How to Apply

Eligibility

For the 2019 summer research internship program, undergraduate college students must have completed at least one year of higher education (equivalent to 24 credit hours) by May 13, 2019, be enrolled in a science-related degree program, and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Students who have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree before the start date of the summer internship program (May 13, 2019) are ineligible. If you are currently enrolled as a high school student or in a Master’s degree program, you are ineligible to participate in the undergraduate research summer internship program.

International students are eligible to apply if they meet the requirements for the program and are legally permitted to work and earn income in the United States. The Institute typically will not sponsor visas for summer-only employment.

If interested in the Medical Student Summer Research Internship Program, please read the eligibility and application details here.

Before You Apply

Please review Van Andel Research Institute’s (VARI) website to determine your top research areas of interest (epigenetics, neurodegenerative science or cancer and cell biology).
Please review VARI research laboratories to identify your top five labs of interest.
Please review VARI core services to identify your top three core services of interest.
Prepare a resume (PDF format) that includes your education, research and volunteer experience, and publications (if any)
Prepare a cover letter (PDF format) to include why you would like to participate in this summer internship and your career goals
Be prepared to upload an unofficial transcript (PDF format) to your online application. Applicants will be responsible for uploading their college or university transcripts to their online application. Any transcripts received via email or from your institutions transcript delivery service will not be accepted.
Combine your cover letter, resume and transcripts as a single PDF file before submitting your online application.
Two (2) current letters of recommendation: Ask professors, research mentors and/or supervisors to submit letters of recommendation, on institute letterhead, in PDF electronic format to undergrad@vai.org or mail to:

Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee (98001 / VAIGS)
Van Andel Research Institute / Van Andel Institute Graduate School
333 Bostwick Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2518

How to Apply

Complete VAI’s online employment application thoroughly, in addition to uploading your cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript as one complete and single PDF file.

Submit 2019 application by February 1, 2019. All fields must be populated for the online application to be submitted.

After you submit your online application, updates may be made to directory information, as well as attaching updated PDF files. No updates or changes can be made to the pre-employment questions.

Selection process

Completed applications for the 2019 summer internship program will be reviewed by Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee and Van Andel Research Institute faculty after February 15, 2019. Applicants selected for interviews are generally contacted by mid-March and employment offers are extended by the end of March. If additional summer opportunities become available after this time, waitlisted applications may be considered.

For questions, please email undergrad@vai.org.

Van Andel Institute and/or its affiliated organizations (VAEI and VARI, hereafter collectively called “the Institutes”), through its responsible managers, recruits, hires, upgrades, trains, and promotes in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status, except when an accommodation is unavailable or it is a bona fide occupational qualification.