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- Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Research (Ph.D.)
For Additional Information:
Request More Information Form SOM Graduation and InvestitureHannah Raines
Marketing and Recruitment Specialist
Phone: (304) 696-3365
Email: raines73@marshall.edu
Andrew M. Stephenson
Assistant Graduate Recruiter
Phone: (304) 696-7279
Email: stephenson44@marshall.edu
Marlenea Brand, MPA
Administrative Director of Graduate Studies
Phone: (304) 696-7399
Email: brandm@marshall.edu
Students in the Biomedical Research Ph.D. program will take an interdisciplinary approach to, and develop a broad basis in, biomedical research. As part of the interdisciplinary approach, Ph.D. students in the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine (MU JCESOM) graduate program will cross departmental boundaries and conduct research with a faculty mentor in one of the following research clusters - Cell Biology Research Cluster, Obesity and Related Diseases Cluster, Neurobiology and Addiction Research Cluster, Toxicology and Environment Health Research Cluster, Cardiovascular Disease Research Cluster - see areas below..
Areas of Research | |
Obesity Related Disorders | Pulmonary Disease |
Epithelial Transport | Addiction Neurobiology |
Regulation of Intestinal Sodium, Glucose, Amino Acid Absorption | Diabetes |
Intestinal Inflammation | Hypertension |
Intestinal Microbiome | Bone Growth Abnormalities |
Toxicology | Lipid Homeostasis |
Breast Cancer | Neurosciences |
Cardiovascular Disorders | Cell Biology |
Endometriosis |
Centers of research interest include
Submit form below with any questions you have about the program.
When entering the Biomedical Research Ph.D. program, students are required to complete rotations through a minimum of three different laboratories, each rotation consisting of at least 120 hours. These rotations help students build rapport with faculty and students, decide on their preferred area of research, and learn new research techniques. Students have the opportunity to rotate among labs within the following clusters:
Students are expected to complete the requirements of the Biomedical Research Ph.D. degree within five years. Students who possess a Master of Science (M.S) in Biomedical Research or the equivalent when admitted typically require three to four years to complete the Ph.D. degree.
Students in the Biomedical Research Ph.D. program complete the core courses below. After the first year, students will then begin taking courses in their desired research cluster.
Students select an advisory committee no later than the end of the first year of graduate education. The committee usually consists of at least five faculty members with appropriate expertise. Also, students MUST successfully complete additional courses as determined by their advisory committee. Please consult the advisory committee to learn more about their respective requirements.
Year I - Summer III |
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Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
BMR 785 | Introduction to Research | 3 |
BMR 882 | Research | 1 |
Year I - Fall Semester | ||
BMR 601 | Introduction to Nucleic Acids and Proteins | 3 |
BMR 602 | Introduction to Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
BMR 661 | Communication Skills I | 1 |
BMR 680 | Seminar | 1 |
BMR 882 | Research | 1 |
Year I - Spring Semester | ||
BMR 603 | Regulation of Cell Function | 2 |
BMR 604 | Cellular Basis of Disease | 1 |
BMR 661 | Communication Skills II | 1 |
BMR 680 | Seminar | 1 |
Required Research Cluster Courses |
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Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
PHS 667 | Experimental Approaches to Physiology | 4 |
PHS 666 | Physiology of the Cell | 4 |
BMR 665 | Cardiovascular Disease Colloquium | 3 (min) |
BMR 664 | Obesity and Related Diseases Colloquium | 3 (min) |
Suggested Electives | ||
BIC 638 | Advanced Molecular Genetics | 3 |
BIC 643 | Signal Transduction | 3 |
BMR 641 | Molecular Development | 3 |
BMR 631 | Neurosci/DevBio Lit Review | 1 |
Other Activities include attending one or more national scientific meeting to present the results of their research.
Students are required to select a minimum of 5 credit hours of courses from the list below (including at least one course from list A). Please note that Cancer Biology is offered in the spring every other year. Cancer Colloquium is offered every semester.
