Summer Internship Program (SIP)
COVID-19 Update: The 2022 NIH Summer Internship Program will be a hybrid with both virtual interns and a limited number of in-person (i.e., on-campus) interns. Note that all interns, both virtual and in-person, will be expected to engage full-time in internship activities, including research, and will receive stipend support from the NIH.
The National Cancer Institute offers a summer research internship for students interested in exploring careers in all areas of cancer research, including basic, clinical, and translational research, epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics/genomics, and behavioral research. The program is open to high school, college, postbaccalaureate masters-level students, and graduate students, including medical and dental students. Successful applicants join the NCI for at least eight weeks between May and September and work under the supervision of an NCI researcher. This program is part of the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Biomedical Research. Please read the 2022 NIH OITE Summer Internship Handbook.
Internship Benefits
Summer internships at the NCI and NIH are paid internships; summer interns are based on the academic level.
Interns are encouraged to attend lectures offered under the NIH Summer Seminar Series, participate in group meetings and seminars, attend formal NIH lectures and symposia, and participate in the NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day.
NCI also offers a curriculum available for all summer interns that represents the diverse research areas within the Institute.
2022 NCI SIP Events
For the list of all OITE and NCI events by education level, please see the handout.
Date | Time | Topic | Link |
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June 7, 2022 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM ET | NCI Summer Orientation | Register |
June 10, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:15PM ET | Best Practices for Literature Searching | Register |
June 14, 2022 | 11:00AM - 12:00PM ET | NCI Summer Orientation | Register |
June 17, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:00PM ET | NCI Overview and Training Opportunities | Register |
June 22, 2022 | 10:00AM - 12:00PM ET | Introduction to SAS | TBD |
June 24, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:30PM ET | CCR Young Investigators Panel | Join |
June 28, 2022 | 10:00AM - 12:00PM ET | Tools and Resources to Support a Research Fellowship | TBD |
July 5 - July 28, 2022 (Tuesdays & Thursdays) | 2:00PM - 3:00PM ET | EPI 101 Series | Join |
July 6, 2022 | 12:00PM - 2:00PM ET | Introduction to Cancer Biology | Join |
July 8, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:30PM ET | DCEG Young Investigator Panel | Join |
July 11, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:00PM ET | Introduction to Ethics | Join |
How to Apply
The application process for summer 2022 is now closed. Please check this page in mid-November to obtain information on the summer 2023 program.
Eligibility
To apply to the NIH Summer Internship, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 17 years of age by the start of the summer. Students with disabilities; students from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the NSF to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders); students who identify as LGBTQ; students who are Pell-grant eligible; and others disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters, are encouraged to apply.
There are additional eligibility requirements that vary by program. Please be sure to check the requirements for the program you are interested in.
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High School Students: See details and eligibility for the NIH High School Summer Internship Program.
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College or community college, graduate school, and professional school (e.g., medical, dental, pharmacy, etc.) students: See more information on the NIH Summer Internship Program.
To learn more about the NCI SIP subprograms, please visit program websites:
To learn more about the NCI SIP subprograms, please visit program websites:
Application Procedure
To be considered for a summer internship, you must submit an application on the NIH OITE website. The application is available from mid-November to March 1. Submission includes:
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A curriculum vitae or resume
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A list of coursework and grades
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A cover letter describing the applicant’s research interests and career goals
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The names and contact information for two references
All HS-SIP applicants must contact the IC Coordinator to indicate interest in the NCI and facilitate lab placement.
Selection
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from November through April. Please note, that there is no centralized selection process. Individual scientists select their own summer interns and provide their own funding. All candidates will be informed of their status by May 1. Successful candidates will be required to submit:
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Official college or graduate/professional school transcripts
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Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
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Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Background Check: In order to be approved for logical and physical access to NIH facilities and systems, candidates must be able to pass a Federal background check, using Standard Form-85 (read SF-85). NOTE: Section 14 of the form asks “In the last year, have you used, possessed, supplied, or manufactured illegal drugs?” The question pertains to the illegal use of drugs or controlled substances in accordance with Federal laws, even though permissible under state laws.
NCI SIP Coordinators
If you have any questions during the application process or throughout your internship, please contact your summer coordinator.
Center for Cancer Research - Bethesda |
SIP - Vi Black & HS-SIP - Chanelle Case Borden |
Center for Cancer Research - Frederick |
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Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics |
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Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences |
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Center for Biomedical Informatics & Information Technology |