15 Nutrition Internships for Undergraduate Students
Your college years are the ideal time to build the skills and experiences that lead to a meaningful career. While excelling in your courses is crucial, participating in an internship provides tangible, real-world experience that can dramatically enhance your professional profile. You'll increase your chances of employability, gain practical knowledge in your chosen field, and forge valuable connections with established professionals, all while adding a solid credential to your resume. For students aspiring to be dietitians, public health advocates, or wellness experts, exploring nutrition internships for undergraduate students is an impactful first step.
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of more healthcare internships here.
Why should you do a Nutrition internship in college?
Securing an internship is one of the most strategic moves you can make during your undergraduate years. Internships provide a structured environment to apply your academic knowledge, develop crucial professional skills, and explore various subfields within nutrition, all while building a network of mentors and peers. By completing an internship, you will also demonstrate initiative and a strong work ethic, qualities that help you stand out among other job applicants. The professional connections you make can often lead directly to job offers, giving you a significant head start in your career long before you receive your diploma.
To help you find the right fit, we've narrowed down the top 15 nutrition internships for undergraduate students, focusing on programs that emphasize prestige, rigor, and networking opportunities.
Quick Look
15 internships total spanning biomedical research, public health policy, food science, agricultural science, and community nutrition education, hosted by organizations including the NIH, USDA-ARS, and top research universities across the country
Stipends vary widely, from unpaid or hourly wage roles to fully funded programs like Michigan State's MICRO-CCS ($7,000 plus housing) and Fred Hutch's SURP ($7,304 plus travel)
Standout programs include the NIH Summer Internship Program, which places you in a working lab studying diabetes, obesity, and metabolic health, and the USDA-ARS Pacific West Area program, which covers airfare, housing, and a paid salary
Many programs are designed for students without prior research experience, including Michigan State's MICRO-CCS and the University of Delaware's CANR Summer Institute, both of which explicitly welcome first-time researchers
Deadlines span the academic year, with several rolling programs alongside fixed deadlines as early as January 25 for the University of Utah's SPUR program, so early planning matters
1. National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: NIH campuses nationwide
Cost/Stipend: Varies by education level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May 11 – August 31
Application Deadline: Varies yearly (tentatively February)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in an accredited U.S. college or university; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; 18+
The NIH Summer Internship Program is a premier biomedical research opportunity where you can work alongside Principal Investigators in one of the world's leading research institutions. With a focus on nutrition-related conditions like diabetes, obesity, and metabolic health, you'll be placed in a laboratory and participate in cutting-edge research, from data collection and analysis to assisting with experimental protocols. You will present your findings during the NIH Summer Poster Day, a formative experience that mimics a professional scientific conference. The program also includes professional development seminars, career panels, and workshops designed to enhance your research skills.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25% acceptance
Dates: 8-week cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program offers a selective virtual internship, pairing you with a global startup or NGO to give you direct insight into how mission-driven organizations tackle real-world health challenges. You'll work on a concrete, high-impact project that contributes to the host organization's goals, such as developing nutrition education materials, analyzing dietary data, or supporting a community wellness initiative. Each participant receives one-on-one mentorship from a dedicated Ladder Coach, in addition to the guidance of an on-site manager at the host company. The program emphasizes ownership, professional accountability, and independent problem-solving, ensuring you produce tangible work for your portfolio. This is an ideal starting point for those exploring nutrition internships for undergraduate students in a structured, supportive environment.
3. Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) – Summer Healthy Food Access Internship
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: DC minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 weeks during summer (full-time)
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with an interest in public health, nutrition policy, and food access
The Ruth and Ken Davee Internship Program places you at the intersection of public health advocacy and nutrition policy, working with CSPI to strengthen federal nutrition programs, including SNAP and the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). You will conduct qualitative research, analyze food assistance policies, and help develop resources that improve the charitable food system to better serve communities in need. A key feature of this internship is exposure to the entire federal health policy process, including monitoring advisory committees and contributing to transparency initiatives. The CSPI team offers robust mentorship, and you will collaborate with professionals dedicated to shaping equitable food systems.
4. Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (MCHC/RISE-UP) Program
Location: Baltimore, MD (also available at partner sites: University of South Dakota and University of California, Davis)
Cost/Stipend: $5,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May 25 – July 30
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors or seniors, or recent baccalaureate degree holders; minimum GPA of 2.7; U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
This nine‑week summer program, funded by the CDC, places you at the intersection of public health, maternal and child health, and nutrition through hands‑on projects. You can choose a clinical or community‑focused track, where many scholars work on nutrition‑related initiatives such as improving breastfeeding support in underserved communities, evaluating school‑based meal programs for children with developmental disabilities, or designing food insecurity screening tools for prenatal clinics. You will be matched with a faculty mentor who specializes in areas like pediatric nutrition, obesity prevention, or community health education. The program also covers housing and round‑trip travel for out‑of‑state students, making it an accessible option. By the end of the summer, you will present a concrete project and join a national network of public health leaders.
5. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) – USDA-ARS Research Participation Program
Location: Various USDA-ARS research facilities across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Monthly stipend determined by your educational level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: Rolling; year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications are accepted year-round and reviewed continuously
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university pursuing a STEM degree; must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
This research program, administered by ORISE, places you directly within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the country’s principal scientific in-house research agency. You will work alongside ARS scientists on mission-driven research addressing real-world challenges, with many opportunities focused on human nutrition, food composition, dietary interventions, and food safety. As a participant, you are matched with a mentor and integrated into an active research project, such as improving the nutrient analysis of staple foods, evaluating the nutritional quality of agricultural commodities, or investigating the relationship between food processing and human health outcomes. The program is designed to help you gain hands-on expertise in applied nutrition science while building long-term professional relationships with USDA scientists and other federal researchers.
6. Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) – Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across Virginia
Cost/Stipend: $15.20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer; dates vary; (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies
Eligibility: Rising college juniors or seniors with a 2.5+ GPA
VCE interns work directly with Extension agents to deliver community-based nutrition education programs, such as SNAP-Ed and EFNEP, which teach low-income families how to eat healthfully on a limited budget. Your responsibilities may include leading workshops, developing educational materials, and evaluating program outcomes to measure impact. The program is credit-hour-eligible and offers a paycheck, allowing you to gain professional experience while earning academic credit. You'll also have the chance to explore other Extension focus areas, like 4-H youth development and sustainable agriculture, giving you a well-rounded perspective on community health work.
7. Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $7,304 + up to $450 for round‑trip travel to Seattle (taxes may apply)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 9 weeks – June 22 – August 21
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; rising senior; strong background in the sciences
This nine‑week intensive internship is designed for undergraduates entering their final year who are interested in biomedical research, including nutrition‑related cancer prevention and public health studies. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you will complete an independent research project within one of Fred Hutch’s research divisions, such as Public Health Sciences, where diet and lifestyle factors are examined as possible triggers for cancer through large‑scale population studies. You will attend weekly research seminars, participate in professional development workshops, and present your findings at a competitive poster session. The program also includes social activities, such as attending a Mariners game or hiking Mount Rainier, which help you build a peer network.
8. NC State Food Science Summer Scholars Program
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (plus Kannapolis or Morehead City for the Exclusive Research Track)
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend + on‑campus housing (or $1,800 housing stipend)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 10 weeks – May 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate enrolled at a four‑year accredited U.S. university; eligible to work in the U.S.
This 10‑week summer program balances collaborative project work with a faculty mentor and a research lab group, along with career development opportunities including workshops, field trips, and guest speakers. You can choose from three tracks: Food Science Research, Food Science Education and Extension, or an Exclusive Research Track, which is hosted either at the Plants for Human Health Institute (Kannapolis) or the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (Morehead City). Within these tracks, you will conduct lab‑based projects that advance food science knowledge, gain presentation experience at an undergraduate research symposium, and attend field trips to local food processors. The program includes an expenses‑paid trip to the annual Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) meeting, covering airfare, lodging, and per diem, providing excellent networking opportunities.
9. Michigan State University MICRO-CCS
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 summer stipend + housing, meals, and travel allowance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks – May 27 – August 5
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Current community college students; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; 18+ by program start date
The MICRO-CCS program provides research opportunities, scientific training, and mentoring specifically for community college students interested in studying microbial interactions in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences, a field that directly connects to human nutrition. No prior research experience is required, making this an accessible entry point for students who may be the first in their family to pursue a STEM career. You will participate in a research orientation boot camp to learn basic lab skills before beginning your 10‑week immersive experience. The program strongly encourages applications from students at two‑year institutions, providing a critical pathway into four‑year programs.
10. SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research)
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 weeks – May 18 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Undergraduate students from any U.S. institution; 18+
SPUR provides an intensive paid 10‑week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member, with project topics including health, medicine, and related fields. Students with an interest in nutrition are typically placed in labs working on metabolic health, dietary interventions, or chronic disease prevention, where you will collect and analyze data, attend professional development sessions, and present your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. The program emphasizes a cohort experience, so you will build lasting connections with other student researchers from across the nation. On‑campus housing is available, allowing you to explore Salt Lake City’s mountain landscapes during your free time. This is one of the most flexible nutrition internships for undergraduate students because it accepts applicants from any accredited college or university, including community college students.
11. UNL Crop‑to‑Food Innovation (REEU)
Location: University of Nebraska‑Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 stipend + housing, meals, travel, parking, and recreation center access
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks – June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 1 & March 1
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; current undergraduate with at least one semester remaining before graduating
This USDA‑funded REEU program integrates fundamental science discovery with its translation to market, allowing you to follow a crop trait from the laboratory to a finished food product. You will begin with a 1.5‑week Biotechnology Training Camp covering basic molecular biology and microbiology, then join a research project that explores how genetic variation in grain crops affects bioactive compounds and the human gut microbiome. Your research will involve collaborations across two or more components of the Crop‑to‑Food Innovation Pipeline, giving you a broad perspective on product development. There will be complementary training in science communication, outreach, and entrepreneurship as well.
12. University of Minnesota SOAR (Sustainability Opportunities for Agricultural Research)
Location: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 stipend + on‑campus housing and meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 10 weeks – June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate students from any accredited U.S. institution; U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The SOAR program is designed for students who want to explore the full food system, from soil science and crop production to food justice and community nutrition initiatives. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and an active research lab, where you will complete a mentored research project, attend professional development workshops, and go on field trips to local food justice organizations and sustainability projects around the Twin Cities. No prior research experience is required; the program is intentionally built for students who want to understand “what ‘doing research’ really means”. You will also participate in cohort‑building social events and present your work at a final research symposium.
13. University of Maryland SOARE (Summer Opportunities in Agricultural Research and the Environment)
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost/Stipend: $4500 (travel, room, board, excursions to Baltimore and Washington DC)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May 19 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Undergraduate sophomore or junior; GPA of 3.0; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; majoring in agricultural, environmental, natural resources, food science, nutritional science, geology, geography with a STEM background
SOARE is a Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program focused on agricultural, food, natural resources, and environmental sciences, with a strong emphasis on sustainable practices. As a participant, you will complete a research project under the mentorship of a University of Maryland faculty member, then create a research poster and present your findings to other scholars and experts in the field. The program also includes professional and career‑oriented workshops, weekly lunch‑and‑learn sessions, and social activities designed to build community and explore geoscience topics. SOARE specifically encourages applications from students from underrepresented groups in the scientific workforce.
14. University of Delaware CANR Summer Institute
Location: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 stipend + on‑campus housing, parking permit, and travel
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 – August 13
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
This summer research institute pairs undergraduate students with researchers from the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) on projects that provide real‑world experience in scientific careers. The program is open to students from all U.S. colleges and universities, including freshmen and sophomores with little or no prior research experience. You will develop a project, collect and analyze data, and present your results at a campus‑wide summer symposium, building both your technical skills and your professional confidence. The institute actively seeks diversity among its participants, particularly encouraging applications from underrepresented groups in the agricultural and scientific workforce.
15. USDA-ARS Pacific West Area "Science In Action" Summer Training Program
Location: USDA-ARS Pacific West Area research facilities (Albany, California; Hilo, Hawaii; Corvallis, Oregon; Tucson, Arizona)
Cost/Stipend: Paid + funding for housing, location assistance, and round‑trip airfare
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; currently enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution with at least one year of attendance completed; cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; major in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food science, nutrition, or natural resources
This fully funded eight‑week summer training program, newly established by the USDA‑Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Pacific West Area, partners with four‑year Minority Serving Institutions to offer highly qualified students direct professional experience at world‑renowned research facilities. You will study alongside ARS scientists and technicians, gaining hands‑on exposure to cutting‑edge research in areas that include food science, crop production, plant genetics, and nutrition. Daily work typically involves laboratory and field activities depending on your assigned location and mentor, and the program covers round‑trip airfare, housing assistance, and a paid salary, removing financial barriers to participation. Upon successful completion of your first summer, you may have the option to return for a second eight‑week internship the following year. You will build meaningful, long‑term professional relationships with ARS scientists, gaining firsthand insight into federal science careers and significantly strengthening your candidacy for future roles.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. I don't have any research experience yet. Are any of these internships realistic for me?
Yes, several programs are specifically built for students who are new to research. Michigan State's MICRO-CCS program includes a research orientation boot camp before the internship begins, and the University of Minnesota's SOAR program is intentionally designed for students who want to understand what doing research actually means. The University of Delaware's CANR Summer Institute also welcomes freshmen and sophomores with little or no prior lab experience, so a lack of a research background does not rule you out.
2. A lot of these programs focus on lab research. Is there anything here for students more interested in community or policy work?
Definitely. The Center for Science in the Public Interest's Healthy Food Access Internship places you in nutrition policy and food access advocacy in Washington, D.C., and the Virginia Cooperative Extension internship has you leading community nutrition education workshops through programs like SNAP-Ed. Ladder Internships is also a strong option if you want to work on a nutrition-related project with a mission-driven startup or nonprofit rather than in a traditional lab setting.
3. Several of these programs offer paid stipends. How do I figure out which one offers the best overall value, not just the highest pay?
Look beyond the dollar amount to what is actually covered and what you will walk away with. Programs like UNL's Crop-to-Food Innovation and the University of Maryland's SOARE include housing, meals, and travel on top of a stipend, which meaningfully lowers your out of pocket cost. Just as important is the mentorship and output. Programs like Fred Hutch's SURP and NC State's Food Science Summer Scholars combine a stipend with a funded trip to a professional conference, which adds long-term networking value beyond the summer itself.