Students are required to take a minimum of four hours of electives in areas agreed upon by their advisory committees. One of the strengths of the CBRC is that it allows students to specialize according to their individual interests. Students have the opportunity to select from a wide variety of electives. For example, students in the cluster may have specific interests in epigenetics or signaling pathways in cancer research, or develop complementary skills in microscopy.
Required Research Cluster Courses |
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Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
List A | ||
BMR 651 | Cancer Biology | 4 |
PHS 666 | Physiology of the Cell | 3 |
PHS 667 | Experimental Approaches to Physiology | 4 |
List B | ||
BMR 679 | Special Problems | 1 |
BMR 676 | Cell Biology Research Cluster Journal Club | 1 |
BMS 652 | Cancer Biology Colloquium | 1 |
BMR 631 | Neuroscience and Developmental Biology Literature Review | 1 |
ACB 640 | Current Topics in Cellular Biology | 1 or 2 |
Suggested Electives | ||
BIC 643 | Molecular Signal Transduction | 3 |
BIC 638 | Advanced Molecular Genetics | 3* |
CHM 678 | Applied Microscopy in Research | 4 |
BMS 670 | Molecular Cloning | 2 |
MCB 648 | Molecular Basis of Pathogenesis | 3 |
BMR 641 | Molecular Development | 3 |
*Only offered every odd-number year.
Required Research Cluster Courses |
||
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
PHS 628* | Mammalian Neurophysiology | 2 |
PHS 629* | Mammalian Physiology | 6 |
PHS 667* | Experimental Approaches to Physiology | 4 |
PHS 666 | Physiology of the Cell | 3 |
BMS 665 | CDRC Colloquium | 1 |
Suggested Electives | ||
PHS 638 | Advanced Cardiovascular Physiology | 1-2 |
BIC 643 | Signal Transduction | 3 |
BMS 670 | Molecular Cloning | 2 |
*PHS 667 is an alternate to (PHS 628 and PHS 629), so we may need to add that statement.
Required Research Cluster Courses |
||
Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
BMR 785 | Intro to Research | 3 |
BMR 882 | Research | 1 |
BMR 601 | Intro to DNA, RNA, and Proteins | 3 |
BMR 602 | Intro to Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
BMR 660 | Communication I | 1 |
BMR 680 | Seminar | 1 |
BMR 603 | Regulation of Cell Function | 2 |
BMR 604 | Cell Basis of Disease | 1 |
BMR 617 | BMS Statistics | 3 |
BMR 644 | Research Conduct | 1 |
BMR 661 | Communication II | 1 |
BMS 631 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
Suggested Electives | ||
PHS 628 | Mammalian Neurophysiology | 2 |
BMS 600 | Neuroanatomy I | 2 |
BMS 628 | Neuroscience I | 3 |
Required Research Cluster Courses |
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Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
PMC 650 | Toxicology | 3 |
PMC 655 | Toxicology Reviews | 1 each (3 total) |
Suggested Electives | ||
PHS 667 | Experimental Approached to Physiology | 3 |
PMC 621 | Medical Pharmacology I | 6 |
PMC 621 | Medical Pharmacology II | 2 |
BMS 670 | Molecular Cloning | 2 |
BIC 643 | Signal Transduction | 3 |
MCB 648 | Molecular Basis of Pathogenesis | 3 |
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: University of Lagos
adeluola@marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: Marshall University
adkins1332@marshall.edu
Mentor: Brandon Henderson, Ph.D.
Project Name: To understand the effects that electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) flavors have on nicotine addiction and neurological function
Undergraduate Institution: Lake Michigan College, University of Findlay
cooper394@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: Monica Valentovic, Ph.D.
Project Name: Examining the effects of the e-cigaratte flavoring cinnamaldehyde in kidney proximal tube (HK2) cells.
Undergraduate Institution: Marshall University
saunders29@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: Marshall University
evans327@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: Louise Risher, Ph.D.
