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Research Training

Medical Student Summer Opportunities to Advance Research (M-SOAR)

This program is available to:

An opportunity for medical students to perform a summer research internship in the Intramural Research Program at the NIH.

On this page

About this program

This program is an opportunity for first-year medical students who want to learn about translational research to spend a summer immersed in a culture of translational science at the NIH. These are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. M-SOAR students will work on, or near, the main campus in Bethesda, MD.

M-SOAR is a cohort program within the broader Summer Internship Program (SIP). In addition to having access to the resources offered to all summer interns, M-SOAR interns participate in a curriculum focused on the development of academic, professional, and resilience skills as part of a cohort or learning community.

Diversity and inclusion

Diversity strengthens our community. We welcome applications from individuals who meet the M-SOAR eligibility requirements and strongly encourage applications from individuals:

  • from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research and healthcare fields
  • with disabilities
  • who were Pell Grant-eligible in college
  • 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

To be considered for M-SOAR, you must meet all the requirements for the Summer Internship Program. In addition, you must be:

  • Enrolled for fall 2024 in a MD or DO program in the U.S.
  • In good standing and have written permission from your medical school program/university to participate in the program.

M-SOAR interns must commit to completing the entire program and must be on campus full-time during the eight or nine weeks of their internship. M-SOAR students may choose to begin their internship on May 20 or May 28, 2024 and must be available to participate in the program through July 12, 2024. Summer internships are full-time positions; interns are expected to devote 40 hours per week to their projects and training.

Stipend and other compensation

Stipends for summer interns are adjusted annually and are based on educational level. There is free parking on each NIH campus; summer interns are also eligible to participate in the Transhare program.

All summer interns must present proof of health insurance to participate in the program.

Before you apply

The decision to come to the NIH as a M-SOAR intern is an important one. These are full-time research positions, and it is not possible to take summer classes or tend to other responsibilities during work hours.

Research groups are located on several different NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD. Before you begin your application, we encourage you to learn more about the NIH IRP, the NIH Clinical Center, and the mission of each IC. M-SOAR interns will be placed in research groups on, or near, the main campus in Bethesda, MD. If you are interested in a placement in a research group on another campus, we encourage you to apply for the NIH SIP.

How to apply

Opening and closing dates

The M-SOAR application is currently closed.

The M-SOAR application closes on Friday, January 12, 2024 at noon ET.
Reference letters are due before Friday, January 19, 2024 at noon ET.

Complete your application

You must use the NIH Application Center to apply for this program.

  1. After you complete the required sections of your profile, you will be asked to select a preferred program. Choose ‘Summer internships for college, professional, and graduate students.’
  2. You must select 'Apply' next to ‘Medical Summer Opportunities to Advance Research’ for your application to be considered for this program.
  3. Ensure that you are eligible for this program before clicking 'Start Application.'
  4. To complete your application, import any relevant information from your profile. You must also submit:
  • Coursework & Exams - a list of coursework and grades
  • CV/Resume - a list of your education, experience, and other relevant history
  • References - the names and contact information of two references
  • Letter/Statement - a cover letter broadly describing your research experience, current interests, and career goals.

5. Review all of your materials carefully before you submit your application.

The M-SOAR application is currently closed.

Selection process

The M-SOAR selection committee reviews applications and will notify applicants of final decisions by January 30, 2024.

Individuals who are selected to participate in the 2024 M-SOAR Program will work closely with OITE staff to select a mentor on, or near, the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Every effort will be made to match the research interests the applicant describes in the application with the principal investigator's ongoing projects.

Have questions?

We also encourage you to pay careful attention to our extensive frequently asked questions list to support you in the application process.

Contact us

Reach out to us with questions at MSOAR@nih.gov.