How to Apply

Online Application

The application deadline has passed for the undergraduate 2022 Summer Internship Program. Applications for the 2023 Summer Internship Program will be accepted starting December 1, 2022. The application deadline for the undergraduate 2023 Summer Internship Program is February 1, 2023.

Conditions of Employment

At Van Andel Institute, the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. As a condition of employment at Van Andel Institute, all employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Full vaccination” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered.

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 2023 summer research internship program, undergraduate college students must have completed at least one year of higher education (equivalent to 24 credit hours) by May 1, 2023, be enrolled in a science-related degree program, and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants that will graduated with a bachelor’s degree during the course of the 2023 summer internship program (between April 1, 2023 – September 1, 2023) are ineligible. Applicants are also ineligible if dually enrolled in a high school and undergraduate program, and/or enrolled in a master’s program. Applicants are also ineligible if dually enrolled in a high school and undergraduate program, and/or enrolled in a master’s 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).
- A current official transcript (Fall 2022) 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 , 2023): Ask professors, research mentors and/or supervisors to submit letters of recommendation, on institute letterhead, in PDF electronic format to undergrad@vai.edu. Letters of recommendations can be addressed to the Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee:

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 (applications accepted December 1, 2022) thoroughly, in addition to uploading your cover letter, resume and official transcript as a single PDF file.

Submit 2023 application by February 1, 2023. 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 official transcript before the application deadline (February 1, 2023). No updates or changes can be made to directory information or responses to the pre-employment questions.

Selection Process

Completed applications for the 2023 summer internship program will be reviewed by Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee and Van Andel Institute faculty after February 15, 2023. 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/

Questions about applying for the summer internship program?

If you have questions about the summer internship program or the application process, please email the Undergraduate & Internship Program Committee at undergrad@vai.edu.