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Internships

A biology internship is an incredible opportunity to get supervised practical experience in a career field that you are interested in.

Find an internship in the Grand Rapids area during the school year, or go to another exciting location like a national park, government agency, research university, medical institute, or business to do a paid internship during the summer. You may be able to receive course credit for your internship, and it may even lead to a great job after graduation.

How do I find an off-campus internship or research experience?

  • Talk with your professors and advisor about opportunities in their fields.
  • Watch the biology department summer research bulletin boards on the first and second floors of DeVries Hall for postings of summer research internship opportunities.
  • Look for email announcements from the biology department internship coordinator (Professor David Koetje).
  • Search for internships online and by networking with acquaintances who have contacts in the research or industrial worlds. You may be able to find an opportunity in your own hometown, another state, or around the world.
  • Browse the internships listed below that are in your areas of interest.

Great places to start

  • The Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids often accepts Calvin students into its summer research program each year. Applications for summer are typically due before February 1. Lab assistant positions are also available during the academic year.
  • Calvin also has a close relationship with the University of Michigan Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, which offers several different undergraduate research programs. The Calvin biology department works with Dr. Daniel Michele to place two or more students in these programs each year. Applications for summer are typically due before February 1.
  • Each summer, there are National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) at universities and research institutes all over the country. These programs cover all areas of biology. A stipend is typically provided, as well as potentially housing, meals, and travel expenses.

Application deadlines

The time to begin applying for summer off-campus research opportunities begins in November. Most applications are due during February and March. However, a few are due as early as November, December, and January.

Earning credit

It is sometimes possible for you to earn credit for an off-campus internship or research experience. Depending on the nature of the work, these credits can either serve as elective credits toward graduation or as an upper-level elective in the biology major. Prior to beginning your internship, contact the biology department internship coordinator (Professor David Koetje) to discuss the specifics of your internship and determine whether or not it could qualify for credit from Calvin.

Internship opportunities

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