NIH Summer Funding Issues

[transform744]

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So I applied for the Summer Internship Program a few weeks ago, and have emailed over a dozen labs. Two of them got back to me, and it initially seemed like they were offering me a funded position, but then they told me they were having funding issues but they would be happy if I worked for them as a volunteer.

One said "students are not being paid this summer", and another said "due to budgetary constraints." Has anyone else heard about this? Applying for SIP and then being asked to work without pay? Are there some NIH-wide funding issues going on, or have I just had the bad luck to run into PIs who don't have money lying around?

Can I try to negotiate with these guys further? OR just email more folks? What do you think?

 

[Concubine]

Yep. Usually, each individual NIH lab is given funding specifically for student summer research. This year, if they want to take on students, they are going to have to come up with money out of their own laboratory budgets...that is if they even have extra money. Tough luck, I know. I was planning on going home this summer to do research with them until this happened (can't work for free).

 

[beachblonde]

Welcome to the world of NIH budget cuts. It's been going on a while (coughbushcough).

Cuts can happen either at the lab, section, or institute level. I know a few of the institutes haven't been able to pay students the past few years.

If they say they can't pay you, then they can't pay you. Trying to negotiate with any lab that says they don't have money isn't going to work out in your favor. The only consolation I can offer you is that volunteers are allowed to park on campus-paid summer students must take public transportation. If you live in VA, that sucks a big one (trust me on that).

 

[redlight]

ouch. good thing i didn't apply... i can't afford to work for free this summer.