Neurodegenerative Disease Faculty Joint Appointments: Van Andel Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, and University of Michigan Health West

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.

Neurodegenerative Disease

Joint Appointments: Van Andel Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, and University of Michigan Health West

Van Andel Institute (VAI), the University of Michigan Medical School (UM), and University of Michigan Health West (UMHW) invite applications for two physician-scientist faculty positions focused on movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.

This recruitment represents a strategic, long-term partnership among three organizations with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to advancing translational research and patient-centered clinical care in movement disorders. Together, VAI, UM, and UMHW have intentionally designed these positions to integrate discovery science, academic neurology, and high-quality clinical care within a collaborative, translational framework.

Appointments will be at the Associate or Full Professor level, with consideration given to exceptional Assistant Professor candidates whose experience, trajectory, and vision align with the goals of this partnership.

The Partnership Vision

This collaboration brings together:

• Van Andel Institute, an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute internationally recognized for excellence in discovery science and sustained investigator support;

• The University of Michigan Medical School, a leading academic medical center with deep expertise in neurology, neuroscience, and interdisciplinary research; and

• University of Michigan Health West, a growing regional health system in Grand Rapids offering high-volume subspecialty clinical care and an expanding infrastructure for clinical research.

The shared goal of this partnership is to strengthen the translation of scientific discovery into clinical insight and impact for patients with movement disorders, while fostering durable, bidirectional collaboration between laboratory investigators and clinicians.

Position A: Research-Intensive Physician-Scientist (Movement Disorders)

This position is intended for a physician-scientist whose primary focus is laboratory-based, translational research in movement disorders, supported by a focused clinical neurology practice.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead an independent, extramurally funded research program focused on movement disorders and related neurodegenerative conditions

• Conduct translationally relevant research that bridges fundamental discovery and clinical application

• Maintain a focused clinical practice in neurology that informs and strengthens their research

• Collaborate actively with clinicians and investigators across VAI, UM, and UMHW

• Contribute to mentoring, scientific leadership, and collaborative research initiatives within the partnership

This role is well-suited for candidates with established or emerging national leadership in movement disorders research and a strong commitment to translational science.

Position B: Clinically Intensive Physician-Scientist (Movement Disorders)

This position is intended for a physician-scientist whose primary focus is patient-centered clinical care in movement disorders, integrated with meaningful participation in collaborative, translational research.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide expert clinical care to patients with movement disorders

• Contribute to translational research through clinical insight, patient cohorts, clinical data, biospecimen collection, and leadership in clinical trials and observational studies

• Work closely with laboratory-based investigators to ensure clinical relevance and impact of ongoing research efforts

• Serve as a key clinical partner within the broader movement disorders research ecosystem

An independent laboratory program and federal research funding are not required for this role. Candidates with an interest in developing a larger research presence over time will be supported, and the balance of clinical and research activities may be tailored based on individual strengths and interests.

Intentional Collaboration

While these positions are recruited independently and evaluated on their own merits, they are intentionally designed to complement one another. Together, the roles strengthen the partnership’s ability to advance team-based translational research, ensuring that clinical insight informs discovery science and that laboratory findings are rapidly translated to patient care.

Research Focus Areas

Research interests may include, but are not limited to:

• Neuroinflammation and glial cell biology

• Autophagy, lysosomal pathways and vesicular sorting pathways

• Protein pathologies and strains

• Synaptic and mitochondrial dysfunction

• Biomarker and therapeutic development

Applicants employing novel technologies, experimental platforms, and disease models are especially encouraged.

Van Andel Institute Environment

Van Andel Institute is an independent nonprofit biomedical research and science education organization committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations. VAI is known for an agile, collaborative research culture and for breaking down traditional barriers to scientific innovation.

VAI is home to 39 research laboratories spanning neurodegeneration, epigenetics, cell biology, structural biology, and metabolism. The Department of Neurodegenerative Science includes seven Principal Investigators with expertise in functional genomics, biomarkers, cell biology, neuropathology, neurocircuitry, iPSC-based modeling, animal models, and therapeutic development.

