Student Membership
Individuals with an interest in nutrition and who are candidates for an undergraduate, graduate, or medical degree from an accredited institution may apply for student membership in ASN.
Student membership in ASN is more than a line on a CV! Student membership allows you to:
Students account for almost 20% of total ASN membership
ASN’s Student Interest Group (SIG)
The Student Interest Group (SIG) focuses on the interests of student members in the Society. Students are informed of and encouraged to participate in various activities that center on enabling them to gain the most from their nutritional science education.
Society activities allow students to network and prepare for post-academic success. Members of the SIG also work as liaisons with other committees in ASN to provide student perspective where it is needed. The SIG focuses on developing student-specific activities at ASN’s Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions at NUTRITION. Some of the events include hosting an annual symposium, speed mentoring co-sponsored with the Early Career Nutrition (ECN) Interest Group and the Graduate Student Breakfast.
Stay on top of updates from the SIG on ASN Connect!
Make sure you’re signed up for the SIG in your member portal, then join the SIG community on ASN Connect.
Graduate Student Breakfast and Travel Award
The Graduate Student Breakfast, hosted by the SIG and supported by the National Dairy Council, has been a popular feature of ASN’s Annual Meeting at EB since 1994. At the breakfast, finalists for the SIG Travel Awards display posters and field questions from attendees. We are pleased to recognize past finalists and recipients of the award.
2017 Finalists: Jennifer Kaczmarek, Brett Loman, Marie Spiker, Sharon Thompson, Christian Wright, Neil Yang
2016 Finalists: Rebecca Campbell, Nicholas Deputy, Colleen Parks, Michael MacArthur, Austin Mudd, Bijaya Upadhyaya
2014 Finalists: Clare Berryman, Scott Baier, Blanche Ip, Xiaoran Liu, Benjamin Redan, Julia Sabet
2013 Finalists: Yen-Ming Chan, Clara Cho, Katryn Eske, Laural Kelly, Erin Lewis, Li Wang
2012 Finalists: Laura Chiavaroli, Ruth Grossman, Stefanie Hinkle, Rebecca Replogle, Taylor Salinardi,and Xiaolie Shin
2011 Finalists: Emily Arentson, Nick McCormick, Suzanne Devkota, Megan Dubentzky, Nan Huang, Lorien Urban
2010 Finalists: Matt Bruss, John Clarke, Carrie Cucchi, Ann Skulas-ray, Anthony Thomas, Zhong-Ye
2009 Finalists: Regan Bailey, Kyle Burger, Fumiaki Imamura, Erik Karlsson, Lamis Jomaa Rachel Murphy, Nicole Schwerbrock, Sibyl Swift, and Victoria Vieira
Bold denotes competition winners
For more information about the SIG travel Award and Poster Competition application, please visit the student awards section of our website.
SIG and ECN Joint Sessions at the Annual Conference
The SIG organizes a symposium at ASN’s Scientific Sessions at EB each year. Recent topics have included:
- 2017: Thriving Not Just Surviving: Skills Essential to Leveraging Your Scientific Career
- 2016: Amid Controversy and Caveats: The Future of the Post-Doc
- 2013: Social Media and Mobile Technology for Education, Research and Practice in the Field of Nutrition
- 2012: A Nurturing Environment Produces Future Legends: Development of Career Through Successful Mentor/Mentee Relationships
- 2011: The Changing Face of Nutrition in the United States: How Nutrition Policy and Consumer Awareness are Changing the Practice of the Nutrition and Food Science
- 2010: Who is responsible for nutrition in the United States?: Understanding the role of government agencies and interagency collaboration in nutrition policy, promotion, education, and outreach
- 2009: Opportunities for the new graduate: Professional and entrepreneurial options for the M.S., Ph.D., and R.D
- 2008: Internships and Research-Abroad: Experiences of Graduate Students in Nutrition
Medical Students
The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) is a dynamic home for medical students who are interested in nutrition and related medical disciplines.
ASN has over 8,000 members, and provides a variety of programs for its student members – who account for almost 20 percent of total membership. ASN strives to increase the role of nutrition in the practice of medicine, medical research, health promotion, and disease prevention by providing a unique combination of educational experiences to medical students.
