Diversity in Vision Research and Ophthalmology Summer Internship Program

The National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking exceptional candidates for its Diversity in Vision Research and Ophthalmology (DIVRO) summer internship program.

The mission of the NEI is to conduct and support research that helps prevent and treat eye diseases and other visual disorders. Because we believe that a diverse group of scientists plays a crucial role in accomplishing this mission, NEI seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in vision research by promoting career development opportunities for science students interested in pursuing a career in research or medicine.

The DIVRO program offers each participant the opportunity to work closely with leading research scientists in the Division of Intramural Research and provides students with hands-on training in a research environment that will prepare them to continue their studies and advance their careers in basic and clinical research.

The program supports students age sixteen and over who are enrolled at least half-time in high school or in an accredited U.S. college or university and have completed course work relevant to biomedical, behavioral, or statistical research. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and should have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) or science course GPA of 3.2 or better. Interns typically work 8-12 weeks at the NIH campus in Bethesda, MD or at the Twinbrook facility at Fishers Lane in Rockville, MD. Internships may begin between mid-May and the beginning of July, and typically last until August (students are required to present at the Summer Poster Day on August 8th). Students are provided a monthly stipend that is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The NIH encourages qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Application Information:

Interested candidates must apply through the NIH Summer Internship Program at www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip and indicate the following information:

• For Question #9 of the on-line application, Preferred Institute/Center (IC): National Eye Institute (NEI)
• In your Cover Letter, please indicate your interest in the DIVRO program.

Applications are due March 1, 2013. For more information about the DIVRO program, please visit www.nei.nih.gov/training/diversity_in_research.asp or contact Dr. Cesar Perez-Gonzalez, Ph.D. at cesarp@nei.nih.gov. For information about working at the NEI, please visit http://www.nei.nih.gov/training/summer_intern.asp.