How to Apply

Online Application

The application deadline for the 2021 undergraduate summer internship program has passed. The application process for the 2022 begins on December 1, 2021.

Eligibility

Van Andel Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We strongly encourage undergraduate student applicants from minority serving institutions including historically black colleges & universities, tribal colleges & universities and Hispanic serving institutions, as well as McNair Scholars.

For the 2021 summer research internship program, undergraduate college students must have completed at least one year of higher education (equivalent to 24 credit hours) by May 2021, 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 10, 2021) 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. Van Andel Institute  does not sponsor visas for interns.

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

Before You Apply

Please review VAI research laboratories to identify your top five labs of interest.
Prepare a single PDF file including the following three (3) documents as an attachment for your online application:
- A cover letter to introduce why you would like to participate in this summer internship and your career goals.
- A resume that includes your education, research experience, skills, volunteer experience, and publications (if any).
- Official (or unofficial) transcripts from your college or university. 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.
Two (2) current letters of recommendation (due by February 5, 2021): Ask professors, research mentors and/or supervisors to submit letters of recommendation, on institute letterhead, in PDF electronic format to undergrad@vai.edu or mail to:

Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee (98001 / VAIGS)
Van Andel Institute Graduate School / Van Andel Institute
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 official transcript/unofficial transcript as a single PDF file.

Submit 2021 application by February 1, 2021. All fields must be populated for the online application to be submitted.

After you submit your online application, applicants can upload an updated PDF file. with their cover letter, resume and transcript before the application deadline (February 1, 2021). No updates or changes can be made to directory information or responses to the pre-employment questions.

Selection Process

Completed applications for the 2021 summer internship program will be reviewed by Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee and Van Andel Institute faculty after February 15, 2021. 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.edu.

COVID-19 may affect on-site internships. Updates on summer internships will be provided by the Research Advisory Committee, VAI COVID-19 Task Force and the Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee at: https://vaigs.vai.org/undergrad-research/program-details/