Biography
Dr. Ubels taught human physiology and cell physiology during his time at Calvin University. He led an interim sailing course in Florida and an eye care service learning interim course in Tijuana, Mexico. During his years at Calvin, he mentored 56 students in his research lab. Over the past 44 years, he has published 104 papers and chapters on every part of the eye of fish, amphibians and mammals, including humans. During his retirement, he teaches part time at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and is a guest scientist at the Van Andel Research Institute. Dr. Ubels enjoys fishing and, with his wife, sails, kayaks and travels.
Education
- B.S., Biology, Calvin College, 1974
- Ph.D., Animal Physiology, Michigan State University, 1979
- Post-doctoral Fellow, Physiology and Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1980-82
Professional Experience
- Instructor, Biology, Calvin College, 1980
- Scientific Consultant, Alcon Laboratories (Fort Worth, TX) 1980-2012
- Associate Professor of Physiology and Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI) 1982-1991
- Associate professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1991-1995
- Professor, Department of Biology, Calvin University (Grand Rapids, MI) 1995-2016
- Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, Calvin University (Grand Rapids, MI) 2016-present
- Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology, Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, MI) 1996-present
- Visiting Scientist, Van Andel Research Institute (Grand Rapids, MI) 2003-2005
- Visiting Professor, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) 2010
- Professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (Grand Rapids, MI) 2016-present
- Guest Scientist, Van Andel Research Institute (Grand Rapids, MI) 2017-present
Academic Interests
Research and Professional Interests
Before retirement, with grant support from the National Eye Institute, Dr. Ubels studied function of the lacrimal gland, tear fluid and cornea as related to dry eye disease. In collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry, he participated in the development and marketing of several artificial tear solutions. He is currently doing research at the Van Andel Research Institute on the control of development of the retinal vasculature.
