Research Training
Graduate Partnerships Program Institutional Partnerships
This program is available to:
An opportunity for doctoral graduate students to perform dissertation research in the NIH Intramural Research Program through longstanding agreements with a limited number of specific graduate programs in the U.S. and abroad.
On this page
About this program
Institutional Partnerships are collaborative educational experiences that allow students to benefit from the academic resources of their university and the research environment of the NIH Intramural Research Program. Students in Institutional Partnerships:
- are selected jointly by university and NIH committees
- complete academic requirements at the university
- perform all, or part, of their dissertation in a research group within the NIH Intramural Research Program.
These are full-time research positions in one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. Graduate students work in research groups on all NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD.
Before you begin your application, we encourage you to learn about:
- the Intramural Research Program and the mission of each NIH IC
- the various campuses and the specific focus of the work performed there
Graduate students train in research groups directed by NIH Principal Investigators (PI). We offer research opportunities in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences with opportunities to explore basic, translational and clinical research. Current graduate students interested in biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, bioinformatics, and other health-related fields are invited to apply. Graduate students may not work in administrative offices or outside of the NIH Intramural Research Program.
In addition to an intensive research training experience, our graduate students have access to:
- professional development programs focused on core competencies needed for success in research and healthcare careers
- educational and career advising
- a comprehensive well-being and resilience program
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity strengthens our community. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and strongly encourage applications from individuals:
- from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research and healthcare fields
- with disabilities
- who are/were Pell Grant-eligible in college
- students who are/were enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- who identify as LGBTQ+
- disadvantaged by life circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities.
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility requirements vary by institutional partnership. Please see specific partnership information below.
Stipend and other compensation
Graduate student stipends are adjusted annually and are based on experience gained after completion of your undergraduate degree. We also offer fully-paid health insurance for individuals and families. This includes coverage for medical, dental, and vision needs.
There is free parking on each NIH campus; graduate students on some campuses may be eligible to participate in the Transhare program. Students in institutional agreements also receive funds for travel between the NIH and the university, but details differ for each partnership.
Before you apply
Your decision to come to NIH as a graduate student is an important one. You will be a full-time student at your university and a trainee working onsite at one of the NIH campuses. All institutional partnerships require you to spend time on the university campus and some require you to establish a collaboration between an NIH PI and a university PI. Furthermore, you will be expected to meet all the academic requirements of your graduate program while you are doing dissertation research at NIH. It is crucial that you fully understand the program structure and the expectations of the specific programs that interest you.
Opening and closing dates
Applications are currently closed. Most institutional partnership applications will open for Fall 2025 Matriculation in August, 2024, but may vary by partnership.
How to apply
You must complete the NIH GPP application. Requirements for the university application differ.
To apply to an institutional partnership:
- Complete the NIH GPP online application including:
- Information on your undergraduate experience
- a list of all coursework and grades
- your CV
- personal statement highlighting prior research experiences, why you are interested in the specific institutional agreement you are applying for, and your long-term career goals. Highlight any barriers you experienced as part of your educational experiences.
- the names and contact information for three references
- Complete the application for the partner university, if applicable (see details for each partnership below)
We encourage you to pay careful attention to our extensive FAQs to support you in the application process.
Partner Programs
Applicants interested in the Brown-NIH GPP must submit all application materials to NIH by December 1, 2023, specifying the Brown-NIH program in the application. After interviews, selected applicants will be invited to submit a formal application to Brown.
You may apply simultaneously to the Brown PhD program and the Brown-NIH GPP program by completing both applications by December 1, 2023.
GRE scores are not required.
Eligibility requirements:
- You must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident.
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree by the matriculation date.
Partnership Directors
NIH Partnership Directors
University Partnership Directors
Applicants interested in the NIH-JHU Graduate Partnership Program must submit ONLY the GPP application by the December 1, 2023, and do not need to apply to JHU. Applicants who are admitted to the NIH-JHU GPP will be invited to submit an application to JHU.
You may apply simultaneously to the JHU PhD program and the JHU-NIH GPP program by completing both applications by December 1, 2023.
GRE scores are not required and are entirely optional.
Eligibility requirements:
- You must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident.
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree by the matriculation date.
Partnership Directors
NIH Partnership Directors
University Partnership Director
Applicants interested in the University of Pennsylvania - Immunology: NIH Track GPP must submit all application materials to NIH by December 1, 2023, specifying the UPenn NIH track program in the application.
You must apply simultaneously to the University of Pennsylvania - Immunology program and the UPenn-NIH GPP program by completing both applications by December 1, 2023.
GRE scores are not required.
Eligibility requirements:
- You must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident.
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree by the matriculation date.
See the partnership webpage for more information on the program and to apply through the University of Pennsylvania system.
APPLY HERE through the GPP system
Partnership Directors
NIH Partnership Director
University Partnership Director
Applicants interested in the Georgetown-NIH GPP must submit all application materials to NIH by December 1, 2023, specifying the specific Georgetown PhD programs that interest them. Participating Georgetown PhD programs include:
- PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology
- PhD in Microbiology & Immunology
- PhD in Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
- PhD in Pharmacology & Physiology
- PhD in Tumor Biology
You may apply simultaneously to the Georgetown PhD program and the Georgetown-NIH program by completing both applications by December 1, 2023.
GRE scores are not required for the following partnerships:
- PhD in Microbiology & Immunology
- PhD in Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
- PhD in Pharmacology & Physiology
GRE scores are not required but may be included for the following partnerships:
- PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology
- PhD in Tumor Biology
MCAT scores will be accepted in lieu of GRE scores.
Eligibility requirements:
- You must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident.
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree by date of matriculation
Partnership Directors
NIH Partnership Directors
University Partnership Directors
- Dr. Anna Tate Riegel, Senior Associate Dean of BGE
- Office of Admissions, BGE
Consortia of Universities - NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program (CBSTP)
The website for online applications is scheduled to open on June 15, 2023. For full consideration, apply by August 15, 2023 at noon ET. Formal review of applications begins on August 15, 2023 and continues until a class is selected.
See partnership webpage for eligibility requirements.
DVM/VMD or equivalent degree required.
GRE scores should be submitted if submitted for admission to veterinary school. Scores may be required by one or more partnership graduate schools.
See the MD/PhD partnership website for details.
GRE scores are not required, nor will they be considered.
MCAT scores are required.
See partnership webpage for eligibility requirements.
Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) - Neurosciences
Direct application to the Karolinska Institutet PhD program is not required until after acceptance into the NIH-KI Program. Applicants must apply through GPP for consideration and send research proposals to program contact, Aneka Reid at reidap@mail.nih.gov.
If accepted to the program, students must then apply to the university to be registered in their systems.
GRE or MCAT scores are not required for admission consideration.
See partnership webpage for eligibility requirements.
University College London (England) - Neuroscience/NIMH
Direct application to UCL PhD program is not required until after acceptance into the NIMH-UCL Program. Applicants must apply through GPP for consideration and send research proposals to program contact, Aneka Reid at reidap@mail.nih.gov.
If accepted to the program, students must then apply to the university to be registered in their systems.
GRE and MCAT scores are not required for admission consideration.
See partnership webpage for eligibility requirements.
University of Oxford (England)/University of Cambridge (England)
Direct application to the Universities PhD program is not strictly required until after acceptance to the NIH OxCam Program.
GRE scores are not required, nor will they be considered.
MCAT scores will not be considered.
See partnership webpage for eligibility requirements.
Contact
Reach out to us with questions at gpp@nih.gov.