NIH Graduate Partnerships Program 2026: Funded Doctoral Research Opportunities for PhD Students in the U.S. and Abroad
The NIH Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) offers doctoral students a unique opportunity to conduct advanced biomedical, behavioral, and health-related research within the NIH Intramural Research Program. Participants remain enrolled at their home universities while completing dissertation research guided by NIH scientists.
Overview
The NIH Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) connects doctoral education at universities in the United States and abroad with the research environment, facilities, and resources across NIH Institutes and Centers. Through this programme, participating students remain full-time doctoral students at their home universities while carrying out dissertation research under the guidance of NIH researchers. The programme covers numerous fields including biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, and bioinformatics.
There are two primary ways to participate:
- Individual Partnerships: Intended for students already enrolled in doctoral programmes globally. Eligible candidates include U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and foreign nationals.
- Institutional Partnerships: Collaborative arrangements established between NIH and specific university programmes where students are jointly selected. Partner institutions include Brown University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, University College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the Consortia of Universities – NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program.
Eligibility
The programme is designed for students pursuing doctoral-level degrees, including:
- PhD and DPhil
- PharmD
- DrPH
- PsyD
- MD/PhD and DVM/PhD
Master's degree students and candidates pursuing stand-alone professional degrees like an unlinked MD, DO, or DDS are generally not intended for this doctoral research structure. Additionally, all participants must successfully pass a required federal background check.
Benefits
Participating graduate researchers may receive substantial financial and professional support, depending on their pathway and eligibility:
- NIH graduate student stipends adjusted annually based on post-undergraduate experience.
- A stipend supplement covering the full cost of health insurance through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES), including medical, dental, and vision coverage for individuals and families.
- A one-time relocation benefit of $1,500 for eligible new fellows moving near an NIH campus.
- Free campus parking and potential Transhare programme access.
- Travel support between NIH and the university for students in institutional agreements.
- Access to professional development programmes, career advising, and well-being resources.
How to Apply
Applicants must determine whether they are applying via an Individual Partnership or an Institutional Partnership and review pathway-specific requirements:
- For Individual Partnerships, applications are open year-round.
- For Institutional Partnerships, applicants must submit the online NIH GPP application alongside any required university-specific application materials.
The online NIH application typically requires information regarding your undergraduate experience, coursework and grades, a current curriculum vitae (CV), a personal statement addressing previous research and career goals, and the contact information of three references.
Deadline
Deadlines vary depending on the chosen pathway:
- Individual Partnerships: Applications are open year-round.
- Institutional Partnerships: The main applicant deadline is December 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. General recommendation letters are due by December 3, 2026, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, with specific exceptions for certain partner institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania.