The Research Internship Program (RIP) is a 6-week scientific research internship at Vanderbilt University. It centers on an intense (40+ hours/week) lab experience where students are matched with a research lab on campus and subsequently, they engage in an independent research project under the mentorship of a Vanderbilt University or Vanderbilt University Medical Center research faculty member. All RIP participants also attend weekly breakout sessions as a group; led by a team of Vanderbilt faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. The purpose of these breakout sessions is to complement the student's lab experience by developing skill sets for scientific communication and comprehension as well as to expose students to the Vanderbilt research community, scientific careers, and university studies. RIP culminates with an end-of-summer research symposium where students will present their project in a public research poster forum, consistent with national scientific meetings.
Students are accepted through application only and placement is highly competitive. The summer research experience is intense but highly rewarding. It may be the best summer you've ever had! If you enjoy science and have a strong desire to explore and discover the world around you, we are looking for you.
Consider applying instead to the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt.
Please note: You can only apply to RIP or the School for Science and Math. Students accepted to RIP cannot retroactively switch to the School program and vice versa.