Doctoral Student & Postdoctoral Fellow Training

Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP)

Purpose: The NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education hosts the Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) that brings Ph.D. graduate students to the NIH Intramural Research campus for dissertation research.

Contact: NIDDK Fellowship Office

Eligibility: There are many NIH-University partnerships available to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or international graduate students. There are two pathways for GPP students:

• Individual Partnerships are for Ph.D. graduate students already enrolled in a university who wish to create a partnership agreement between the NIH and their Ph.D. graduate program.
• Institutional Partnerships are for students who wish to enroll in a Ph.D. program at a university that has a formal partnership with the NIH.

Individuals who are U.S. permanent residents must be attending or have been accepted into institutions in the U.S.

Applicants must pass a Federal background check.

Length of Award: Varies depending on dissertation work and university requirements.

NIDDK Intramural Research Program (IRP) Postdoctoral Fellowships

Purpose: The program provides advanced training and research experience to physicians and Ph.D.-level investigators who are at the beginning stages of their professional research careers. Participants will engage in research studies under the direction of preceptors and apply their newly gained knowledge and enhance their research skills through participation in ongoing research investigations.

Eligibility: Applicants must

• have an M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., D.V.M., or equivalent degree in a biomedical, behavioral, or related science, or certification by a university as meeting all the requirements leading to such a doctorate
• have 5 or fewer years of relevant post-doctoral research experience and up to 2 additional years of experience not oriented towards research (i.e., clinical training for physicians)
• pass a Federal background check

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are appointed to Postdoctoral Intramural Research Training Awards (IRTAs); citizens of other nations are appointed as Visiting Fellows.

Visas are required for non-U.S. citizens. Visa Classification Information is available on the NIH Division of International Service website.

How to Apply and Find a Mentor: Before you apply for a position, review NIDDK Labs and Branches and identify potential faculty who have an open position in their lab and whose research interests align with your goals. Consider contacting faculty directly to discuss your interest in a position at NIDDK. Read tips for finding the right mentor.

Send your CV and three references to your potential mentor. Contact the NIDDK Fellowship Office with questions.

Length of Award: Initial appointments may be for 1 or 2 years, with extensions in one-year increments not to exceed five years total. Participants may not be part-time for more than an eight-year calendar period. Intermittent schedules are not permitted.

Biophysics Fellows Research Conference at the NIH

The Biophysics Fellows Research Conference at the NIH (BFRC-NIH) will be held at the NIH Bethesda Campus on March 6 and March 7, 2025. Read more on eligibility criteria for abstract submission, submission deadlines and requirements, and benefits to selected candidates.