15 Summer Nutrition Internships for Undergraduates
- Stephen Turban
- 10 hours ago
- 9 min read
Summer is often when undergraduates look for ways to gain experience outside the classroom, and a nutrition internship can be one of the most useful ways to do that. If you’re studying nutrition, dietetics, or any related field, a summer internship helps you see how the subject applies in hospitals, research labs, community programs, and the food industry.
Summer internships are shorter, usually lasting a few weeks to two months, and focus on practical tasks that fit within your academic break. You might help collect and analyze nutrition data, support public health outreach, or assist in research on dietary habits. Doing a summer internship also helps you prepare for future academic or professional opportunities. It shows initiative and helps you demonstrate applied experience in your college or graduate school applications.
With that, here are 15 summer nutrition internships for undergraduates that you can explore this year! And if you’re looking for other high-level internships, check out these blogs!
15 Summer Nutrition Internships for Undergraduates
Location: Multiple sites with partner institutions, mainly Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Offers a stipend that varies per university, anywhere between $3,400 - $5,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive selection has a preference for underrepresented populations
Dates: Typically from May to July
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Eligibility: Must be a rising junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 2.7 and be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
The MCHC-RISE-UP Program is a nine-week summer experience where you explore public health through hands-on learning, mentorship, and research. Managed by the Kennedy Krieger Institute and supported by the CDC, the program is designed for undergraduates who are passionate about reducing health disparities and come from underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll join weekly seminars, attend conferences, and work closely with mentors in clinical, community, and research settings. Throughout the program, you’ll build skills in public health leadership and research, and at the end, you’ll present your final project to peers and professionals.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available
Application deadline: Cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks | Open to high schoolers, undergraduates, and gap-year students
The Ladder University Internship Program is an eight-week virtual internship where you work on real projects with start-ups and corporate businesses. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program focuses on applied learning through assignments guided by start-up founders and supervisors with experience at places like Harvard Business School, McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. You’ll develop problem-solving and project management skills, gain insight into entrepreneurial practices, and receive weekly mentorship from your manager and a Ladder Coach. The program ends with a final project presentation to strengthen your resume and professional portfolio.
Location: Seattle, WA
Stipend: $7,304 (minus taxes), plus up to $450 in travel reimbursement
Dates: June 16 – August 15
Application Deadline: January 10; recommendation letters due January 16
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents entering their final year of undergraduate study.
The Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Program is a nine-week internship based in Seattle, Washington, where you conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Nutrition-focused students typically work in Public Health Sciences or Human Biology, exploring topics like dietary patterns, cancer prevention, metabolic health, or nutrition-related epidemiology. You attend weekly seminars, join professional development workshops, and present your findings in a final poster session. The program is designed for students entering their final year of college and provides hands-on experience in biomedical research at a leading institution.
Location: Raleigh, NC
Stipend: $3,000 plus free on-campus housing and travel to the IFT annual meeting (IFT trip is contingent on funding and acceptance)
Dates: Late May to early August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Open to all undergraduates eligible to work in the U.S., including community college students.
If you're focused on nutrition, this program gives you direct experience in food science labs where you work on projects related to dietary health, food safety, and nutrient analysis. You will be matched with faculty mentors in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences, and will contribute to research that supports public health and food innovation. Past projects have included work on functional foods, foodborne illness prevention, and nutritional labeling. You also take part in outreach and education efforts, helping translate nutrition science for public audiences. The program includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual meeting, where you present your work and network with professionals in food and nutrition science.
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Stipend: $7,000 plus free housing, meals, and travel support
Dates: May 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to current community college students (including those transferring in Fall)
MICRO-CCS is a 10-week summer research program for community college students hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College. You begin with a research orientation boot camp where you learn lab safety, microbiology techniques, and basic research methods. After that, you work closely with a faculty mentor on a hands-on project focused on microbial interactions in food, agriculture, or environmental science.
Location: University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Stipend: $5,000 for 11 weeks
Dates: May 19 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students age 18+ who are eligible to work in the U.S.
The Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) at the University of Utah is a full-time, 10-week research internship where you work 35–40 hours a week on a project you choose. Nutrition-focused students often join labs in areas like metabolic health, diet-related disease prevention, or public health nutrition. You’ll be guided by a faculty mentor and trained in research methods, data analysis, and scientific communication. At the end of the program, you present your work at the Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium.
Location: Lincoln, NE
Stipend: $6,500 plus free housing and travel support
Dates: May 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Strong interest in agricultural sciences or food innovation is encouraged.
The REEU program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a 10-week summer internship where you explore how crop science discoveries turn into real food products. Funded by the USDA and NIFA, the program gives you hands-on experience in biotechnology and applied food science. You’ll work on research projects that cover every stage of the crop-to-food pipeline, from early concept to prototype development and product evaluation. This program also offers lab training in molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry, all tied to food innovation. You’ll be mentored by faculty and researchers, and gain skills that connect agricultural science to nutrition and public health.
