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Cancer Research Interns (CRI) Summer Program

Patient personal health care taken by a specialist biochemist in a London research facility

Credit: iStock

The Cancer Research Interns (CRI) Summer Program provides undergraduate, graduate, and medical students with the opportunity to complete a paid summer internship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Candidates will have the ability to spend up to 12 weeks, exploring opportunities in basic and clinical research, cancer epidemiology and genetics research, cancer control science, as well as global health. 

CRI provides valuable research experience combined with mentorship and professional development designed to advance your career in biomedical research. CRI serves to provide a research opportunity to those with limited or no previous research experience. Training at NCI makes individuals highly competitive for future academic and research pursuits. Since its inception in 2004, 465 students have participated in CRI. The majority of CRI Fellows have gone on to complete graduate school or medical school or have entered the scientific workforce.

I benefitted greatly from working in the lab both in terms of tangible bench skills and making very valuable connections…I feel like everyone here is looking out for my success and happy to help me figure out my interests and hone my skills.

Ons Mrad Bouali, Former CRI participant
 

How to Apply

Information on eligibility, and the application and selection processes can be found at Train at NCI. NCI is committed to training the next generation of scientific leaders.   The application cycle opens November 4, 2026, through January 22, 2027.

Important Program Dates

  • February 24 - Applicant pool released and published projects become available to selectees
  • February 24 – March 17 - Interview period
  • March 17 - Deadline for entering candidate feedback and scoring
  • April 5 - Notification of selection into NCI
Benefits of a Summer Internship
  • Spend up to 12 weeks conducting research side-by-side with the nation's best researchers
  • Participate in a variety of summer activities including summer intensives, preparing for college or graduate/professional school, wellness activities, and more
  • Present your research at the NIH Summer Poster Day
  • Meet other students from across the U.S.

My summer research internship at the NCI was a transformative experience. I gained practical skills, from data analysis to lab techniques, that have been invaluable in my academic journey. I also gained an incredible network comprised of researchers and mentors, who provided me with crucial guidance and opened doors for future opportunities.

Brittni Moore, Former CRI participant

For NCI Investigators 

NCI investigators are essential to the success of the CRI Summer Program. CRI gives students, particularly those with limited or no previous research experience, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cancer research, build scientific skills, and learn directly from NCI scientists and research teams. 

We need your expertise and mentorship to make these opportunities possible. NCI investigators can support CRI in several ways: 

  • Serve as an application reviewer and help identify promising students to advance in the CRI selection process.  

  • Become a CRI mentor and give a student the opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow within your research environment. Post a summer project to connect with CRI candidates whose interests align with your work.  

CRI provides financial support for participating interns, so investigators don't need an available funded summer intern slot or funding for the student's stipend to serve as a mentor. 

Whether you review applications, mentor an intern, submit a project, or participate in more than one way, your involvement helps expand access to meaningful research experiences and introduces emerging scientists to the breadth of cancer research at NCI. 

To participate in CRI, either as a reviewer or a mentor, please sign up at Train at NCI. If you already have an account, you may need to reactivate it if you haven't interacted with the system in the last three months.  

For Additional Information

If you have questions about the program, please contact ncicri@nih.gov. 

The highlight of my internship was the weekly meetings [where] we got to know the other summer interns and share all the fun and exciting things we were learning. Being a summer intern at NCI was intellectually enlightening and transformative.

Andrea N. Robinson, Former CRI participant

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