20th Annual West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science Research Conference

Celebrating the 20th anniversary, the annual West Michigan Regional Undergraduate Science (WMRUGS) Research Conference provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to present their own research to a large and supportive group of professional scientists. Attendees will also hear stimulating talks on current topics in biology, chemistry, computer sciences, environmental sciences, math, neuroscience, physics, psychology and more. The research conference includes a keynote speaker, research posters presented by undergraduate students, graduate school recruiters/representatives will be on hand to discuss opportunities with their institutions and internship/employment recruiters will be available to discuss opportunities with their organizations.

All speakers, poster presenters and attendees must register for the conference | No walk-in registrations will be accepted

Speaker and Poster Presenters

• Speaker and poster presenter deadline: Noon/12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, Oct.19, 2026
• Speakers and poster presenters include:
  • Student speakers nominated by the WMRUGS Research Conference Organizing Committee giving scientific talks | Only select the student speaker option if you are an undergraduate student nominated by a committee member from the following organizing institutions: Aquinas College, Calvin University, Ferris State University-College of Pharmacy, Grand Valley State University, Hope College and Kalamazoo College.
  • Student poster presenters including principal presenter (submitting abstract/poster title) and co-principal presenter | Please get approval from your research mentor before registering as either a principal presenter (submitting abstract/poster title) and co-principal presenter. Please also review the details under the Poster & Eligibility tab before registering as a poster presenter.

Attendee Registration

• Attendee deadline: Noon/12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
• Attendees include:
  • Student attendees not presenting or speaking
  • Faculty/administrative attendees
  • Research mentors
  • Family/friends of student poster presenters or student speakers
  • Event volunteers (VAI Graduate School Students and VAI Employees)

Recruiter Registration

• Recruiter deadline: Noon/12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026
• Please send your high resolution organizational/institutional logo to Michelle Love at [email protected] before Noon/12:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.

WMRUGS Research Conference Organizing Committee Members

Keith Grasman, Ph.D. – Calvin University
Jennifer Hess, Ph.D. – Aquinas College
Eric Nybo, Ph.D. – Ferris State University – College of Pharmacy
Kristin Reed, Ph.D. – Hope College
Mark Staves, Ph.D. – Grand Valley State University
Tim Triche, Ph.D. – Van Andel Institute / Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Dwight Williams, Ph.D. – Kalamazoo College

WMRUGS Parking and Getting to VAI (downloadable file)

Please get approval from your research mentor before registering as either a principal presenter (submitting abstract) and co-principal presenter. Please also review the details below on posters and eligibility before registering for the conference.

Abstracts and poster titles: Only the principal presenting author-student will have access to submit the poster title and abstract. Please check with your faculty advisor and/or research mentor before registering to ensure that you are to register as the principal presenting author-student, and you are to submit the poster title and abstract. Poster titles should be no longer than 125 characters (including spaces), and abstracts should not exceed 1000 characters (including spaces). Due to space limitations at Van Andel Institute, the maximum number of posters is 145.

Poster dimensions: Tack boards will be utilized for the poster sessions. Tack board dimensions are 96” W x 48” H and there will be two poster presenters per board per side (total of four posters per board). Printed posters should be no larger than 48” W x 48” H. Push pins will be provided for your posters. DO NOT use poster puddy on the tack boards. Even-numbered posters will present from 10:00 – 11:15 a.m. Odd-numbered posters will present from 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Posters are not judged. To present a poster at WMRUGS, presenters must satisfy the following two criteria:

1. Be currently enrolled in a science/research degree program as a:

• Community college student
• Undergraduate college student
• Formalized program for a post-baccalaureate student
• Terminal level master’s student
• Medical student

2. Have conducted research, used experimental methods and developed results in one of the following scientific disciplines:

• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biomedical Sciences
• Biostatistics
• Biotechnology
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Chemistry
• Computational Biology
• Computer Science
• Ecology and Evolution
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Forensic Biology
• Geography
• Geology
• Immunology
• Mathematics
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biotechnology
• Neuroscience
• Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Physics
• Physiology
• Psychology

Looking for accommodations? Here are some close suggestions in the Downtown Grand Rapids area:

