Some of the benefits of our unique environment include:
- Small research groups and personal attention
- Weekly seminars bring world renowned scientists together with faculty and students
- Careful and caring faculty mentorship
- Knowledge sharing with postdoctoral fellows and technicians with broad ranging specialties
- Peer-based student support group of graduate students from other institutions doing dissertation work at Van Andel Institute
- A Human Resources Department that serves employees and students with work and life resources, including: housing referrals, child care referrals, training workshops, coaching for personal and professional development, problem assessment and resolution, and workplace and community integration
Building
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An award winning facility that reflects the creativity and vision of the scientific work within it
- On-site cafeteria and library
- Interior design that reflects the diversity of the Institute's staff
- Next door to recently renovated Crescent Park
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Phase II building expansion nearly triples the Institute's laboratory space and will is LEED certified to have minimal impact on the environment
- The ceilings are glass, but the sky’s the limit
Facilities Page
Laboratories
- Wall-less work environment fosters meaningful interactions and promotes collaborations
- Laboratory benches specially designed by Steelcase Corporation
- Shared services for efficiency
Special Program (Core) Laboratories
The Graduate School’s connection to Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) provides students with access to its special program laboratories that serve all research teams (students and faculty) with expertise and exceptional equipment. These laboratories can analyze a sample from a morphological, genomic or proteomic perspective in an efficient, timely and precise manner. For example:
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Image a protein’s location in cells or tissue by light, fluorescent and molecular imaging
- Define its transcription using multiple genomic platforms and bioinformatics analysis
- Identify key proteomic features by mass spectroscopy
- Make and test monoclonal antibodies against unique epitopes
- Build a transgenic or KO mouse to show how it functions in a living organism
- Provide human samples to show clinical relevance and prepare for the translational application of the protein to improving human health
Community: Grand Rapids
- A growing community of world-class health care facilities and life science research and education
- With its expanding biomedical community, Grand Rapids could be a career choice
- Expanding health services at Spectrum Health with a cancer center, heart center and pediatric center
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine across the street from Van Andel Institute
- Affordable cultural- and recreational-rich environment; broad range of affordable concerts and theater
- Near natural wonders of Lake Michigan and State Parks
- Spectator sports with college and professional teams; intramural sport teams
More Grand Rapids Information