Medical Specialties Centered on Nutrition
- Obesity, weight management, bariatric and metabolic surgery
- Cardiology, physical activity, metabolism, exercise and sports medicine
- Endocrinology, gastroenterology, digestive health
- Oncology, diet and cancer
- Geriatrics, pain management, palliative care
- Internal medicine, family practice
- Public and community health, obstetrics and gynecology, international medicine
Two of ASN’s most exciting programs for medical students are the Clinical Nutrition Internships and the Clinical Emerging Leader Awards. The internship program matches medical students with ASN members for eight-week rotations in U.S. medical schools or hospitals. In addition to the exposure to both clinical and academic aspects of nutrition, interns receive a $2,500 stipend. The Clinical Emerging Leaders awards recognize medical students and trainees who have completed substantive research in nutrition; pending external funding, finalists will each receive a modest, monetary travel award and certificate.
An emphasis on medical applications for nutrition research runs throughout ASN’s member communities. The Medical Nutrition Council (MNC) is one of ASN’s three Scientific Councils. The MNC serves as the Society’s primary mechanism for disseminating clinical nutrition knowledge; promoting policies to prevent and treat nutrition-related diseases; training health professionals; and monitoring national dietary and disease trends. MNC members, including medical students, receive an exclusive bi-monthly newsletter tracking clinical nutrition and research news.
Many of ASN’s 16 Research Interest Sections also feature a translational approach that reinforces the work of the MNC. Through Sections such as Aging and Chronic Disease, Obesity, Diet and Cancer and Nutritional Immunology, ASN promotes knowledge exchange and the advancement and application of nutrition science in patient settings.
Medical students especially benefit from involvement in the Councils and Sections by engaging with established professionals about career advancement, emerging research and more.
Opportunities for Students
Learn more about the the many ASN student award competitions and travel grant programs below!
Predoctoral Fellowships for Students in Nutrition Research
- Eligibility is based upon membership in the ASN and enrollment in a U.S. graduate program in nutrition.
- Grants range from $2,000 – $5,000.
- Awards will be presented at Nutrition 2018 in Boston, MA.
- Deadline for applications: January 2, 2018
Other Opportunities for Students
Various organizations offer student opportunities including internships, fellowships, scholarships, and research training programs.
On this page, student opportunities are separated into categories for undergraduate, post baccalaureate, graduate, medical, doctoral, and postdoctoral students. To post upcoming opportunities for students, please contact us via email or by phone (301-634-7050).
Opportunities for Undergraduate Students
Stanford University. Stanford Summer Research Program/Amgen Scholars Program. 2017 applications are closed.
Introduction to Cancer Research Careers. Internship. Previous deadline: November 21, 2016.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Summer Internship Program. Previous deadline: February 1, 2017.
National Institutes of Health. Undergraduate Scholarship Program. Previous deadline: March 14, 2017
Morehouse School of Medicine. Summer Pipeline Programs. Multiple deadlines.
Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering. Gateways to the Laboratory Program. 2018 applications will be accepted starting in November 2017.
National Institutes of Health. Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research. Summer 2018 applications open in November 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Medical Device Fellowship Program (CDRH). Applications accepted year-round.
Boston University. Summer Undergraduate Program Fellowship (SURF). Apply in February 2018 for Summer 2018.
Harvard Medical School. Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Previous deadline: January 20, 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Veterinary Clerkship Program. Applications should be submitted 4 months before desired start date.
University of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Mellon. Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Previous deadline: March 1, 2017.
Weill Cornell Medical College. Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program. Check website for updates, previous application deadline: February 1, 2017.
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. The GEMS Program (Graduate Experience for Multiculutral Students). Previous deadline: February 15, 2017.
NIH Clinical Center. Summer Internship. Applications accepted mid-November through March 1 each year.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Summer Student Program. Applications accepted mid-November through March 1 each year.
University of Massachusetts Medical School. Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Previous deadline: March 10, 2017.
SoyMap Project. Soymap Summer Research Program. Previous deadline: April 5, 2017.
University of Maryland. Summer Scholars Research Program. Previous deadline: February 8, 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Office of Policy Internship Program. Summer, Fall and Spring Internships available. Check website for deadlines.
Opportunities for Postbaccalaureates
National Institutes of Health. NIH Academy. Please check website for updates.
National Institutes of Health. Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA). Applications accepted continuously, apply 3 to 6 months before desired start date.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Postgraduate Research Program (NCTR). Applications are accepted continuously.
Opportunities for Graduate Students
Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The Deland Fellowship Program in Health Care and Society. Check website for updates, previous application deadline: October 6, 2016.
ICRC Introduction to Cancer Research Careers. Internship. Previous deadline: November 16, 2016.
NIH Clinical Center. Graduate Medical Education (GME): Endocrinology and Metabolism. Check website for for more details.