Project Name: Elucidating the intersection of adolescent binge drinking and blast traumatic brain injury on astrocyte function
Undergraduate Institution: Lincoln University of PA
harris455@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: Wright State University hart120@marshall.edu
Mentor: Uma Sundaram, M.D.
Project Name: Regulation of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) absorption in chronic intestinal inflammation
Undergraduate Institution: Primeasia University, Bangladesh
islam8@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maine
leonardo@marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: University of Pittsburgh
olszewski2@marshall.edu
Mentor: Lydia Bogomolnaya, Ph.D.
Project Name: Pathogenesis of Gram-Negative Bacterial Infection in a Diabetic Host
Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina A&T State University
sierra3@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: TBD
Project Name: TBD
Undergraduate Institution: Manchester University tettehquarsh@marshall.edu
Mentor: Uma Sundaram, M.D.
Project Name: Glutamine transporter and its regulation in inflammation and obesity
Undergraduate Institution: Caldwell College
tsopmegha@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: Louise Risher, Ph.D.
Project Name: Investigating the role of astrocytes in the development of addiction and how acute and chronic binge ethanol exposure influences astrocyte function.
Undergraduate Institution: University of Pikeville
walker583@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: Uma Sundaram, M.D.
Project Name: Unique regulation of glucose absorption in the normal and chronically inflamed mammalian small intestine
Undergraduate Institution: University of Ghana
wellington3@live.marshall.edu
Mentor: Maria Serrat, Ph.D.
Project Name: The role of the IGF-1 signaling axis in obesity-induced linear growth acceleration.
Undergraduate Institution: Chaminade University of Honolulu
song27@live.marshall.edu
Ph.D. Alumni from 2005 to 2010 |
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Name | Hometown | Current Job |
Ryan Morrison, '06 | Huntington, WV | Internal Medicine, Charleston, WV |
Marcus Terneus, '06 | Huntington, WV | Project Leader R&D, Boehringer Ingelheim Biberach an der Riß, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
Sean Thatcher, '07 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor, Temple University, Harrisburg, PA |
Jason Black, '07 | Crown City, Ohio | Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV |
Aaron Holley, '08 | Milton, WV | N/a |
Zina-Ann Cardozo, '08 | Huntington, WV | N/a |
Eun Kim, '09 | Huntington, WV | N/a |
Kari Wilson, '09 | Ashland, KY | N/a |
Fredrick Damron, '09 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Director of Vaccine Development Center, West Virginia University |
Kan Huang, '09 | Glen Oaks, NY | N/a |
Dawn Turner, '09 | Barboursville, WV | Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Charleston, Charleston, WV |
Nicholas Adkins, '09 | Huntington, WV | N/a |
Rabaa Al-Rousan, '09 | Charleston, WV | N/a |
Amy Nash, '09 | Indianapolis, IN | N/a |
Sandeep Joshi, '10 | Rockville, MD | National Cancer Institute, University of Maryland |
Lauren Waugh, '10 | Huntington, WV | Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Marshall University, Huntington, WV |
Jennifer Napper, '10 | Portsmouth, OH | Assistant Professor, Shawnee State University |
Melinda Varney, '10 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor, Marshall University School of Pharmacy |
Ph.D. Alumni from 2011 to 2015 |
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Name | Hometown | Current Job |
Jasjeet Bhullar, '11 | Elkridge, MD | N/a |
Yue Huang, '11 | Huntington, WV | Mount Sinair School of Medicine - New York |
Sunil Kakarla, '11 | N/a | Veterinarian in North Carolina |
Anjaiah Katta, '11 | N/a | Veterinarian in Tennessee |
Juliana Akinsete, '11 | Proctorville, OH | N/a |
Linda Eastham, '12 | Crown City, OH | Progenesis Technologies, LLC in Huntington, West Virginia |
Siva Nalabotu, '12 | N/a | Senior Regulatory Advisor - Product Safety Assessment, Elanco, Indianapolis, IN |
