NSF and NIJ announce supplemental funding for graduate student internships in forensic science and criminal justice


The U.S. National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) have announced a new effort to strengthen the science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce and support research relevant to criminal justice. We are inviting proposals under the Graduate Research Internships in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Contexts (NSF-NIJ INTERN) program, which allows graduate students to explore nonacademic research internships in forensic science and other criminal justice fields. INTERN offers students experiential training in professional environments broader than would be typical in an academic program. At the same time, it gives potential employers access to future STEM workforce talent.

This represents the latest collaboration between NIJ and NSF since renewing a memorandum of understanding in 2020. Students must already be associated with an NSF grant, as INTERN awards are supplemental funding to existing NSF grants. Interested students and their principal investigators are encouraged to communicate with a potential host institution and discuss submitting a supplemental proposal with their NSF program officer.

Internship host sites can be industry, government or nonprofit institutions with forensic science or other criminal justice missions. Review a list of institutions already expressing an interest in hosting an internship.

If your organization is interested in hosting an NSF-NIJ INTERN, contact rferrell@nsf.gov to be added to this list.

Read the Dear Colleague Letter: Graduate Research Internships in Forensic Science and Criminal Justice Contexts (NSF-NIJ INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity.