Frequently Asked Questions

The 2025 DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program application period opens on October 14, 2024.

The 2025 DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program application period closes on January 12, 2025, at 11:59 PT.

You can visit the Program Details page and the Apply Now page for more information about the documents and information you will need to apply.

Applications are open from October 14, 2024, to January 12, 2025. The application can be started by going to the Apply Now button on the website.

Yes. You can pause your application and come back later to finish it using the “Save and Continue” button on the application. You will have 30 days to complete your application, though the deadline for submission still applies.

Students must be either enrolled or recently graduated from any HBCU-, HSI-, or MSI-designated institutions to qualify for this internship. HBCU stands for Historically Black College/University. HSI stands for Hispanic Serving Institution. MSI stands for Minority Serving Institution.

You must solely be a US citizen to qualify for participation in the program.

No. All applications must be submitted online.

The cumulative GPA must of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants should not round their GPA and their GPA should match the transcript.

Exceptions to the requirement to attend all weeks of the internship are rare and made on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions are never granted for vacations or social obligations.

No, both graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

Yes, graduate students are encouraged to apply.

The program runs from May 27, 2025, to August 9, 2025.

The selection process is divided into 4 phases, and applicants will need to pass all phases to be considered for selection. Emails and updates are sent out for every phase so applicants are aware if they are advancing or not.

No. Mentors will only interview students who may match their area of research interest.

No. While you may select the labs you are interested in on the application, labs with multiple locations assign interns to specific locations at their discretion.

No. Even if you have an interview with a mentor, you may not be selected for the program. See the Selection Process page for more information.

In the first phase, all submitted applications are thoroughly reviewed to ensure compliance with program eligibility criteria. This phase involves confirming the applicant's citizenship status, academic discipline, GPA, and enrollment at a qualified institution.

During the second phase, mentors from participating laboratories evaluate eligible applicants and may conduct interviews. It should be noted that not all applicants will be granted an interview. Mentors will recommend candidates for program selection and will facilitate the signing of a Partnership Agreement Form (PAF) with their chosen intern. Applicants should only sign one PAF; in cases where multiple mentors provide PAFs to a single applicant, the first PAF received by the program administrator will be considered valid. To proceed to Phase 3, the signed PAF must be submitted by the mentor to the program administrator.

In the third phase, the Partnership Agreement Forms are reviewed, and an official offer letter is sent to the DoD Program Office for approval. Once approved, the offer letter is forwarded to the selected applicant, who must sign and return it within two business days. It is imperative to note that an applicant who signs an offer letter but subsequently does not participate in the program may be disqualified from future program opportunities. While an acceptance letter may be issued before the completion of the background investigation, the candidate cannot begin participation until a favorable background check is confirmed.

The fourth and final phase requires a successful background investigation. The administrative office will guide selected interns through the necessary steps, including fingerprinting and completing required forms. It is important to initiate the background investigation process immediately upon selection, as the duration can vary significantly, taking anywhere from one to three months, depending on the level of clearance required. A favorable outcome is mandatory to be fully onboarded to the program.

No. Students may only sign one partnership agreement. If you receive more than one interview, whichever mentor you sign a partnership agreement with will be the lab or host site you are assigned to.

No. If you sign an acceptance letter but then do not participate in the program, you are not eligible for following year participation.

The location of your internship will depend on which labs you select on the application and whether those labs select you. If you are selected, a welcome package will be sent that includes the exact lab location, travel arrangements, and housing for the internship program.

The housing is as near as possible to the host site or lab, depending on the location and availability of housing near the lab. The selected interns’ welcome letter will include the mileage from the housing site to the lab site to help the students decide whether to drive to the internship or use local daily transportation.

The DoD program office will provide and book the housing. The housing is as near to the host site as possible.

Housing is as near to the host site or lab as possible. However, some housing is outside of bases and several miles away. We recommend carpooling with other students or other transportation (bus, walking, etc.), depending on how far the housing is from the host site.

Yes, housing will be furnished and include a kitchenette.

No. Students will not have to share a room, but some students may be in a quad facility where bathrooms, living areas, and kitchens are shared between four students.

No. The DoD program will book your travel (unless you are driving) roundtrip via plane or train from your home or school to the housing location and back again.

Yes. Selected interns are required to arrange or provide for their own daily travel back and forth from the housing location to the lab or host site.

No, accepted interns are responsible for shipping or driving their car (if they would like to) to the internship location. The Government will not provide any shipping reimbursements or funding.

No. As some students will be placed in quad units, the program is not housing any family members, regardless of housing type.

Service animals can be brought to the internship; however, labs must provide prior approval of all service animals. All service animals must adhere to the guidelines. Selected interns must inform their mentor and the program administrator within ten business days of selection as to whether a service animal will be brought to the internship, as we must inquire about reasonable accommodations in a timely manner within the research facility, housing, and travel.

No. Pets or emotional support animals will not be allowed in the housing during the internship. However, if you have a disability that requires the use of a service animal (certified with paperwork and required training), and you have been selected for the program, please contact us.

The intern will be asked to leave the program if a pet or emotional support animal is found at the internship. The intern will be required to pay all housing and travel pet fees and will be removed from the housing.

You can subscribe to the Student Announcement List or Academia Announcement List to receive relevant announcements to the program and stay up to date.

The DoD Historically Black Colleges and Universities & Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Summer Research Internship Program is an annual summer research program offered to current students and recent graduates who studied STEM disciplines at HBCU/MI. The program provides a bridge between classrooms and real-world experiences and aims to increase the number of minority scientists and engineers who choose careers with the DoD. The HBCU/MI Program is sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and is designed to foster student interest in STEM education and careers in DoD while supporting the DoD’s objective of developing a diverse, motivated, and highly skilled civilian workforce. You may also contact us at internsupport@dodhbcumiinternship.com for flyers and/or other marketing materials and information.