Hyatt Place Grand Rapids-Downtown
140 Ottawa Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Hyatt Place Grand Rapids-Downtown
Telephone: 616.984.1200
Website: hyattplacegrandrapidsdowntown.com/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Lyon Street NW and Division Avenue) | 0.4 miles | 10 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Ionia Ave NW and Crescent Street) | 0.5 miles | 3 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids-Downtown
11 Monroe NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Courtyard by Marriott Grand Rapids-Downtown
Telephone: 616.242.6618
Website: marriott.com/en-us/hotels/grrdt-courtyard-grand-rapids-downtown/overview/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Monroe Avenue NW and Lyon Street NW) | 0.7 miles | 18 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Monroe Avenue NW and Michigan Street NW) | 0.8 miles | 4 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Amway Grand Plaza – Downtown Grand Rapids
187 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Amway Grand Plaza
Telephone: 616.774.2000 | Email address: [email protected]
Website: amwaygrand.com/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Lyon Street): 0.6 miles | 15 minutes
Distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Pearl Street and Division Avenue): 0.6 miles | 4 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

JW Marriott – Downtown Grand Rapids
235 Louis Street, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to JW Marriott – Downtown Grand Rapids
Telephone: 616.242.1500
Website: ilovethejw.com/
Walking and driving distance
Distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Lyon Street): 0.6 miles | 15 minutes
Distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Pearl Street and Division Avenue): 0.6 miles | 4 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Homewood Suites – Downtown Grand Rapids
161 Ottawa Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Homewood Suites
Telephone: 616.451.2300
Website: hilton.com/en/hotels/grrdohw-homewood-suites-grand-rapids-downtown/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Lyon Street and Winchester Place) | 0.4 miles | 10 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Pearl Street and Division Avenue) | 0.4 miles | 3 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

City Flats Hotel – Downtown Grand Rapids
83 Monroe Center Street, NW
Grand Rapids MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to City Flats Hotel
Telephone: 844.550.2489 | Contact us: cityflatshotel.com/get-in-touch/
Website: cityflatshotel.com/location/grand-rapids/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Lyon Street and Winchester Place) | 0.5 miles | 13 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Ionia Avenue and Crescent Street) | 0.6 miles | 3 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Holiday Inn – Downtown Grand Rapids
310 Pearl Street, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to the Holiday Inn
Telephone: 616.235.7611
Website: ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/grand-rapids/grrpe/hoteldetail
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Pearl Street) | 0.9 miles | 21 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Pearl Street) | 0.8 miles | 5 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Marriott Courtyard Plaza – Downtown Grand Rapids
11 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Marriott Courtyard Plaza – Downtown Grand Rapids
Telephone: 616.242.6000
Website: marriott.com/hotels/travel/grrdt-courtyard-grand-rapids-downtown/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Pearl Street) | 0.9 miles | 21 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Monroe Avenue and Michigan Street) | 1.0 miles | 6 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

AC Hotel – Downtown Grand Rapids
50 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to AC Hotel – Downtown Grand Rapids
Telephone: 616.776.3200
Website: marriott.com/en-us/hotels/grrar-ac-hotel-grand-rapids-downtown/overview/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Monroe Avenue and Lyon Street) | 0.6 miles | 16 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Pearl Street and Division Avenue) | 0.6 miles | 4 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Hampton Inn & Suites – Downtown Grand Rapids
433 Dudley Place, NE
Grand Rapids, MI  49503
Click HERE for directions to Hampton Inn & Suites
Telephone: 616.456.2000 | Email address: [email protected]
Website: hilton.com/en/hotels/grrdthx-hampton-suites-grand-rapids-downtown/
Walking and driving distance
Walking distance to and from Van Andel Institute (via Michigan Street) | 0.7 miles | 16 minutes
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Michigan Street) | 0.6 miles | 8 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

Embassy Suites by Hilton – Downtown Grand Rapids
710 Monroe Avenue, NW
Grand Rapid, MI 49503
Click HERE for directions to Embassy Suites by Hilton
Telephone: 616.512.5700
Website: hilton.com/en/hotels/grrmaes-embassy-suites-grand-rapids-downtown/
Driving distance
Driving distance to and from Ramp B/Grand Rapids Community College (via Division Avenue) | 0.9 miles | 3 minutes
From the parking ramp, it is a 2–3-minute walk north to Van Andel Institute

For more information on a sponsorship, please contact Michelle Love at [email protected].

Internship & Employment Recruiters/Representatives

Van Andel Institute

• Van Andel Institute recruiters/representatives will be available from 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
  • Informational website and online application: https://www.vai.org/internships
  • Application period: Dec. 1, 2026–Feb. 1, 2027

Educational Recruiters/Representatives

Van Andel Institute Graduate School

• Van Andel Institute Graduate School recruiters/representatives will be available from 8:15 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
  • Informational website: https://www.vai.org/graduate-school
  • Online application: https://www.vai.org/graduate-school/admissions
  • Application deadline: Dec. 1, 2026