Frequently Asked Questions

The 2024 DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program application period opens on October 15, 2023.

The 2024 DoD HBCU/MI Summer Research Internship Program application period closes on January 12, 2024, at 11:59 EDT.

You can visit the About page and the Application Details and Instructions page for more information about the documents and information you will need to apply.

Applications are open from October 15, 2023, to January 12, 2024. 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.

No. Dual citizenship is not allowed.

No. All applications must be submitted online.

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.

Yes. The DoD decided to accept applicants who were majoring in Psychology as satisfying the STEM academic discipline requirement.

The program runs from May 28, 2024, through August 10, 2024.

A student can only be funded by one federally funded program at a time. The Student’s internship schedule will be modified and the student will not be penalized for early departure from the HBCU/MI program to participate in SMART.

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.

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 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. As some students will be placed in quad units, the program is not housing any family members, regardless of housing type.

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.

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 download our flyer containing program and application information.