Summer Internship Program (SIP)

About SIP

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.  

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.

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.

NCI SIP Events

For the list of 2022 NIH and NCI summer events, please see this handout and/or download the calendar of events.

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.

• High School Students: See details and eligibility for the NIH High School Summer Internship Program. 

• 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: 

• Cancer Research Interns (CRI) 

• Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research for Veterinary Medical Students 

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:

• A curriculum vitae or resume 

• A list of coursework and grades 

• A cover letter describing the applicant’s research interests and career goals 

• 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:

• Official college or graduate/professional school transcripts 

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status 

• 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.