<p>I'm really curious how you guys get grants from NIH while still in high school. Everyone says that it's best to get an NIH grant though it's harder to get than an internship. However, those who do get the internships have so-called "connections." How do you make connections--who do you e-mail? Could you please provide me with a website to find these e-mail addresses, or is there something else I should do? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>-Joe</p>
<p>Most of the spots are already taken by now, unfortunately. (I e-mailed some people myself.) Connections are made by having parents who work at NIH or parent's friends who work at NIH.</p>
<p>It will be very easy for you to get internship opportunities at NIH if you have connections, but however if you are willing to spend some time writing e-mails to those investigators, you will have great chance to get in too! I sent e-mails to like 80 or something people and I'm going to NIH this summer =P</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for responding!</p>
<p>cawaiigirl, would you please give me the website where you found the e-mail addresses of all those people? Thank you.</p>
<p>cawaiigirl - In which institute will you work this summer?
I e-mailed like 30 people, in like the past week, and all of their labs are full. I did manage to set up a volunteer position with someone though, and I'm considering working in his lab, if I can afford housing. btw, are you staying at AU? Maybe I'll see you there....</p>
<p>cawaiigirl - what did you include in your emails to the researchers? I mean, did you include a resume or a copy of your app, or did you just ask them if you can work in their labs?</p>
<p>Please--could one of you tell me where you find the e-mail addresses of these researchers?</p>
<p>I found the e-mail addresses on the NIH webstie. You kind of need to search a little bit but it's not hard at all. Just look around the website and you will find them. </p>
<p>I just wrote a letter that said why did I want to work in the lab. I also included my resume (listed classes I took and awards/experiences..etc) I actually sent these e-mails during christmas and many of the investigators already told me that their labs were full!!! </p>
<p>I'm going to NCI Fredrick and I don't think AU's there??? I don't know =( My mentor's secretary hasn't told me where am I going to stay this summer, but hopefully we will meet =P</p>
<p>good luck to you all!!</p>
<p>Hi, I'm an NIH researcher, and I thought I'd offer some advice. Although it is easier o get an NIH internship as a high school student if you have contacts, such as a relative or neighbor, it CAN be done by those without such contacts -- but it takes initiative. Most high school internships are unpaid, and most lab chiefs will only take one or two interns in their labs -- if any. Most won't even consider you if you don't commit for almost all of the summer -- if you tell them you'll only work 4 or 6 weeks, it won't be worth their while to train you. The most important advice -- start early -- is unfortunately also true. It is probably too late for even unpaid internships at most labs, although it never hurts to try.</p>
<p>The advice Cawaiigirl gave is excellent -- you need to do your homework and contact the investigator directly. Go to <a href="http://www.nih.gov%5B/url%5D">www.nih.gov</a>, and start searching through the various Institute's intramural labs (every Institute has a website for their intramural program). Do you want to work with patients, or do basic science research in a lab? See what folks are doing. Then, if you find someone working in an area that interests you, send an email to the lab chief (hint--write "Dear Dr. So and So" -- NEVER, NEVER address them by their first name until/unless you are offered the job and they tell you to--I speak here from experience). Tell them that you are looking for a summer research internship and found their lab and were interested in exploring the possibility of working there. Explain what it is about what they do that interests you (obviously you won't understand all the details, but you should at least give them some idea that you've done your homework and aren't just applying indiscriminately to 30 labs -- which does happen). If you've had experience working with patients as a volunteer or working in a lab, let them know that to. As Cawaiigirl said, a brief resume is also useful. </p>
<p>You should also know that not only won't you get paid, but in general you'll also have to find your own housing, unless you are going as part of a special program of some sort.</p>
<p>NIH is a fabulous place.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Wow, I didn't realize it was that important to e-mail investigators, I only mailed 2 of them. Is it as important for the NIH SIP program?</p>
<p>thanks for the advice, Momof3. Do you (or anyone else) happen to know if NIH will provide transportation fees (Metrocheks, i believe?) to unpaid volunteers who are not from the area and are staying in housing at AU or whereever?</p>
<p>Thanks Momof3.</p>
<p>Yay, I think I found the e-mail addresses!</p>
<p>so who here is actually for sure going to intern at NIH?</p>
<p>do you think it is better to go to NIH or....</p>
<p>a state public health research institute???
the work at the public health research institute seems like it would be better, and the head researcher said that he would prep me for the westinghouse/ siemens/ intel competitions.</p>
<p>Is the reputable name of NIH more important than doing better work at a less known research institute??? also is it possible to do westinghouse/ intel comptetions using NIH research??</p>
<p>bump!!! !</p>