Career Center AES Connect

Summer Research Internship Grant

The grant offers up to $11,500 with $10,000 for an undergaduate intern stipend, housing, and program expenses, and $1,500 to support required attendance at the AES annual meeting. In addition, the intern will receive one year of complimentary AES membership, abstract submission fee, and registration for the AES annual meeting. The number of awards granted each year is contingent upon available funds.

 

 

Application Deadlines and Award Dates

 

  • January 21, 2026: Application submission opens
  • February 27, 2026: Full proposals due
  • March 31, 2026: Award notifications sent out
  • May 1, 2026: Earliest award start date

 

 

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BRIDGE

Application Policies

  • Prior unfunded applicants may reapply, but all applications will be treated as new submissions.
  • Only one application may be submitted from a given laboratory to the AES summer research internship grant program. Specifically, an individual may not serve as the primary mentor for more than one intern. 
  • Please note that applications will only be accepted from mentors representing a lab or institution. Students may not apply for funding directly.


Questions? Please contact Adam Eickmeyer, MPH at aeickmeyer@aesnet.org

Application Criteria and Instructions

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Summer Research Internship Grant Application Instructions arrow_drop_down

Please review the grant criteria and award policies carefully. Please note that once you begin the application, it must be completed in the same sitting. You will not be able to save your work and continue at a later time

 

Proposal Components 

  1. Laboratory or Research Program overview (250 words maximum): describe briefly the research focus of the lab or practice.  Include any history of supporting internships or similar training programs.
  2. PI and mentor biosketches: Provide using the NIH-style format that is appropriate to the career stage. If co-mentors are proposed, include a biosketch for each co-mentor.
  3. Research and Training Plan (500 words maximum): Please succinctly describe the research project and training plan in which the intern will be engaged.  Reference the program criteria to assure the project description addresses the application evaluation criteria. 
  4. Recruitment plan: describe the plan for recruiting and selecting interns.
    • Budget: Complete a summary budget for the program using the template provided in the application.
    • Commitment:  complete the check boxes affirming commitment to allow the intern to devote 100% of their time to the proposed project and related training, to assure the intern is available to participate in weekly AES webinars, to commit to participate in the webinar planning call and to attend at least 50% of the scheduled webinars, to commit the minimum one hour per week for one-on-one time for the intern with their mentor, and to support and facilitate intern participation in the AES Annual Meeting.
Summer Research Internship Grant Eligibility Criteria arrow_drop_down

Applicants must:

  • Have a defined plan for engaging a summer intern in a meaningful research project related to causes, treatment, and consequences of epilepsy, seizures, and related disorders and access to institutional resources to conduct the proposed project and support the intern.
  • Have the expertise to supervise and provide guidance to the intern on the specific aspects of the epilepsy-related research targeted in the proposal.
  • Have a plan for, or have an existing program that has established, a mechanism for successfully identifying and recruiting interns.
Summer Research Internship Grant Evaluation Criteria arrow_drop_down

 

Applicant Lab

  • Has the laboratory provided a clear statement of interest supporting participation in this program?
  • Has the lab or institution demonstrated experience with similar programs and with recruiting interns and/or sufficiently described their plans for successful recruitment?

 

Mentor

  • Are the mentor’s research qualifications and available resources appropriate?
  • Is there evidence of demonstrated ability and commitment of the mentor to help the mentee intern to achieve the proposed training goals?
  • Is there evidence that the mentor will meet at least one hour per week with the intern?

 

Training Plan

  • Will the proposed research project and training plan provide mentoring and experiences that will benefit the intern’s career development in terms of scientific knowledge and research and professional skills?
  • Does the proposed project and training plan address basic, clinical, or translational topics related to addressing the causes, treatment, and/or consequences of epilepsy, seizures, or related disorders?
  • Does the proposal provide a clear description of the project to be assigned and the specific skills that the intern will be trained in or exposed to?  Is there a commitment for the intern to participate in the weekly AES webinars?
  • Is there a specific plan for the applicant to attend and participate in the American Epilepsy Society annual meeting, including support for submission of a poster related to the internship research project?  To participate in other appropriate networking activities?

 

Environment

  • Are the research facilities, resources, and training opportunities adequate and appropriate, including a mentor with the time and support to successfully support the intern?
  • Is the environment for scientific and professional development of the intern of high quality?