Faculty Support at Van Andel Institute

Faculty support at VAI is exceptional, made possible by a generous endowment from the Van Andel family. Support includes:

• Highly competitive start-up packages

• Substantial annual research budgets, provided in perpetuity (Position A)

• Internal support for faculty salary and benefits

• Dedicated administrative and operational support

• Stipend support for one graduate student and partial support for a second (Position A)

• Supplemental salary support for postdoctoral fellows

Faculty also have access to extensive Core Technologies and Services, including:

• Cryo-EM

• Metabolomics and Bioenergetics

• Bioinformatics and Biostatistics

• Optical Imaging

• Flow Cytometry

• Genomics

• Pathology and Biorepository

• Vivarium and Transgenics

Support from the Translational Research Project Management (TRPM) Team which fosters professional relationships between researchers and clinical collaborators.

VAI is home to the West Michigan Neurodegenerative Diseases (MiND) Program, which provides access to:

• Human postmortem brain tissue through the VAI Brain Bank

• Patient biofluid samples

• A state-of-the-art iPSC Neurodegeneration Platform and high-content confocal imaging resources

• Internal pilot funding

University of Michigan Medical School Appointment

Faculty will hold joint academic appointments in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Van Andel Institute, providing access to:

• Collaboration with over 80 full-time neurology faculty

• A broad network of Interdisciplinary clinical and scientific collaborators across the University of Michigan

• A monthly clinic in Ann Arbor, potentially with students and fellow trainees present

• Virtual academic neurology conferences, including grand rounds and clinical and research conferences in movement disorders. Career development programming is also available.

• Membership in the Michigan Neuroscience Institute (MNI), a multidisciplinary community advancing biological, engineering, psychological and computational approaches to neuroscience

University of Michigan Health West Clinical Appointment

Faculty will hold clinical neuroscience appointments at University of Michigan Health West, a 208-bed multispecialty hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offering:

• High-volume inpatient and outpatient clinical care

• Comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, stroke, critical care, diagnostic and interventional radiology services

• A robust clinical research office and institutional review board to support clinical studies

UMHW serves as a key clinical anchor for translational research and regional patient impact.

Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to movement disorders, translational neuroscience, and interinstitutional collaboration.

• Associate or Full Professor candidates are expected to be recognized leaders in their field.

  • For research-intensive candidates, this typically includes an independently funded research program.

  • For clinically intensive candidates, leadership may be demonstrated through depth of clinical expertise, translational research contributions, and sustained engagement in collaborative scientific programs.

• Assistant Professor candidates must be exceptional early-career physician-scientists with strong potential for impact in research and/or clinical care.

Required qualifications include:

• M.D. degree (Ph.D. desirable for research-intensive position)

• Completion of clinical residency and scientific postdoctoral fellowship training

• Board certification in clinical neurology

• An outstanding record of peer-reviewed publications

• A strong record of clinical and/or research accomplishment

• Demonstrated commitment to collaborative, team-based translational research

How to Apply

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing interest and alignment with one or both roles

• A current curriculum vitae

• Names and contact information for three references

• A 2–3 page Research Statement

• A list of three publications exemplifying relevant expertise

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.

Questions may be directed to:
 

Eric Miller, B.S.
Director of Talent & Employee Engagement
Van Andel Institute

Eric.Miller@vai.org

or

Darren Moore, Ph.D.
Department Chair and Professor
Chair, Search Committee
Van Andel Institute
Darren.Moore@vai.org

or

Dawn Olson Kleindorfer, MD

Robert W Brear Professor of Neurology

Chair, Department of Neurology

Professor of Neurology

University of Michigan Medical School

dkleindo@umich.edu

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 excellence through broad participation and diverse perspectives. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences who share our passion for innovation and collaboration.

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.