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Short-term Research Training Experiences

Research Interns – Appointment Process

To request an appointment letter for a research intern:

First:

The designation Research Intern applies only to individuals wishing to pursue a research experience and not applicable to:

•   clerical work including data entry
•  “physician shadowing” or other experiences involving patient contact
•   Any activity that would otherwise be performed by a regular employee

Non-educational Positions: Research Intern appointments are not suitable for students (or others) employed in a research laboratory setting who do not have specifically defined training plans.  For students providing services such as dish washing, media preparation, lab maintenance, data entry, etc., please contact Vanderbilt Temporary Services for further information about these types of positions.

Vanderbilt Students: Research Intern appointments are not applicable to students currently enrolled at Vanderbilt University. All Vanderbilt student employment, including summer employment, is processed though the Student Employment Office.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER:

VUMC departments requesting research interns/student observers, should email vumc.iso@vumc.org.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH LABORATORIES:  Continue to use these instructions and work through the BRET office.

1.  Please review the eligibility criteria before submitting an appointment request.  The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.

2. Before requesting a Research Intern appointment, secure a background clearance. The department will fill out the following form for HR to initiate the background check with the intern:

Background Check Initiation Form

If your candidate does not have a social security number, please enter in 000-00-0000.

3.  Scan the following 3 documents together at one time to stephanie.richards@vanderbilt.edu.

SOM Registration Form (To be completed by requesting department)
Statement of Agreement (To be completed and signed by incoming intern)
Background clearance

4.  Once the completed appointment request packet is received, the BRET Office will provide a Letter of Appointment.

5.  The department may then complete either a Stipend Request Form or a New Hire PAF for the intern (details below).

 

 

All Interns will need to complete an I9 within the first three days of employment. 

 

**If the applicant will be a minor at the start of the internship, please use the following website: Guidelines Governing Minors in Laboratories and Appointment Forms***

 

  • Post-baccalaureate – Stipended
    • Please complete a “Stipend Request Form” available from Human Resources. Note that you will need to submit a separate form for each total payment amount i.e. partial months etc.
    • The monthly stipend amount is determined by the funding source and/or program that the intern belongs to, however, the recommended range is $2,000 to $2,458 per month.
  • Post-baccalaureate – Salaried
    • Please note that the recommended salary range is $2,916 to $3,1664 per month.
  • Pre-baccalaureate – Stipended
    • Please complete a “Stipend Request Form” available from Human Resources. Note that you will need to submit a separate form for each total payment amount i.e. partial months etc.
    • The monthly stipend amount is determined by the funding source and/or program that the intern belongs to, however, the recommended range is $10.00 – $14 per hour.
  • Pre-baccalaureate – Salaried
    • Please complete a “New Hire PAF” available from Human Resources.
    • Please enter the Job Code as 9233. This is a temporary, non-exempt position.
    • Please note that the recommended salary range is $10.00 – $14 per hour.

 

Minors: A minor is defined as any individual who will be under the age of eighteen at the beginning of the internship experience. For instructions on requesting an appointment for a minor please see

Guidelines Governing Minors in Laboratories and Appointment Forms

 

University Central Departments: Please note that the above instructions are for appointments to VU Basic Science departments. Procedures for appointing Research Interns in University Central Departments are available here.