Undergraduate Opportunities
One of the categories of ‘fellowship’ is focused upon experiences for undergraduate students *while they are undergraduates* - most of these occur in the summer, but you will see that there are several competitive national scholarships available for undergraduates, as well. You will see some of these opportunities listed below, with links to the actual funding organization. Note that there are many more opportunities available than are highlighted here.
Selective internships in government, NGOS and policy organizations
- U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP) - Careers (state.gov)
- State Department internships
- Scientists in Parks - Science (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) - and, more generally (many opportunities) - Work With Us - Youth Programs (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
- Students & Recent Grads | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)
- Student/Internship Programs | U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Internship at DOL | U.S. Department of Labor
- Internships | U.S. Department of Commerce
- Opportunities for Students and Recent Graduates | US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- Department of Defense internships
- Zero Hunger Internship » Congressional Hunger Center (summer internship)
- Internships - Global Ties U.S. : Global Ties U.S. (globaltiesus.org) (fantastic internships for students and grads interested in diplomacy and foreign service)
- Smithsonian Fellowships and Internships
- Internships | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
- NSA | Students | Intelligence Careers
- Summer Associates | IDA (The Summer Associates Program at the Institute for Defense Analyses provides rising seniors with an opportunity to use their quantitative and analytical skills to work on challenging real-world national security issues. Each year, IDA hires and pays students at its Virginia and Washington, DC, facilities to work for ~10-12 weeks during the summer months. Students should have GPAs of 3.3+ in a variety of disciplines including computer science, information technology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, operations research, aero/astronautical engineering, mechanical or electrical engineering, as well as international relations, policy studies, social and behavioral sciences, statistics, finance, and economics.)
- Students and Interns | FBIJOBS (including internships at FBI Detroit)
- Undergraduate Intern, Research (myworkdayjobs.com) (The Pew Research Center summer undergraduate internship is a paid opportunity for undergraduates with an interest in public opinion, survey research, data science, data journalism, digital publication, or nonprofit administration during the summer.)
- Work With IRI | International Republican Institute (many internships in Washington DC in the field of international relations)
- Careers - Global Ties U.S. : Global Ties U.S. (globaltiesus.org) (many internships in DC and elsewhere - State Department affiliated NGO); see also Internships - Global Ties U.S. : Global Ties U.S. (globaltiesus.org)
- A quick link to International Organization Careers (State Department): IO CAREERS - Home (state.gov)
- A quick link to Internship Opportunities for Students with the U.S. Intelligence Community: United States Intelligence Community Internship Opportunities for Students (borenawards.org)
Summer experiences (prestigious seminars and workshops)
- INTERNATIONAL
- American Councils Overseas Professional Intercultural Training (OPIT) Program (summer program for students committed to international careers - through OPIT's eight-week, English-language internships, students gain the substantive overseas professional experience and intercultural communication skills demanded by today’s global market. Participants can choose a placement in a variety of fields, including business, democracy building, human rights, education, gender equality, journalism, public health, environmental protection, and social services in 19 countries throughout Southeast Europe, Eurasia, the Baltics, and East Asia)
- Full Academic Year Experience - Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals - Cultural Vistas (an academic year in Germany, primarily for recent graduates - but current undergraduates are also eligible)
- Boren Scholarships -- Regional Flagship Language Program (for undergraduates: intensive summer language study in the U.S. plus associated immersive language study in the fall semester at a specific Boren location for students committed to careers in the intelligence and security sectors of federal service; you'll also want to work with PIC to receive approval for study abroad, but these particular Flagship language programs are not administered by GVSU)
- Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program (summer on-site or virtual immersive and intensive language study of a critical need language - i.e., Arabic, Russian, Bangla, Tewa, Mandarin, Hindi, Farsi or other)
- US-UK Fulbright Summer Institute (summer academic program at a participating British university for students who are underrepresented in study abroad / without study-abroad experience / with a GPA of 3.7 or higher)
- Cultural Vistas Scholarships and Programs (including CBYX, but with MANY MORE State-Department sponsored programs for undergraduates and alumni - Cultural Vistas internship and work-abroad programs allow students and professionals to develop the expanding set of competencies demanded in today’s global economy through sustained immersion in a foreign country – language learning, interdisciplinary problem solving, empathy, and respect for cultural attitudes and ideas, to name a few)
- Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship (summer leadership seminar in Ireland for underrepresented students in study abroad)
- USINDO Summer Studies Program: Study Abroad in Indonesia
- Big Brainstorm - Our Future Agenda (United Nations) (The Big Brainstorm is an opportunity for young thinkers and activists from around the world to come together to embark on a two week virtual design sprint to explore, prototype, and launch initiatives to tackle some of humanity’s greatest challenges.)
- Global Sustainability Scholars (gsscholar.org)
- DOMESTIC US Seminars, Selective Internships with Major Companies and Leadership Institutes (many are preparation for graduate study at top universities)
- Federal Diversity Internship Initiative | Programs | The Washington Center (twc.edu)
- Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Undergraduate Summer Enrichment Program (brilliant preparation for graduate study, a Fulbright U.S. Student award, and, of course, for the Rangel Graduate Fellowship!)
- Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows
- Home - Hertog Foundation (variety of policy-oriented summer internships)
- Public Policy and International Affairs Program Junior Summer Institute (PPIA JSI) (excellent preparation for graduate study for underrepresented students committed to graduate school and careers in public policy/international affairs through a summer program at one of six hosting U.S. universities, including the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy)
- Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute | The New York Public Library (nypl.org)
- Leadership Program (tahoeforestchurch.org)
- Internships and Early Career Opportunities | The New York Times Company (nytco.com)
- Zero Hunger Internship » Congressional Hunger Center
Summer research opportunities in STEM
- Amgen Scholars Summer Research Program in Science and Technology
- DAAD-RISE (research internship in Germany in summer or during the academic year)
- NSURP.org – National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (virtual summer research in microbiology and more)
- Department of Energy -- Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) | NIST
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) (a comprehensive database of US federal department and laboratory internships, fellowships and more)
- NOAA student opportunities database | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (a fantastic database of scholarships, fellowships and internships)
- Brooke Owens Fellowship (for young women - internships in aerospace)
- Department of Defense research internships
- NIH Summer Internship Program
- Short-Term Internships for Students Short-Term Internships for Students | Fellowships and Training Opportunities | CDC
- Mayo Clinic Careers | Internships
- Undergraduate Scholarship Program - Training Programs in the Biomedical Sciences - Office of Intramural Training & Education at the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov)
- Student opportunities | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov)
- NSA | Students | Intelligence Careers
- Student and Recent Graduate Programs | NRCS (usda.gov)
- Research Internships - VAI (Van Andel Institute Summer Research Internships)
- Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP) | Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (columbia.edu)
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth :: The MD-PhD Undergraduate Summer Fellowship :: Welcome!
- Internships | USDA
- Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (Postbac IRTA/CRTA) - Training Programs in the Biomedical Sciences - Office of Intramural Training & Education at the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov) (for recent college graduates preparing for graduate school)
- Research Fellowships and Scholarships | US EPA
- Volunteer | John Ball Zoo (jbzoo.org) (paid summer internship for college students)
- DNR - Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps / AmeriCorps positions
- Careers - WMEAC (including many summer internships - for example, the Crane Foundation Endowed Water Fellowship)
- Internship at Cedar Creek Institute (Michigan) (cedarcreekinstitute.org)
- Pathways To Science | Increasing Diversity in STEM
- REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates)- The best way to begin is to read through all of the good information on the NSF REU page - REU - For Students | NSF - National Science Foundation. And then, more particularly, Search for an REU Site | NSF - National Science Foundation. You’ll need to contact the individual sites for the REUs of interest to you to get information and application materials for that particular REU at that particular university. Most university REU websites are super clear and informative! You’ll find good advice about applying for REUs at GVSU_REU_Application_Tips.pdf - Google Drive.
- See also Non-GVSU Funding and Research Opportunities - Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship - Grand Valley State University
Nationally competitive scholarships (tuition assistance)
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship (the most prestigious award in the United States for undergraduate STEM majors who are planning on pursuing a STEM PhD and a research career)
- NOAA Hollings Scholarship (applicants must apply in the fall of their sophomore year)
- Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship (Department of Defense program)
- Undergraduate Scholarship Program - Training Programs in the Biomedical Sciences - Office of Intramural Training & Education at the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov) (scholarship support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research)
- Udall Scholarship (two tracks: native health care and tribal policy; conservation and environmental issues)
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship (apply as a junior for support in your senior year and beyond - the Harry S. Truman Scholarship award is the nation's most prestigious domestic award for undergraduate students. The Truman Foundation recognizes college juniors with leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit advocacy sectors, education, or elsewhere in public service by providing them with financial support for graduate study, leadership training and fellowship with other students. )
For more possibilities for service experiences (for alumni, graduate students and undergraduates, see Roadmap to Fellowships.