About

The Explorations in Neuroscience Research Internship Program at the Ohio State University College of Medicine is an eight-week, paid summer research immersion for rising high school juniors and seniors. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the 2026 program places selected students into active laboratories to contribute to investigations in neurobiology, neurological injury, and neurodegeneration. Applications for the 2026 session are due by March 13, 2026.

Accepted interns receive a stipend (approximately $2,300+) and work 40 hours per week under the mentorship of OSU faculty and graduate students. The program is strictly non-clinical; interns work in a laboratory environment with tools such as microscopes and cell cultures rather than shadowing physicians in a hospital setting.

Participants are matched with a host laboratory based on interests expressed in their application. Throughout the eight weeks, interns perform hands-on research, attend weekly professional development workshops, and participate in the Explorations in Neuroscience Journal Club.

The experience culminates in a Scientific Poster Session, where interns present their findings to the OSU research community. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Because this is a commuter program, interns are responsible for their own transportation and housing. This internship is designed to provide a seminal stepping-stone for emerging scholars, offering a professional research foundation that significantly strengthens future applications for neuroscience majors and medical programs. For students interested in pursuing neuroscience and medicine at the highest levels, this is a top-tier opportunity.