Student Research and Training Opportunities

Summer Students
For high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who have expressed a strong interest in or are studying disciplines related to biomedical sciences. Although most of a student's time is spent in the laboratory, students are invited to participate in numerous special activities offered on the NIH campus. During the summer months the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education organizes special events, such as the Summer Seminar Series, in which leading NIH scientists present the results of their work on the frontiers of biomedical research, and Poster Day, which takes place at the end of the summer and provides students the opportunity to present their research findings to the NIH scientific community. Students are required to take the Laboratory Safety course, and the Radiation Safety course if they are working with radioactive materials.

For more information about the policies and procedures for applying to student programs, click here for the Office of Intramural Training and Education web page regarding Student Programs.


Pre-Doctoral IRTA Students: Graduate Partnerships Program

For students enrolled in Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent degree programs at fully accredited U.S. universities or foreign universities with which GPP has established a program. The research experience is undertaken as an integral part of the student's ongoing academic preparation and is credited towards completion of degree requirements. The Graduate Partnerships Program was established in 2000 to handle all programs for graduate students at the NIH, whether at American or foreign universities and whether in full- or part-time programs. Dr. Mary DeLong was appointed to serve as Director of the GPP.

Post-Baccalaureate IRTA Students

For individuals who have (1) graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college or university no more than 2 years prior to the activation date of the Traineeship, and intend to apply to graduate or medical school in biomedical research within the next year or (2) students who have been accepted into graduate, doctoral, or medical degree programs and who have written permission from their school either to delay entrance for up to 1 year, or to interrupt their current schooling and to return within 1 year to their degree-granting program. Further information available:

Technical IRTA Students

For individuals who have graduated from a fully accredited U.S. college or university with a bachelor's or master's degree in any discipline and are interested in advanced training for a technical position. These fellowships are designed to produce a cadre of highly trained support professionals capable of performing the latest advanced techniques in a research laboratory.
Further information available: