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ABOUT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE
Van Andel Institute (VAI) is committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations through cutting-edge biomedical research and innovative educational offerings. Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to nearly 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with a growing number of national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Learn more at Van Andel Institute - Independent Biomedical Research Institute.

ABOUT THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
The Student Research Fellowship is designed to provide undergraduate college students with opportunities to be mentored by professionals in their chosen research field, to become familiar with the use of state-of-the-art scientific equipment and technology, and to learn valuable interpersonal and presentation skills. The goal of these programs is to expose aspiring researchers and clinicians to exciting advances in biomedical sciences with Van Andel Institute (VAI) that will help define their career paths.   We expect to support 30-35 internships (10-weeks/40-hours per week), depending on the needs of the Institute’s faculty and core directors/managers. Students are expected to work full-time for the duration of the internship, so participation in this program is not compatible with working at another job. Each experience will be different based on the research question, mentor and status of the project. Work environments include any of the basic science laboratories and core technologies at VAI.

SESSIONS DATES 
Undergraduate students are required to complete their internships in one of two sessions in 2025: 

  • Session I: May 12, 2025-July 18, 2025
  • Session II: June 2, 2025-August 8, 2025

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 
As Van Andel Institute is a drug and alcohol-free employer, all prospective new employees undergo a urinalysis/drug test as part of our pre-employment process. This is a 7-panel drug screen and it includes testing for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, PCP, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.

ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduate college students must be currently enrolled in a science/research related degree program and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Students who have graduated before the start date of and/or during the summer internship program (Apr. 1, 2025–Sept. 1, 2025) are ineligible. If you are currently enrolled as a high school student or in a Master’s degree program.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND BEFORE YOU APPLY
Visit vai.org to learn more about VAI research labs and core services.

Determine Scientific Areas of Interest

  • Review VAI faculty/lab pages before answering the pre-employment questions on the online application regarding top five (5) labs of interest.
    Our Research Departments - VAI
  • Review VAI core services and technologies pages before answering the pre-employment questions on the online application regarding top two (2) cores of interest.
    Our Core Technologies and Services – VAI

Required Documents  |  Cover Letter, Resume and Transcript

  • A cover letter indicating why you would like to participate in this internship and your career goals.
     
  • A resume, which includes your education, research experience, skills, volunteer experience, and publications (if any).
     
  • Official transcripts (as of Fall 2024) from your college or university.

Request Letters of Recommendation

  • Before applying, contact recommenders to request current letters of recommendation.
     
  • Notify recommenders that you are requesting letters of recommendation for the 2025 Student Research Fellowship-Undergraduate Programs with Van Andel Institute.
     
  • Based off the names and email addresses applicants provide on the online applications, recommenders will receive an email message with instructions on how to upload letters of recommendation through Liaison/GradCas.
     
  • Letters of recommendation can come from high school teachers, high school counselors, high school coaches, current supervisors, university faculty/processors, academic counselors, program chairs and/or research mentors.
     
  • Letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Student Research Fellowship Committee-Undergraduate

HOW TO APPLY AND ONLINE APPLICATION 
Please make sure you have reviewed the details above regarding eligibility requirements and required documents before applying for the Undergraduate-Student Research Fellowship.

  1. Create a Liaison/GradCas account
  2. Complete Extended Profile form and save changes
  3. Select Undergraduate-Student Research Fellowship
  4. Scroll down to review the Program Description with the details that includes deadline dates, eligibility, required documents and how to apply
  5. After reviewing the Program Description, click on the blue + next to Undergraduate-Student Research Fellowship to start the online application 
  6. Click on the blue Continue button at the bottom on the website
  7. Click on the blue Continue to My Application button to complete the online application
  8. See details below for submitting your online application:

For the online application, there are four (4) sections to be completed including Personal Information, Academic History, Supporting Information and Program Materials:

For the Personal Information section, complete all of the requested details for the following:

  • Release & Acknowledgement Statement
  • Biographic Information
  • Contact Information
  • Citizen Information
  • Race & Ethnicity
  • Other Information

For the Academic History section, upload your current transcript (ending Fall 2024) and complete the following sections:

  • Colleges Attended
  • GPA Entries

For the Supporting Information section, click on Documents and upload your resume

For the Program Materials section, click on Undergraduate-Student Research Fellowship | Van Andel Institute

  • Under the Questions tab, complete all pre-employment questions
  • Under the Documents tab, upload your cover letter
  • Under the Recommendations tab, enter the names and email address of the recommenders (faculty, mentors or supervisors) that will submit letters of recommendation to support your application
    • Reminder: Enter February 3, 2025 as the deadline/due date

QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP?
If you have questions about the student research fellowship or the application process, please email the Student Research Fellowship Committee at undergrad@vai.edu.

INFORMATIONAL ZOOM MEETINGS
Want to learn more about student research fellowship? Join us for one of our informational zoom meetings. Registration is required.