Intern Programs

Administrative and Policy Opportunities

In order to shape the administrative leaders of the 21st Century and to fill the administrative pipeline for years to come, the National Institutes of Health's internship and fellowship programs offer access to some of the nation’s brightest and most talented individuals. This experience provides incredible and unique opportunities for career advancement through training, rotational assignments, and mentoring.

Expect the type of work to be challenging and aggressive, yet extremely rewarding. One of the most valuable aspects of the NIH intern programs is the series of rotational assignments. Candidates will interact with senior executives and be able to make unique contributions, while gaining hands-on experience. After many months of intense evaluation, those selected are provided with opportunities to advance in a Federal public service career path. The NIH has attracted highly motivated candidates who today hold various senior management positions at NIH. The NIH is dedicated towards playing an active role in sharing knowledge and expertise with the next generation of NIH managers and administrators who strive to improve the nation's health.

Administrative Fellows Program

The Administrative Fellows Program (AFP) is a National Institutes of Health experiential training program that provides the opportunity for the NIH to bring new and excited employees into its administrative community. Our program includes mentorship, an individual training plan, possible rotations, a camaraderie of current Fellows, an annual AFP Leadership Symposium, and lots of opportunities to make a difference at the NIH in one of our eight target positions. For more information, visit our AFP page.

Emerging Leaders Program

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a Health and Human Services experiential training program designed to recruit employees with a high potential for future leadership. The program recruits at the GS-9 level in administrative, information technology, public health, scientific, and social science careers. Graduates interested in pursuing opportunities in the ELP at NIH should apply centrally through Health and Human Services and request rotations with NIH upon acceptance. For more information, please visit http://hhsu.learning.hhs.gov/elp/.

Management Intern Program

The Management Intern Program (MIP) is an intern National Institutes of Health experiential training program designed to grow future NIH leaders out of current exceptional support staff.

Presidential Management Fellows

Similar to Emerging Leaders, the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is a government-wide program designed to recruit exceptional candidates into potential leadership positions. Graduates interested in pursuing opportunities as a PMF at NIH should apply centrally to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and request rotations with NIH upon acceptance. For more information on the PMF program, please visit https://www.pmf.opm.gov/. For information on the PMF at NIH, see the Training Center website.

Scientific Research and Training Opportunities

Post-baccalaureate and Graduate Students

Offered through NIH's Office of Intramural Training and Education, the Postbaccalaureate IRTA program and the National Cancer Institute's CRTA program provide opportunities for recent college graduates to spend a year engaged in biomedical research at the NIH. TheYear-Off Training Program for Graduate or Medical students provides an opportunity for currently enrolled graduate or medical students to spend a year engaged in biomedical research at the NIH, with the understanding that they will return to their degree-granting institution within one year.

Postdoctoral Training

Offered through NIH's Office of Intramural Training and Education, the Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) provides the opportunity for recent doctoral degree recipients to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich National Institutes of Health (NIH) environment, which consists of more than 1200 laboratories.

Clinical Training

Offered through NIH's Office of Intramural Training and Education and the Clinical Center, the Clinical and Dental Training programs concentrate on certified Residency and subspecialty training programs.