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Undergrad and Postbac Training Programs

There are several paid training opportunities for current undergraduate students or recent college graduates who are considering graduate or professional school in healthcare or STEM fields. Current undergraduates have the opportunity to spend up to 12-weeks conducting research full-time during the summer or part-time during the academic year. Recent college graduates have the opportunity to spend up to two years conducting full-time research at NCI. 

Research groups are located at the Bethesda, Shady Grove, and Frederick campuses. Eligibility will vary depending on the program, so be sure to review the eligibility criteria closely.

Interested in finding the right training program for you? Utilize the Find a Training Program feature on Train at NCI.

Summer Internships

  • Cancer Research Interns (CRI) Summer Program

    Cancer Research Interns (CRI) is a structured cohort summer program that provides undergraduate, graduate, and medical students the opportunity to complete a paid summer internship at NCI. Participants will spend up to 12-weeks conducting research side-by-side with NCI investigators and participating in summer activities designed to help achieve their next career goal. Applications are submitted at the NCI application portal, Train at NCI, and typically close before the NIH Summer Internship Program.

  • NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)

    The NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) is for college, graduate, and professional students interested in exploring careers in research and healthcare. Participants can spend up to 12 weeks conducting research in a research group at NCI or another NIH institute. To participate in SIP, you must be at least 18 years of age by June and currently enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school, accredited community college, college or university, or accepted into an accredited graduate program for the fall semester. Applications are submitted at the NIH Application Portal typically from November through February.

  • NCI Summer Internship Program (SIP)

    The National Cancer Institute participates in the NIH Summer Internship Program and 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 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.

Academic Internships

  • NIH Academic Intern Program (AIP)

    The Academic Internship Program (AIP) allows undergraduate, graduate, and medical students to train at the NCI or other NIH institute during the school year. Students can work part-time while going to school, but participants may work-full time under some circumstances. To participate in AIP, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, 18 years of age as of your start date, and enrolled at least half-time in an accredited community college, college, or university. The AIP does not have a formal application process; you apply directly to NIH PIs who make decisions about hiring AIP interns.

Postbac Fellowships

  • Cancer Research Postbac (CRP) Program

    The Cancer Research Postbac (CRP) program provides recent college graduates the opportunity to complete a paid postbaccalaureate fellowship within the NCI intramural research program. CRP provides training in specific scientific areas critical to achieving the NCI mission of helping people live longer, healthier lives. The program aims to cultivate the next generation of scientific researchers by providing rigorous scientific training, tailored career and professional development, and valuable networking opportunities.

  • Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (iCURE)

    The Intramural Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (iCURE) program provides recent college graduates, including post-masters individuals, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows, the opportunity to complete paid fellowships within the NCI intramural research program. Within the NCI divisions, scholars will have the ability to explore opportunities in basic and clinical research, cancer epidemiology and genetics research, cancer control science as well as global health. A core to the iCURE program is multi-level mentoring that begins during the application process and continues throughout the experience.

  • NIH Postbac Program

    The NIH Postbac Program allows recent college graduates to train full-time for one or two years at the NCI or other NIH Institutes. To participate in the NIH Postbac Program, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who received a bachelor’s degree within three years of the beginning of the program or have received a master’s degree within six months before beginning the program. Applications can be submitted in the NIH Application Center year-round, but the majority of postbacs start in June through October.

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