Postdoctoral Fellow Membrane Protein

Two postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratories of Drs. Juan Du and Wei Lü at Van Andel Institute

The Du Lab and the Lü Lab (dululabs.com) are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of how the body perceives sensory information (e.g. taste, smell, vision, and temperature), transmits signals to the brain, and generates responses. We focus on ion channels involved in the basic senses. We employ a range of structural and biophysical approaches, including single-particle cryo-EM, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and other biochemical methods. The cryo-EM facility at Van Andel Institute hosts a Titan Krios equipped with a K3 camera, and a Talos Arctica equipped with a K2 camera.

For more information, please visit our lab website: dululabs.com

Van Andel Institute (VAI) provides postdoctoral training opportunities to scientists beginning their research careers. The fellowships are to help promising scientists advance their knowledge and research experience and at the same time support the research endeavors of VAI under the mentorship of a VAI Faculty member.

While this project is currently funded, an integral part of postdoctoral training is the process of preparing a research proposal and writing a fellowship application. All VAI Postdoctoral Fellows are encouraged to apply for external funding as soon as it is practical and reasonable after hire. Receiving a fellowship award provides recognition for both the fellow and VAI!

Postdoctoral Fellows are full-time employees and receive a competitive annual salary beginning at $70,000.

Learn more about VAI’s dedication to investing in postdoctoral trainees and the recently announced salary increase here.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Employer-sponsored life and AD&D insurance
• Additional voluntary life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible-spending accounts for health and child/elder care
• 401 K retirement savings plans with employee/employer contributions
• Paid vacation, holidays, personal days
• Relocation Assistance
• If you have questions about the application process or working at VAI you are welcome to email Megan Doerr, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Megan.Doerr@vai.org .

VAI recognizes that selecting where to complete a postdoctoral fellowship is a significant decision for postdoctoral fellows. VAI has a dedicated Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, which provides a comprehensive professional development program.

Qualifications:

• PhD
• Experience in structural biology, membrane protein biochemistry, or ion channel electrophysiology is preferred, but not required.

To Apply:

The Institute is located in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. 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, theatres, museums, sports and concerts. The safe and clean downtown is surrounded by an eclectic mix of walk-able neighborhoods and natural areas. 


With a medical and life sciences industry boom, strong entrepreneurial activity, dedication to green building and living, and innovative employers, Grand Rapids’ diverse economy continues to grow, offering endless career opportunities.

At Van Andel Institute, the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. As a condition of employment at Van Andel Institute, all employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. “Full vaccination” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks since a single-dose vaccine has been administered.

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 and alcohol-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.