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Summer Scholars Internship Program

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About

The NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program (SSIP) focuses on developing the potential of undergraduate and graduate students interested in gaining professional experience working in science administration. At NSF, students will be:

  1. exposed to relevant science and engineering policy, research and education issues and NSF programs.
  2. provided with the opportunity to contribute their talent and skills on a project for the NSF.
  3. encouraged to earn graduate degrees and pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The NSF partners with two host organizations (see How to Apply) to provide a full-time, paid, 10-week experience, where students work with NSF offices that typically align with their academic interests. The program is hybrid, with students working for several days at NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA, at the beginning and end of the internship, and teleworking for the majority of the time. The program typically runs from early June until early August. Internship dates are set by the student’s host organization. 

How to apply

Participants in the NSF SSIP are recruited from internships hosted by: 

  1. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program (HNIP), more information is available here https://www.hacu.net/hacu/Apply.asp. (Application Deadline:  February 2, 2024). 
  2. Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Talent Development and Innovation in the Sciences (TDIS), more information is available here https://qem.org/project/tdis/. (Application Deadline: January 19, 2024).

Please go to the HACU and QEM websites to learn about their internships, eligibility criteria, the goals and support they provide, and the deadline dates.

You may not apply directly to NSF for the SSIP. High school students are not eligible. Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Photo of the National Science Foundation Summer Scholar Interns

Credit: National Science Foundation

The 2023 class of NSF's Summer Scholar interns.

Learn more about the participating organizations

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities internship program has provided paid internships to thousands of students since 1992. HACU's mission is to promote the development of member colleges and universities; to improve access to and the quality of postsecondary educational opportunities for Hispanic students; and to meet the needs of business, industry and government through the development and sharing of resources, information and expertise.

The Quality Education for Minorities Network is dedicated to improving education from underrepresented students throughout the nation by providing technical assistance to minority-serving Institutions, funding internship opportunities for underrepresented students, and advocating for college and career readiness in STEM.

Other opportunities for students

Students interested in a research-based experience are encouraged to apply to various opportunities offered by NSF, including:

View additional NSF programs for Undergraduate Students and Graduate Students.

Contact us

For more information on the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program, please contact nsfssip@nsf.gov.

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