Virtual Internship Program
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Applications open February 10, 2025 and close March 14, 2025.
Applications for 2025 open on February 10, 2025.
The NRI is excited to offer its Virtual Internship Program (VIP) for high school students for 2025! This 4-week, online-only program will allow students the opportunity to learn from NRI principal investigators and other research staff, participate in group mentoring sessions, and complete an independent nutrition research project and presentation.
All sessions will be via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Most sessions are one hour long; the introductory and concluding sessions are longer. See schedule, below.
Application Requirements: Applicants must be current high school students (rising freshman who will be entering high school in the fall of 2025 are eligible to participate) or recent high school graduates who will begin their freshman year of college in the fall of 2025. Applicants under the age of 18 must have permission from their parents to participate.
Application Process: No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
Your application must include:
- Statement of interest to participate in the program (200 word maximum)
- Statement of future career interest (50 word maximum)
Applications will be reviewed and scored based on these three criteria. The 30 students receiving the highest scores will be accepted into the 2025 program and notified by email on or before April 1.
Program Requirements: To successfully complete the VIP program and receive the certificate of completion, students must attend all weekly sessions, be actively engaged, and complete their program project on time. Students must also prepare and give a 5-minute presentation summarizing their project.
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance status April 1, 2025.
Schedule is tentative and is subject to change.
VIP Schedule 2025
Week One | ||
Tuesday, June 3 1 PM - 2:30 PM | Welcome and Orientation Nutrition 101 | Deborah Tate, PhD Professor of Nutrition Jenna Baker VIP Coordinator Carsyn Patton VIP Coordinator Sandra Mooney, PhD Associate Professor of Nutrition Ryan Dayvault Associate Director of Operations |
Thursday, June 5 1 PM - 2 PM | Research Methods | Hannah Petry Graduate Student, Mooney Lab |
Week Two | ||
Tuesday, June 10 1 PM - 2 PM | Faculty Presentation | Deborah Tate, PhD Professor of Nutrition The importance of good nutrition, health behaviors, and risk factors. |
Thursday, June 12 1 PM - 2 PM | Faculty Presentation | Carol Cheatham, PhD Associate Professor The importance of good nutrition to promote healthy brain development and function across the lifespan. |
Week Three | ||
Tuesday, June 17 1 PM - 2 PM | UNC Admissions Presentation | Melody Burke Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions • Undergraduate Admissions Process Ximena Bustamente-Marin Assistant Professor • BSPH-Nutrition Program |
Thursday, June 19 1 PM - 2 PM | Mentoring Session | Walter Friday, Research Specialist, Trujillo and Saini Labs Sabrina Molina Assistant Laboratory Manager, Sumner Lab Carsyn Patton Events and Programming Manager Julian Robles Research Technician, Goode Lab |
Week Four | ||
Tuesday, June 24 12 PM - 2 PM | Student Presentations | Students |
Thursday, June 26 12 PM - 2 PM | Student Presentations | Students |