A student adjusts a piece of laboratory equipment

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Program

Since 2017, the U.S. National Science Foundation INTERN program has provided graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships in non-academic settings.

About INTERN

INTERN enables graduate students to acquire core professional competencies and skills to support careers in any sector of the U.S. economy. The program offers:

  • Complementary, non-academic training for graduate students.
  • Professional development experience in preparation for multiple career pathways.
  • Opportunities for students from groups that are underrepresented in science and engineering. 

What funding is available?
INTERN supplements provide up to $55,000 to support travel, tuition and fees, health insurance, additional stipend and other costs.

Who can apply?
Active NSF awardees may submit supplemental funding requests for up to six additional months of graduate student support on their grant.

NSF INTERN program
If you could participate in an NSF-funded internship at a Fortune 500 company, small business, government lab, think tank or school, what would you choose?
Credit: U.S. National Science Foundation
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Current INTERN opportunities

Explore funding opportunities for science and engineering internships.

Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
The INTERN program provides graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships to acquire core professional competencies and skills to support careers in any sector of the U.S. economy.
Posted October 8, 2020
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
NSF-AFRL INTERN supports the training of graduate students to meet both NSF's strategic workforce development objectives and AFRL's mission to lead the discovery, development and delivery of new technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces.
Posted December 11, 2020
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
Invites supplemental funding requests from active NSF recipients to provide graduate students with research internships and professional development opportunities in biomedical engineering.
Posted April 30, 2024
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
Invites supplemental funding requests to enable graduate students to pursue research internships and training opportunities on relevant topics at the DEVCOM ARL or DEVCOM GVSC that will complement the student’s academic research training.
Posted March 21, 2024
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
Geothermal INTERN supports graduate students with professional development opportunities in geothermal energy, technology and its application areas.
Posted November 15, 2022
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
GeoHealth INTERN supports six-month graduate student internships with public health or medical professionals on mutually beneficial projects exploring the linkage of human health and the earth's environment.
Posted May 22, 2023
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
Encourages supplemental funding requests to provide graduate student internship and training opportunities focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to foster the growth of a competitive and diverse research workforce.
Posted May 6, 2024
Dear Colleague Letter
Next Required Due Date: See letter for details
NSF-NIH INTERN supports non-academic research internships for graduate students in forensic science and criminal justice contexts.
Posted September 11, 2023

Impacts of INTERN

NSF supports more than 250 INTERN experiences each year in settings such as startups, small and large corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

INTERN not only expands students' technical expertise but also provides experience with collaborative teams and diverse individuals, building skills and knowledge in communication, innovation, leadership and more. 

INTERN news

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Contact us

Questions about the NSF INTERN program can be emailed to the lead program director Prakash Balan at pbalan@nsf.gov