Dr. Cynthia Kuhn Pharmacology is the study of drug action on living systems. Pharmacology includes studying the actions of drugs, the function of the systems upon which drugs act as well as the identification of new drug targets and new drugs. Pharmacologists use a range of tools from all the basic sciences to explore the action of drugs. These include the modern tools of genomics and informatics and the traditional tools of biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology and physiology. The primary benefit of the PSTP is the training in Pharmacology.
Pharmacology provides a strong foundation for future employment both in academia and in industry.
Approximately half of our graduates pursue academic work after graduation and about half pursue professional jobs in the Pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the PSTP provides financial support in the form of tuition and stipend for two years of graduate work, as well as money to help fund travel to scientific meetings. The only requirements of the program are that the student conduct thesis work related to Pharmacology and take the required program courses. If the student's mentor is not a member of the PSTP, the mentor should join by submitting a CV and membership request. Dr. Richard DiGiulio studies oxidative stress mechanisms of DNA adduct formation and developmental toxicity in fish.