Virtual Internship Program

NRI’s Virtual Internship Program (VIP) 2025: Shaping the Future of Nutrition Research

We are excited to celebrate the sixth year of our Virtual Internship Program (VIP), which has grown significantly in both participation and impact. In 2025, we doubled the number of participants, welcoming 54 high school students from across the country. With applications reaching an all-time high of nearly 200, we are eager to see how this program continues to inspire and empower the next generation of nutrition researchers. 

Over the four-week program, these rising ninth graders to rising college freshmen engaged in a comprehensive virtual learning experience. Students attended lectures, participated in group mentoring sessions, and gained valuable insights from NRI faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and staff members. 

This year, instead of traditional research papers, students created scientific posters. Scientific posters are a key way researchers share their work – at conferences, in classrooms, and within research institutions. They help communicate complex ideas clearly and visually, making it easier for others to understand and engage with scientific findings. These posters, which showcased their work on a nutrient of choice, were presented during the final week of the program, giving students the opportunity to share their findings with their peers and NRI scientists. 

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing how these bright young minds will shape the future of nutrition research. 

VIP 2026 applications will open in February 2026.

VIP Schedule 2025