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis–St. Paul
Stipend: $5,000 plus free housing and meals
Dates: June 2 – August 9
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates.
Sustainability Opportunities for Agricultural Research (SOAR) is a 9-week summer internship at the University of Minnesota, where you work on hands-on research in food systems, sustainable agriculture, and plant and soil science. If you’re focused on nutrition, this program gives you the chance to explore how food is grown, distributed, and studied from both scientific and social angles. You’ll join active research labs, visit farms, connect with food justice organizations, and learn directly from industry mentors.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park
Stipend: $4,500 plus free housing and meals
Dates: May 27 – August 2
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens currently enrolled as sophomores or juniors in STEM majors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Summer Opportunities in Agricultural Research and the Environment (SOARE) is a summer research program at the University of Maryland designed for undergraduates planning to pursue graduate study in fields like food science, nutritional science, agriculture, or environmental research. You’ll spend the summer working in a lab under the guidance of a faculty mentor while also attending lectures, workshops, and professional development sessions. The program is selective and expects applicants to have completed at least one course in chemistry, biology, and calculus. If you’re focused on nutrition or food systems and looking for a serious research experience that prepares you for grad school, SOARE is a strong fit.
Location: Newark, DE
Stipend: $4,000 plus free housing and parking
Dates: June–August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically January–February; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students interested in graduate studies in agricultural, natural resources, or life sciences.
The Summer Institute at the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is a 10-week research internship designed for undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and work on a hands-on research project in areas like agriculture, natural resources, or life sciences, with opportunities to focus on nutrition and food systems. Throughout the summer, you’ll develop your project, collect and analyze data, and present your findings at a campus-wide research symposium.
Location: Omaha, NE
Cost: Free. All travel, lodging, and meals covered; no hourly wage
Dates: Four-day experience in mid-July
Application Deadline: Typically closes in March
Eligibility: Open to college freshmen and sophomores from any major.
Future Foodies is a four-day internship hosted by Conagra Brands, a major name in consumer packaged goods with products like Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, and Slim Jim. During the program, you’ll join the R&D team to explore how food products are designed and developed for real consumers. You’ll work through actual food design challenges and get a close look at how industry professionals approach innovation. It’s a short but hands-on experience that gives you the chance to network with food scientists and brand leaders, making it a solid pick if you want a quick but meaningful look into the food industry.
Location: Global UNICEF offices or remote
Stipend: Monthly stipend plus one-time travel/visa support (varies by location)
Dates: 6–26 weeks, offered year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to full-time undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students. Selection based on skills, academic background, and project fit.
UNICEF offers a global internship program where you can work on projects related to child health, nutrition, education, and humanitarian aid. As part of the UN, UNICEF has offices around the world, and each one recruits interns based on different skill sets and roles. That means your experience depends on where you’re placed and what field you’re working in, whether it’s public health, communications, data analysis, or policy. It’s a competitive program, and applicants come from all over with strong academic and professional backgrounds. But if you’re selected, you’ll be part of a team working on real-world challenges that affect children and families globally.
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid (competitive hourly rate)
Dates: June 1 – June 30
Application Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and master’s students in food science, chemistry, or related fields.
The Unilever Summer Food Science Internship is a remote program where you work across teams to learn how food products are developed, tested, and brought to market. You’ll gain experience in lab testing, regulatory and quality assurance, and data analysis, all tied to product development in nutrition and consumer health. The internship gives you a close look at how global food brands operate and how science supports product innovation. You apply through the Unilever portal by submitting a resume and cover letter. The process is smooth, but selection is competitive because of the company’s reputation.
Location: Austin, MN, and other U.S. sites
Stipend: Paid; housing support may be available
Dates: May–August (10–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by position; apply early
Eligibility: Open to U.S.-based undergraduates age 18+ with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in food science or related fields.
Hormel Foods’ summer internship gives undergraduates a strong foundation in the food industry, with opportunities to explore nutrition, product development, and food safety. You will be placed in departments like R&D, quality assurance, engineering, or marketing, depending on your interests and qualifications. Nutrition-focused roles may involve sensory testing, nutrient analysis, or consumer health research. The program includes mentorship, real-world projects, and exposure to how a global food company operates. You’ll build technical and professional skills, and some interns may be considered for future full-time roles.
Location: Albany, CA; Hilo, HI; Corvallis, OR; Tucson, AZ
Stipend: Fully funded: includes salary, housing, airfare, and research support
Dates: 8-week summer internship (May–July)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled at Minority Serving Institutions. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and major in agriculture, food science, nutrition, or a related field
Hosted at USDA-ARS Pacific West Area sites, this federally funded program trains undergraduates in lab and field research methods, data collection, and analysis. Nutrition-focused interns may work on projects related to food safety, crop nutrition, or sustainable food systems. You’ll be mentored by USDA scientists and gain real-world experience in agricultural research. One of its core goals is to build a more diverse pipeline for future federal science careers, and successful interns are considered strong candidates for future USDA roles.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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