| Action | Summer |
| Program dates | June – August (10 weeks) |
| On-line application opens | October |
| Applications accepted | October – December |
Application Process
All applications to the VFP program must be completed through the WDTS online application system (WARS).
Faculty must submit a research project proposal that is co-developed with your Berkeley Lab collaborator. Faculty may include up to two students from home academic institution.
The application requirements include:
- Completion of all required fields in the application:
- Contact and education information
- Citizenship status
- Laboratory choice and technical interests
- Essays
- Undergraduate transcripts, submitted online
Note: The minimum GPA required to gain acceptance into the program is 3.0. When providing a list of all college courses (title and number) you have completed and their respective grades, include a descriptive title for each course, e.g., CHEM 140A Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (not just CHEM 140A).
Application assistance can be found by video or by slide presentation.
Research Interests and Special Skills
We encourage you to look at Berkeley Lab’s website to learn more about the Lab and any research projects that you would find interesting. You may view the Lab’s various scientific divisions at the Scientific Divisions web page. It may also be useful to use keywords (research areas, project titles, or Berkeley Lab staff names) in the search field on Elements and Berkeley Lab News Center. Learn more about WD&E mentors’ current research on our News and Events page.
Reaching Out to a Researcher
A joint proposal co-developed by an LBNL PI and VFP applicant is required to apply to the program. If you find a researcher who seems like a good match, please contact that person to see if he or she is interested. We have found this personal interaction to be a very effective way to match interns and mentors. You can get contact information for any scientist at Berkeley Lab by simply clicking “Directory” in the banner at the top of any page on the Lab’s website.
Have the researcher contact Nakeiah Harrell, Internship Manager, at nharrell@lbl.gov. Feel free to email Nakeiah with information about projects or researchers of interest, and Workforce Development & Education (WD&E) may contact them on your behalf as well.
Researchers are very busy and it may take some tenacity to connect with them. We encourage you to reach out to others in the department (e.g., an administrator) who may be helpful in redirecting you to other scientists with projects that would be a good fit for you as well.
Initiative is a very desirable quality in candidates for our programs; demonstrating initiative and your passion for science is likely to make a positive impact on our scientific staff. Connecting with a scientist and discussing your passion, acumen, and any collaborative opportunities via a WD&E internship is the best avenue to a successful placement. In your application, please speak to your passion for science and how it relates to some of the research we do at Berkeley Lab. This is helpful when mentors are considering applicants. Note: Lab experience is not required for acceptance into the program.
Please visit Office of Science for more information on how to apply VFP web pages .
