Virtual Internship Program
Applications for VIP 2023 are closed.
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance status April 3, 2023.

VIP Dates 2023
Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 20 – July 20
*break June 30 – July 10
All sessions except the final presentation session start at 1 PM (eastern).
The NRI is excited to offer its Virtual Internship Program (VIP) for high school students for 2023! 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 2023 are eligible to participate) or recent high school graduates who will begin their freshman year of college in the fall of 2023. Applicants under the age of 18 must have permission from their parents to participate.
Applications are closed.
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)
- List other summer activity commitments during the date range of the NRI VIP (June 20 – July 20, 2023)
Applications will be reviewed and scored based on these three criteria. The 20 students receiving the highest scores will be accepted into the 2023 program and notified by email on or before April 3.
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 (a 3-5-page paper on a nutrient of their choice). Students must also prepare and give a 5-minute presentation summarizing their project.
All applicants will be notified of their acceptance status April 3, 2023.
VIP Schedule 2023
Week One | ||
Tuesday, June 20 1 PM - 2:30 PM | Welcome and Orientation Nutrition 101 | Stephen Hursting, PhD, MPH Institute Director, Professor of Nutrition Jenna Baker VIP Coordinator Delisha Stewart, PhD Assistant Professor of Nutrition |
Thursday, June 22 1 PM - 2 PM | Research Methods | Madison Schroder Research Technician, Sumner Lab |
Week Two | ||
Tuesday, June 27 1 PM - 2 PM | Why Nutrition is important to health and wellness across the lifespan | Carol Cheatham, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience |
Thursday, June 29 1 PM - 2 PM | Mentoring fundamentals and personal experiences | Angela Clontz, Graduate Student, Voruganti/Hursting Labs |
Week Three | ||
Tuesday, July 11 1 PM - 2 PM | Healthy Hydration: Promote Health and Prevent Chronic Disease | Saroja Voruganti, PhD Associate Professor of Nutrition Baba Mass Research Associate, Voruganti Lab |
Thursday, July 13 1 PM - 2 PM | The Importance of Folate in Promoting Health and Preventing Disease | Natalia Krupenko, PhD Associate Professor of Nutrition |
Week Four | ||
Tuesday, July 18 1 PM - 2 PM | Career Paths in Nutrition | Hursting Lab Ximena Bustamante-Marin, Assistant Professor Melissa VerHague, Lab Manager Ariana Reid, Research Technician Walter Friday, Research Specialist |
Thursday, July 20 TBD | Student Presentations | Students |