James Brown, '12 | Huntington, WV | Hospital Pharmacist, VA Medical Center, Huntington, WV |
Madhukar Kolli, '12 | Huntington, WV | Associate Veterinarian |
Aileen Marcelo, '12 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV |
Anne Silvis, '12 | Hurricane, WV | Research Assistant Professor for Marshall's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Johannes Fahrmann, '13 | Davis, CA | McCombs Institute for Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
Thomas Withers, '13 | Huntington, WV | Principal Research Scientist at Progenesis Technologies, LLC. |
Jacqueline Fannin, '14 | Paintsville, KY | N/a |
Benjamin Owen, '14 | West Paducah, KY | Morehouse School of Medicine |
Meagan Valentine, '14 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, WV |
Mary Wolf, '14 | Sumter, NC | Vaccine Development Post-Doctoral Fellow, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV |
Nandini Manne, '14 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor of Public Health, Marshall University, Huntington, WV |
Miranda Carper, '14 | Marietta, OH | Post Doc at UNC-Chapel Hill |
Sarah Daron-Mathis, '15 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc at Vanderbilt University |
Rounak Nande, '15 | Annadale, VA | Scientist II, Genocea Biosciences Inc., Cambridge, MA |
Ph.D. Alumni from 2016-Present |
||
Name | Hometown | Current Job |
Justin Tomblin, '16 | Huntington, WV | Technical Support Specialist, Novogene Corporation |
Christopher Racine, '16 | Huntington, WV | Producer Symmetry Financial Group |
Kristeena Ray-Wright, '17 | Huntington, WV | Senior Process Engineer, Pfizer, Raleigh, NC |
Adam Fischer, '17 | Linn, WV | N/a |
Rachel Murphy, '17 | Okenos, MI | Clinical Trial Specialist, PRA Health Science, Kansas City, KS |
Sean Piwarski, '18 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc at Duke |
Mani Maheshwari, '18 | Farmington Hills, MI | Post Doc - Henry Ford Health System |
Holly Racine, '18 | Huntington, WV | Assistant Professor, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV |
Taha Ahmad, '19 | Huntington, WV | U.S. government Secret Service Agency |
Deborah Amos, '19 | Parkersburg, WV | Professor, Ohio Valley University |
Molly Butts, '19 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc, Marshall University |
Jamie Friedman, '19 | Durham, NC | Scientist II, Bioagilytix, Raleigh, NC |
Niraj Nepal, '19 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc, Marshall University, Huntington, WV |
Jacaline Parkman, '19 | Huntington, WV | Scientist II, Bioagilytix, Raleigh, NC |
Dakota Ward, '19 | N/a | Scientist I, Bioagilytix, Raleigh, NC |
Roy Al Ahmar '20 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc at Marshall University |
Laura Kutz '20 | Huntington, WV | Post Doc at Marshall University |
Caroline Hunter, '20 | N/a | TBD |
Lexie Blalock, '20 | N/a | National Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH |
Ph.D. Alumni from 2021-Present |
||
Name | Hometown | Current Job |
Nick Bacon '21 | Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO | |
Sarah Brunty '21 | Laboratory Manager for Dr. Price Dickson at Marshall University, Huntington, WV | |
Sarah Stevens '21 | Instructor at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA | |
Shreya Mukherji '21 | Scientist Group Leader at Eurofins PSS Insourcing Solution, Cambridge, MA | |
Adam Belcher '21 | Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Huntington, WV | |
Christian Harris '22 | Post Doctoral Research Fellow at North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC | |
Skylar Cooper '22 | Medical School at Marshall's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine | |
Errin Brooks '22 | Residency at West Virginia University School of Medicine Division of General Surgery, Morgantown, WV | |
Jeremiah Matson '22 | Residency at University of Utah Health Internal Medicine/Research, Salt Lake City, UT |
Vice Dean, Office of Research & Graduate Education
Phone: (304) 691-1841
sundaramu@marshall.edu
Assistant Dean, Office of Research and Graduate Education
Phone: (304) 696-3523
egleton@marshall.edu
Administrative Director of Graduate Studies
Phone: (304) 696-7399
brandm@marshall.edu