2026 VAI Epigenomics Workshop
The VAI Epigenomics Workshop is a three-day, hands-on, problem-based experience that immerses Ph.D. students in the latest epigenomic research and techniques. Workshop sessions will be taught by leaders in their fields and cover an array of approaches.
By the end of the workshop, students will have a broad understanding of epigenomic data types and tools, and the unique challenges posed by each. They also will be better able to apply these tools to interdisciplinary research questions in the field. In addition, students will build meaningful connections with research leaders and other graduate students in the broader epigenomics field.
The application period opens in late 2025. To be added to our mailing list, please email Courtney Zirkle.
Funding for the workshop was made possible (in part) by R25HG011020 from the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the NIH; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government
Workshop sessions will be taught by internationally recognized epigenomics experts, including invited speakers and VAI faculty.
Our agenda is in development. To be added to our mailing list, please email Courtney Zirkle.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute
Dr. Nick Burton explores how our environment, especially microbes, can impact our health and the health of our offspring — even before they are born. His research has extensive implications for understanding how epigenetics contributes to human disease and how the environment we are exposed to today affects not only our own health, but also our children’s.
Assistant Professor, Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute
Dr. Derek Janssens explores the factors that give rise to blood cancers with the goal of informing improved diagnosis and treatment strategies. His research has contributed to powerful new methods that enable scientists to better study the complex factors that drive cancer development.
Assistant Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute
Dr. Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl investigates how the dietary choices of parents may impact the health of their offspring in the hopes of translating her findings into new ways to prevent disease and create a healthier future.
Chair and Professor, Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute
Dr. J. Andrew Pospisilik seeks to understand how we become whom we become, and how our disease susceptibility is defined from early on in life, even before conception, with the long-term goal of being able to predict lifelong health outlook at birth.
Associate Professor, Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute
Dr. Piroska Szabó studies the flow of epigenetic information from parents to their offspring, with a focus on how epigenetic markers are remodeled during egg and sperm production, and how these markers are rewritten after fertilization. These processes have profound implications on fertility and embryo development.
Doctoral students from U.S. colleges and universities who have completed their comprehensive exams in an epigenetics-related discipline and are embarked on an epigenetics-based Ph.D. thesis are eligible to apply. Applicants should have entry-level, basic knowledge of the “command line.” Suggested pre-course training opportunities will be communicated to all candidates who are unsure about their command line competency.
Please submit the following materials no later than Friday, February 20, 2026. The requested documents should be combined into one PDF document in the order listed below:
- A biosketch*
- One-paragraph statement of interest, including area of study
- Poster abstract (for formatting details, please visit our Poster tab)
- Letter of recommendation from thesis advisor or a thesis committee member**
**To complete your application, a letter of recommendation from your Ph.D. advisor or a thesis committee member must also be received by Friday, February 20, 2026. This can be included as the fourth document in the submission above or can be emailed by the advisor separately to Courtney Zirkle.
Applications will be reviewed by the course committee, which will select 12–15 applicants for admission into the workshop. Students will be notified by March 2026.
Cost
There are no costs for selected student participants. VAI will cover costs associated with student participants’ travel and lodging to and from the VAI Epigenetics Symposium and Epigenomics Workshop. There is no registration fee for the workshop. Applicants will be able to indicate their need for childcare assistance as part of the online application.
Submitted abstracts should represent original research and may cover any biomedical research topic. The title should be brief and descriptive, and the body should include rationale, methods and results. Please prepare abstracts using the below template. Abstracts should be submitted during the application process.
Questions?
Questions regarding abstract submission, posters or the poster session can be directed to Courtney Zirkle.
TITLE OF ABSTRACT IN ALL CAPS (STYLE = TITLE)
Presenting Author1,2, Other Author1, and Last Author1,3(Style = Authors)
1First Dept., Institution, City, State, Country, 2Second Dept., Institution, City, State, Country, and 3Last Dept., Institution, City, State, Country (Style = Affiliations)
Body of abstract using 300 words or less. Define each abbreviation at first use. All fonts should be Arial, 11 pt. and text should be single-spaced. Once you have filled in this template, choose File>Save As and save your file as a Word document (.doc or .docx) with the filename lastname_abstract. (Style = Body)
EXAMPLE
THE ROLE OF EPIGENETICS IN CANCER METABOLISM
Andrew Pospisilik1,2 and Russell Jones1
1Department of Metabolic and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States, 2Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Cancer is a disease in which cells have lost their normal checks on cell proliferation. Cancer cells also have evolved to evade elimination by the immune system, the body’s defense mechanism against foreign invaders. Recent studies suggest…
