More Than Research: A Well-Rounded Ph.D. Experience
Van Andel Institute Graduate School offers a welcoming, collaborative environment that fosters professional growth and scientific excellence. This page highlights resources that enhance our Ph.D. student experience, such as support services, our graduate student community and the perks of living in Grand Rapids. Our students benefit from modern lab spaces, professional development workshops and access to a network of peers and faculty. Wellness and social programming create a well-rounded experience that complements Ph.D. training.
- Cohort-based learning
- Mentorship by exceptional faculty
- Immersive lab experiences
- Community and wellness support
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.
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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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Sophia Agrusa
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Elshaimaa Ali, M.S.
Research Focus: Characterization of how chromatin reader SP140 regulates gene expression
Ebenezer Asiedu
Research Focus: Defining the metabolic and epigenetic basis of dendritic cell function to advance immunotherapeutic innovation
Laura Brasseur
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Morgan Canfield
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Richard Cassidy
Research Focus: The role of arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) and metabolic dysregulation in arsenic-induced lung carcinogenesis
Ming Fung (Eric) Cheung, M.Sc.
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Arkajit De
Research Focus: Engineering a novel biochemical tool to investigate chromatin and epigenetic regulation
Svetlana Djirackor
Research Focus: Parallel profiling of the epigenomic and transcriptomic landscape across the three major ovarian cancer histotypes
Michelle Dykstra, B.S.
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Katelyn Ernst
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Ying Fei Liew
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Cameron Forton
Research Focus: Immunoregulatory tryptophan metabolites in gut-brain communication: Mechanisms of behavioral and immune modulation
Abigail Godec
Research Focus: Involution in spatiotemporal motion: Postpartum breast cancer risk altered in Nf1-deficient models
Lauren Harmon, B.S.
Research Focus: Genetic epidemiology of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Qualia Hooker, M.S.
Research Focus: Determinants of treatment outcomes in multiple myeloma
Vanessa Howland
Research Focus: Investigating viral infection as a potential trigger for Parkinson’s disease
Sofia Ievleva
Research Focus: Investigating the structural pharmacology of trpm4 channel
Lyric Johnson
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Faith Kaluba
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Hyeon Jin Kim
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Justin Kulchycki, M.S.
Research Focus: Decoding genetic and environmental interplay in the developmental programming of metabolic phenotypes
Yanqing Liu, M.Sc.
Research Focus: Mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities of DNMTi-associated epigenetic plasticity
Noah Lubben
Research Focus: Defining the molecular trajectory of neurons and local response to alpha-synuclein aggregates
Miguel Martinez
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Mitch McDonald
Thesis title: Characterizing the probabilistic inheritance of non-genetic obesity in a mouse model of Neuronatin deficiency.
Shantinique Miller
Thesis: Determining how intracellular bacteria pathogens interact with the human genome
Yakum Benard Mingo
Research Focus: The interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction and alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson's disease
Mireya Mota
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Ahn (Audrey) Nguyen
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Andrea Parham, M.S.
Research Focus: m6A RNA methylation-dependent regulation at endogenous retrovirus loci
Tian (Devin) Qiu, M.S.
Research Focus: Spatial multi-omics profiling of DNMT inhibitor-treated solid tumor biopsies
April Rickle
Research Focus: Development of a Drosophila model of Adrenoleukodystrophy
Lillian Sauline
Research Focus: Defining the role of AP-1 in promoting endocrine resistance acquisition in NF1-deficient breast cancer
Sanskriti Saxena
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Kelly Sokol, B.S.
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Ellen Stirtz, B.S.
Thesis: The combined effect of maternal obesity and autism spectrum disorder-associated genetic mutations on neurodevelopment.
Yangzhou (Suzanne) Su
First-year student. Research focus to be determined.
Riley Wedan
Research Focus: Upstream requirements for the regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics by the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein
Joshua Wierenga
Research Focus: A role for intestinal-derived peptide YY in modulating anxiety
Natasha Zandstra, B.S.
Research Focus: Identifying non-genetic determinants of stem-like phenotypes in high grade serous ovarian cancer
Mehrshid Faraji Zonooz, M.Sc.
Research Focus: Integrative genomic analysis of NF1: Bridging hereditary and sporadic breast cancer
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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 ManagementIndividual 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 InstituteCommunity Building Activities
• Social events hosted by Graduate Student Association
• Monthly coffee chat
• Monthly first-year meetingsMental 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 StrengthsFinderProfessional 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
Research Focus: The role of arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) and metabolic dysregulation in arsenic-induced lung carcinogenesis
Shantinique Miller
Thesis: Determining how intracellular bacteria pathogens interact with the human genome
Riley Wedan
Research Focus: Upstream requirements for the regulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics by the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein
Natasha Zandstra, B.S.
Research Focus: Identifying non-genetic determinants of stem-like phenotypes in high grade serous ovarian cancer