NIH Clinical Center. Clinical Center Summer Internship. Applications accepted November through March 1 annually.
National Academy of Science. Research Associateship Program. Applications accepted throughout the year.
National Science Foundation. Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Applications due late October.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Veterinary Clerkship Program. Applications should be submitted 4 months before desired start date.
The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Program. Deadlines vary based upon location.
NIH Clinical Center. Dietetic Internship Program. Previous deadline: February 15, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Physiology: Modern Cell Biology Using Microscopic, Biochemical, and Computational Approaches. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Embryology: Concepts & Techniques in Modern Developmental Biology. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Biology of Parasitism: Modern Approaches. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Microbial Diversity. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Neural Systems and Behavior. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
Marine Biological Laboratory. Neurobiology. Previous deadline: February 6, 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ORISE Science Internship Program. Applications are accepted continuously.
NIH, National Human Genome Research Institute. Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship. Applications open in January 2018.
NIH Clinical Center. Infectious Diseases Training Program. Please see website for more information.
NIH Clinical Center. Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program. Applications should be submitted at least one year prior to program.
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology. Conference Scholarships. Scholarship deadlines vary depending on conference selection.
Opportunities for Medical Students
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC-Hubert Global Health Fellowship. Previous deadline: February 17, 2017.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner’s Fellowship Program. Previous deadline: late April 2017.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC Experience Applied Epidemiology Fellowship. Deadlines vary by program.
Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation. Sarnoff Fellowship Program – Research Training for Medical Students. Application opes August 2017; deadline is January 2018.
NIH Clinical Center. Clinical Research Training Program. Application open annually January 15 to March 30.
University of Colorado. Nutrition Research Fellowship. deadline: January 15.
Opportunities for Ph.D. Students
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study. Previous deadline: November 16, 2016.
National Academy of Sciences. Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowships. 2018 deadline: December 7, 2017.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowships Program. Next application cycle begins September 2017.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). NCHS/AcademyHealth Health Policy Fellowship. Previous deadline: November 7, 2017.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Clinical Scholars. Deadlines vary.
American Egg Board- Egg Nutrition Center (ENC). ENC Fellowship Program. Check website for updates.
Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech’s Initiative to Maximize Student Diversity Program (VT-IMSD). Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner’s Fellowship Program. Previous deadline: April 2017.
NIH National Human Genome Research Institute. Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship. Applications open January 2018.
Opportunities for Postdoctorates/Young Professionals
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology. Global Health Travel Awards. Deadline dependent upon meeting selection.
Wellcome Trust. Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships. 2 application cycles; deadlines mid-July and mid-December.
National Academy of Science. Research Associateship Programs Fellowship. Applications accepted throughout the year, deadline: first day of February, May, August, and November.
National Academy of Science. Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowship. Deadline: December 7, 2017.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAS). AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships. Applications open from May – November annually.
National Center for Health Statistics. NCHS/AcademyHealth Health Policy Fellowship. Please check website for updates or email nchs@academyhealth.org to be notified when the 2018 cycle opens.
Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). ASPH/CDC Fellowship. Applications accepted year round.
HHMI Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Summer Medical Research Fellows Program. Application opens late August.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Postdoctoral Positions. Deadlines vary.
University of Alabama at Birmingham. Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Nutrition Obesity Research Center. Check website for application information.
Tufts University, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging. Postdoctoral Job Board. Check for open positions.
Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). CSTE/CDC/ASPH/HRSA Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program. Previous application deadline: January 13, 2017.
Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars. Fogarty Fellows Program. Multiple deadlines.
Agricultural Research Services. Postdoctoral Research Associate Positions. Deadlines vary (USAJOBS).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Postgraduate Research Program (NCTR). Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology. Conference Scholarships. Scholarship deadlines vary depending on conference selection.
Opportunities for Minority Student Scientists
National Institutes of Health. NHLBI Biomedical Research Training Program for Individuals from Underrepresented Groups. Previous deadline: January 19, 2017.
National Academy of Science. Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. Deadline: January 9, 2018.
Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech’s Initiative to Maximize Student Diversity Program (VT-IMSD). Applications accepted on a rolling basis
University of Massachusetts Medical School. Summer Research Program to Increase Diversity Among Biomedical Researchers. Previous deadline: March 10, 2017.
University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. Graduate Experience for Multicultural Students (GEMS) Summer Research Program. Deadline: February 15.
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology. Travel Award Program for Early-Career Investigators from Underrepresented Minority (URM) Backgrounds. Deadline dependent upon meeting selection.