Van Andel Institute (VAI), a world-class biomedical research institute, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is dedicated to improving human health. We are pioneers in the fight against cancer, Parkinson's, and other diseases. We are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and educators.

Diverse backgrounds, expertise and viewpoints are foundational to exceptional science and innovation. Van Andel Institute’s Inspire Fellowship is designed to enhance diversity and increase representation at VAI and in the broader biomedical research community by supporting postdoctoral fellows who identify as members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (as defined by the National Institutes of Health).

The fellowship offers cutting-edge research training in the Institute’s labs, complemented by state-of-the-art Core Technologies and Services and a fellowship-specific professional development activity. Inspire Fellows will emerge from their time at VAI with comprehensive training in their field of interest and a professional foundation from which to launch their independent research careers. Learn more here.

Applications for the Inspire Fellowship are accepted year round and reviewed three times per year-- Jan. 20, May 20 and Sept. 20.

Who is eligible to apply for the VAI Inspire Fellowship?

• Applicants must be within 12 months of completing a Ph.D., M.D. or other appropriate terminal degree

• U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Those who identify as members of an underrepresented racial and/or ethnic group as defined by the National Institutes of Health

What application materials should I prepare?

Prior to starting the application, please prepare the following required materials:

• CV or NIH-style biosketch

• Personal Statement. Please provide an overview of your scientific background, your goals for your postdoctoral training, and why you are interested in VAI and the Inspire Fellowship program. You also may include any personal information you feel is relevant to the evaluation of your application. The statement should be no more than three pages.

• One reference letter

• A list of VAI faculty members with whom you are interested working. Indicate this on your application. Corresponding with a VAI faculty member prior to applying for the Inspire Fellowship is encouraged but not required

Applications for VAI postdoc positions and the Inspire Fellowship are separate. Receipt of the Inspire Fellowship is contingent on an offer of employment for a postdoc position in a VAI lab. We encourage Inspire applicants to apply to open postdoctoral positions of interest and/or contact faculty mentors of interest directly via email after submitting the Inspire Fellowship application.

If you have already spoken with a VAI faculty member about joining their lab or applied for one of our open postdoc positions, there will be space to indicate this on the application. This is encouraged but not required to apply to the Inspire Fellowship.

Questions are welcome! Please contact Dr. Erica Gobrogge, program director of VAI’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and Director of the Inspire Fellowship program, at opa@vai.org.

About Van Andel Institute

Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to nearly 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Our educators develop inquiry-based approaches for K–12 education to help students and teachers prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, while our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology.

VAI is committed to achieving excellence through increasing diversity. We actively encourage applications from women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups.

Van Andel Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer.

As Van Andel Institute is a drug free employer, all prospective new employees undergo a urinalysis/drug test as part of our pre-employment process. This is a 7-panel drug screen and it includes testing for Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, PCP, Barbiturates, and Benzodiazepines.

About Grand Rapids, MI

Van Andel Institute is in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan in the center of the Medical Mile. A remarkable combination of a cosmopolitan atmosphere and small-town warmth, Grand Rapids is known for its philanthropic and sustainability-driven community. It’s fun affordable and family-friendly.

Located on the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids offers all the big-city excitement you'd expect from a million-resident metropolis, featuring hundreds of restaurants and nightspots, theaters, museums, sports and concerts. The safe and clean downtown is surrounded by an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas. The downtown area is safe and clean with an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas.