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Overview

Van Andel Institute Graduate School is home to exceptional students with a passion for biomedical research from across the U.S. and abroad.

Current Students

Meet Van Andel Institute Graduate School's exceptional Ph.D. candidates.

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Student Support Services

We are deeply committed to supporting our Ph.D. candidates throughout their time at the Institute, both in and out of the classroom.

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Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association helps foster a sense of community and camaraderie among VAI’s student community.

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Living in Grand Rapids

Making the move to a new city is exciting, but also comes with many considerations. We're here to help!

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Elshaimaa Ali, M.S.

Mentor: Hong Wen, Ph.D.

Thesis: Identification and characterization of novel non-histone substrates of SETD2

Ebenezer Asiedu

Mentor: Connie Krawczyk, Ph.D.

Braelyn Binkowski

Mentor: Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon)

Richard Cassidy

Mentor: Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Samuel Daniels

Mentor: Evan Lien, Ph.D.

Arkajit De

Mentor: Evan Worden, Ph.D.

Patrick Dischinger, B.S., MB(ASCP)CM

Mentor: Matt Steensma, M.D.

Thesis: Investigating NF1 transcript variants in RAS deregulation and breast cancer progression

Svetlana Djirackor

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Lauren Duimstra

Mentor: Russell Jones, Ph.D.

Thesis: Defining the impact of environmental nutrients on T cell function

James Eapen

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Cameron Forton

Mentor: Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.

Maxwell Frye

Mentor: Darren Moore, Ph.D.

Ali Gamal Salaheldin

Abigail Godec

Mentor: Matt Steensma, M.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Thomas Goralski, M.S.

Mentor: Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Yixiong Han

Mentor: Liman Zhang, Ph.D.

Lauren Harmon, B.S.

Mentor: Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D.

Thesis: Genetic epidemiology of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

Renee Hoffman

Mentor: Hong Li, Ph.D.

Qualia Hooker

Mentor: Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D.

Vanessa Howland

Mentor: Darren Moore, Ph.D.

Thesis: Exploring the pathophysiology of TMEM230 in Parkinson’s disease

Sofia Ievleva

Mentor: Huilin Li, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Ava Jensen

Mentor: Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.

Dahlya Kamarudin

Mentor: Russell Jones, Ph.D.

Leena Kariapper, M.Sc.

Mentor: Evan Worden, Ph.D.

Thesis: Investigating Setdb1-mediated endogenous retrotransposon silencing

Alysa Kasen

Mentor: Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Thesis: Identifying structural determinants of tau pathology seeding

Paul Kim

Mentor: Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D.

Justin Kulchycki

Mentor: J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.

Yanqing Liu

Mentor: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.

Thesis: Mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities of DNMTi-associated epigenetic plasticity

Noah Lubben

Mentor: Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Paige Matusiak, B.S.

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Mitch McDonald

Mentor: J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.

Thesis title: Characterizing the probabilistic inheritance of non-genetic obesity in a mouse model of Neuronatin deficiency.

Shantinique Miller

Mentor: Evan Worden, Ph.D.

Thesis: Determining how intracellular bacteria pathogens interact with the human genome

Yakum Benard Mingo

Mentor: Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Vladimir Molchanov

Mentor: Tao Yang, Ph.D.

Thesis: Engineering stem cells to treat osteoarthritis

Mary Olesnavich

Mentor: Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.

Alfredo Reyes Oliveras

Mentor: Brian Haab, Ph.D.

Thesis: Linking glycosylation changes in pancreatic cancer with metabolic dependencies

Olivia Ols

Mentor: Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.

Andrea Parham

Mentor: J. Andrew Pospisilik, Ph.D.

Thesis: m6A RNA methylation: a new perspective on non-Mendelian phenotypic variation

Jae Min (Jamie) Park

Mentor: Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.

Tian (Devin) Qiu

Mentor: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.

April Rickle

Mentor: Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl, Ph.D.

Thesis: Impact of toxins and nutrients on brain function and development

Vincent Sartori

Mentor: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.

Lillian Sauline

Mentor: Matt Steensma, M.D.

Ashlin Slanger

Mentor: Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.

Ellen Stirtz, B.S.

Mentor: Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl, Ph.D.

Thesis: The combined effect of maternal obesity and autism spectrum disorder-associated genetic mutations on neurodevelopment.

Kate Thurlow, M.Sc.

Mentor: Scott Rothbart, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Hoang-Le Tran

Mentor: Tim Triche, Jr., Ph.D.

Xiao Wang

Xiao Wang

Mentor: Nick Burton, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Riley Wedan

Mentor: Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.

Anika Weekes

Mentor: Michael Henderson, Ph.D.

Joshua Wierenga

Mentor: Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.

Devia Williams

Mentor: Nick Burton, Ph.D.

Natasha Zandstra, B.S.

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Mehrshid Faraji Zonooz

Mentor: Matt Steensma, M.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

  • Student Support Services

    We are deeply committed to supporting our Ph.D. students throughout their time at the Institute, both in and out of the classroom. This comprehensive, personalized approach to student support is central to our mission of training the biomedical research leaders of tomorrow.

    Orientation & Onboarding

    • Welcoming new students to Van Andel Institute Graduate School
    • Acclimating to the Institute
    • Establishing expectations
    • Building community with the cohort
    • Assisting with housing search and other personal support by connecting students with a housing specialist
    • Assigning senior students as peer mentors
    • Intensive introductions to VAI research community including lab leaders (PI meetings)
    • Assisting international students in conjunction with Immigration Specialist and Director of Enrollment Management

    Individual Advising

    • Providing individual holistic advising to students
    • Assisting students in connecting them to internal and external resources
    • Offering conflict resolution and mediation
    • Including personal support and guidance with matters inside and outside of the Institute

    Community Building Activities

    • Social events hosted by Graduate Student Association
    • Monthly coffee chat
    • Monthly first-year meetings

    Mental Health and Wellness

    • Annual Wellness Week for students
    • Referrals to community resources for mental health and wellness
    • Introduction to Encompass (VAI’s employee assistance program)

    Career Exploration, Planning and Preparation

    • CV, résumé and/or cover letter development and review
    • Job search support
    • Use of myIDP and personal coaching
    • Career day and exploration activities
    • Connections with alumni
    • Use of StrengthsFinder

    Professional Development

    • Individual professional advising
    • On-site professional development workshops
    • Curriculum track within the Ph.D. program specific to professional development
    • Internships and externships

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) helps foster a sense of community and camaraderie among VAI’s student community. All Van Andel Institute Graduate School students and visiting graduate students may be members. The GSA Leadership Council comprises five elected students who currently hold Ph.D. candidate status. Members of the leadership council serve two-year terms.

GSA activities include:

  • Monthly chalk talks
  • GSA Annual Retreat, which includes social and professional activities
  • Fostering involvement in the larger VAI research community (such as the annual VAI Scientific Retreat)
  • Hosting regular social activities throughout the academic year
  • Hosting a welcome mixer during orientation
  • Pairing second-year students (prior to comprehensive exams) with more senior students as comprehensive exam coaches

Leadership Council

Richard Cassidy

Mentor: Yvonne Fondufe-Mittendorf, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Paige Matusiak, B.S.

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.

Thesis project title to be determined

Shantinique Miller

Mentor: Evan Worden, Ph.D.

Thesis: Determining how intracellular bacteria pathogens interact with the human genome

Riley Wedan

Mentor: Sara Nowinski, Ph.D.

Natasha Zandstra, B.S.

Mentor: Hui Shen, Ph.D.