasis Programs (OTSEP)?
- What is the Summer Research Fellowship Program?
- When is the deadline for receipt of applications?
- May I apply to the program through the regular mail service rather than electronically?
- What do I do if I have a problem submitting my application?
- What are the start and end dates for the program?
- How can I get information to contact specific NIAID investigators about their research?
- If I prefer to apply to the Montana laboratories, do I use the same application?
- Is the Summer Internship Program limited to specific majors?
- Is this a paid internship?
- Does NIAID or NIH provide transportation and housing?
- How many students are chosen for the Summer Internship Program at the NIAID laboratories?
- How are the selections made?
- When will I be notified if I am selected?
- If I am selected, what will I need to provide?
- Whom do I contact if I need to decline an offer or change my plans?
- Whom can I contact if I have questions?
For answers to more questions about the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research and the application process, visit OITE at NIH.
What is NIH?
NIH, or the National Institutes of Health, is the world’s largest biomedical research institution. NIH seeks to improve health by conducting research in its own laboratories and by funding the research of other scientists throughout the United States and around the world. NIH, headquartered in a suburb of Washington, DC, is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an agency of the Federal Government.
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What is NIAID?
NIAID, or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is the second largest component of NIH. NIAID conducts and supports research that strives to understand, treat, and ultimately prevent the myriad infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases that threaten hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
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What is the difference between the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE) and the NIAID Office of Training and Special Emphasis Programs (OTSEP)?
OITE is an office within NIH that has overall control of the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research for all of the Institutes and Centers. It sets eligibility standards and manages the online application process for the entire program.
OTSEP is the training office within NIAID, one of the Institutes and Centers that make up NIH. Students interested in training experiences at NIAID may contact this office. OTSEP coordinates the Summer Internship Program for NIAID and facilitates contact between applicants interested in an internship and NIAID researchers. OTSEP does not have the authority to place students within the laboratories.
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What is the Summer Research Fellowship Program?
The Summer Research Fellowship Program is the sister program of the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research and provides summer research opportunities to students in medical or dental school. Applications for each of these programs are found at the same location: www.training.nih.gov.
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When is the deadline for receipt of applications?
Applications for the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research are open mid-November through March 1. The deadline for submitting applications is March 1. Applications received after that date will not be considered.
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May I apply to the program through the regular mail service rather than electronically?
NIH accepts only electronic applications. For questions about the electronic process, visit the OITE Web site. All applicants must apply using this Web site. To apply specifically to NIAID, select one of the “National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases” campuses from the drop-down list on the application.
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What do I do if I have a problem submitting my application?
Make sure you have completed all the required fields on the application and then resubmit the application. If you are still having problems, visit the OITE Web site.
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What are the start and end dates for the program?
Summer interns usually begin between mid-May and the end of June. There is some flexibility in the actual start date. However, the minimum time commitment is 8 weeks, 40 hours per week. Programs end no later than September 30.
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How can I get information to contact specific NIAID investigators about their research?
Information about NIAID laboratories, including Maryland and Montana laboratories, is available through the NIAID Web site. You also can access research abstracts by going to NIH Annual Reports.
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If I prefer to apply to the Montana laboratories, do I use the same application?
Yes. Be sure to specify your interest in the Montana laboratories when filling out your application. You may select “National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Hamilton, MT” from the drop-down list on the application.
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Is the Summer Internship Program limited to specific majors?
While the program is not limited to specific majors, some completed courses in biology and chemistry will better equip you for a summer internship experience. If your interests lie outside the biomedical research areas of NIAID—allergy, immunology, and infectious diseases—you may wish to review the research focus areas of other NIH Institutes before submitting your application. To learn about the research at other Institutes, review the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research Catalog at the NIH Web site.
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Is this a paid internship?
Yes. Selected students receive a monthly stipend that is based on their education level. These stipends are adjusted annually, with supplements for prior experience. OITE provides detailed information about stipends.
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Does NIAID or NIH provide transportation and housing?
Trainees in the Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research are responsible for their own travel expenses and housing. Housing information is available from the NIH Recreation and Welfare Association (R&W) at 301-496-4600 or via the R&W Web site. In addition, the NIH Postbaccalaureate IRTA Community Web site lists resources, including local newspapers, for people looking for housing.
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How many students are chosen for the Summer Internship Program at the NIAID laboratories?
Each summer, about 90 students are chosen to participate in the NIAID Summer Internship Program.
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How are the selections made?
Selections are made at the laboratory level. Researchers review applications and references to determine the most suitable applicants for their laboratories. OTSEP does not place applicants within laboratories. Researchers will contact applicants of interest directly.
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When will I be notified if I am selected?
Most selections are made by researchers in March and April. The investigator who has selected you or an administrative officer in his/her laboratory will contact you by phone or e-mail. Once you have accepted an offer, you will receive further instructions via e-mail.
All students who have not been selected will be notified via e-mail from OITE by early May. If you have not been selected, it is not too late to consider other training programs within the Institute or at NIH. The OITE Web site lists all the training programs available to students.
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If I am selected, what will I need to provide?
Students selected must provide
- An official transcript from the school that the candidate is currently attending
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- A letter from their school verifying that they are in good academic standing or have been accepted for admission
Additional documents are required for minors.
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Whom do I contact if I need to decline an offer or change my plans?
Contact the laboratory that has extended the offer as soon as possible. Let them know of your change in plans. Also, send an e-mail to the OTSEP Training Coordinator.
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Whom can I contact if I have questions?
For questions about a summer internship at NIAID, contact the OTSEP Training Coordinator.
For questions about the online application form and process, visit the OITE Web site.
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This program offered by the: Office of Training and Special Emphasis Programs, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health