Jobs
Faculty Positions - Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Posted 11 Aug 2023
Employer
Van Andel Institute
Location
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Principal Investigator
Contact
Apply with:
- A cover letter highlighting key qualifications.
- A current curriculum vitae.
- Names and contact information of three references.
- A two to three page Research Statement and a list of three publications that best epitomize your relevant skills related to this opening.
Please direct questions about these positions to Eric Miller, B.S., Director of Talent & Employee Engagement at Eric.Miller@VAI.org or Darren Moore, Department Chair and Professor, and chair of the search committee (Darren.Moore@vai.org).
Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the positions are filled.
Description
Van Andel Institute (VAI) is an independent nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations. It is currently inviting applications for faculty positions at the level of assistant pofessor within its Department of Neurodegenerative Science to focus on Parkinson’s disease, related movement disorders, motor neuron disease, or dementias. Applications may also be considered from highly accomplished scientists at the level of associate or full professor with a specific focus on Parkinson’s disease.
The Department of Neurodegenerative Science has a primary focus on the etiological mechanisms and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The Department is composed of seven Principal Investigators, with expertise spanning functional genomics, biomarkers, cell biology, neuropathology, neurocircuitry, iPSCs, animal models, and therapeutic development.
The successful applicant is expected to complement the strengths and expertise of existing faculty. Research areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, the role of neuroinflammation and the immune system, glial cell biology, autophagy/lysosomal biology, vesicular sorting pathways, protein pathologies, and synaptic function. Applicants employing novel technologies and/or disease models are especially encouraged.
Thanks largely to the generous endowment bestowed by the Van Andel Family, you will benefit from a highly competitive research support package, which includes:
- Robust start-up packages
- Substantial annual budget, in perpetuity
- 100 percent internal support for faculty members’ salary and benefits
- Dedicated administrative support
- Stipend support for one graduate student and half of the stipend for a second graduate student
- Supplemental salary support for postdoctoral fellows
- Exceptional research and operations services
- Support from dedicated Core Technologies and Services. Core services include: Cryo-EM; Metabolomics and Bioenergetics; Bioinformatics and Biostatistics; Optical Imaging; Flow Cytometry; Genomics; Pathology and Biorepository; Vivarium and Transgenics
VAI is also home to the West Michigan Neurodegenerative Diseases (MiND) Program, which provides investigators with access to:
- Human postmortem brain tissue from the VAI Brain Bank.
- Patient biofluid samples
- State-of-the-art iPSC Neurodegeneration Platform and high-throughput imaging resource
- Internal pilot funding
Requirements
The assistant professor must be an exceptional, early career scientist who would flourish in and enrich VAI’s research environment. He or she will be expected to develop an ambitious, innovative, extramurally funded and independent research program. Applicants for associate or full professor are expected to be recognized leaders of international standing in the Parkinson’s field, with mature research programs, and possess active NIH grant funding.
Individuals will be evaluated upon the following criteria:
- A relevant Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree
- Postdoctoral training
- Exceptional publication record in peer-reviewed journals
- A strong record of research accomplishments
- A well-developed research plan
- A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion