Ph.D. Program in Toxicology Welcome! This graduate program in Toxicology builds upon our medical school’s strength in environmental health research. Areas of emphasis include neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology, osteotoxicology, carcinogenesis, and molecular, pulmonary, reproductive and developmental toxicology. It is administered by the Department of Environmental Medicine.

Our program is one of the best Toxicology Ph.D. programs in the nation. Since the first degree was awarded in 1970, our graduates have been making significant contributions to science through their positions in academia, government, pharmaceutical and chemical companies, and research institutes. Their graduate training has also proven broad enough to qualify them for a wide variety of careers, from teaching toxicology at the college level, to engaging in forensic toxicology and criminal investigation, to helping set national environmental health policy. Over 160 students have earned the doctorate and about 30-40 Ph.D. students are generally in residence.

Faculty Research Programs range across the entire spectrum of toxicology, from molecular mechanisms to human populations, and address important human environmental health concerns, including endocrine disrupters, carcinogens, immunotoxicants and neurotoxicants. Faculty members are interested in the possible role of toxicants in disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, osteoporosis, autism, Parkinsonism, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some investigators organize their research around specific chemicals like mercury, lead or TCDD (dioxin), and others are involved with forensic toxicology.

The Toxicology Picnic photographs (2009) are now available. Some special strengths of our program Interdisciplinary research and training, with faculty from 13 departments within the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Faculty members are internationally recognized, well-funded, fully committed to graduate education. They have proven track records in mentoring students to the PhD degree. Supported in part by a Toxicology Training Grant (T32 ES07026) from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the largest basic science training grant at this university, with continuous funding since 1966. In addition to the $25,500 stipend, single health plan coverage and travel to scientific meetings is provided to all trainees. Outstanding applicants may qualify for Toxicology Scholar awards of up to $5,000 to supplement the stipend. All students admitted receive a full tuition scholarship. There is a full-time program coordinator. Housed within the Department of Environmental Medicine, which ranks 7th in National Institutes of Health funding among comparable departments. Collaborative atmosphere among students, faculty, and other departments. Science outreach and education are important components of our department. Graduate students may participate in these programs as part of their development as scientists and educators. Competitive placement of graduates in academia, government, and industry (See Career Options). Post-doctoral fellows are also supported by our NIEHS training grant as well as on research grants. Consult program faculty or Dr. Ned Ballatori, Program Director, about possible positions (Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Box EHSC, 575 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, Ned_Ballatori@urmc.rochester.edu)

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Many of our students have recently received awards for their outstanding achievments in the field of toxicology: Jamie J. (O’Brien) Bernard received the Harold C. Hodge Award for “especially meritorious research.” This award is given for the best PhD thesis in the Environmental Health Sciences. Whitney Christian and Melissa Badding received Bristol-Meyers Squibb Research Awards. Samuel Caito received the William F. Neuman award for his exemplary citizenship and scholarship in the Toxicology Training Program. Ph.D. student Jamie J. (O’Brien) Bernard and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Rick Stahlhut both received Robert F. Infurna awards. This award was started in 1998 to recognize authors of the “best research papers in toxicology.” Their respective winning articles are: O’Brien, J.J., Spinelli, S.L., Tober, J., Blumberg, N., Francis C.W., Taubman, M.B., Palis, J., Seweryniak, K.E., Gertz, J.M., & Phipps, R.P.   15-deoxy-D12,14-PGJ2 enhances platelet production from megakaryocytes. Blood 112:4051-4060, 2008. Stahlhut, R.W., Welshons, W.V. & Swan, S.H.   Bisphenol A data in NHANES suggest longer than expected half-life, substantial non-food exposure, or both. Environmental Health Perspectives 117:784-789, 2009. Amber Rinderknecht (postdoc), Jessie Shi, Sarah Latchney, Xianglu Han, Fanny Casado, Samuel Caito, Kurt Bertram, and Randi Benson all received travel grants for various toxicology conferences/events.   Jennifer Head was awarded a Bristol–Meyers Squibb / University of Rochester collaborative initiative research award for her work investigating the relationship between AhR, iNOS and neutrophil recruitment during Influenza A virus infection. Jennifer was also recognized as authoring a review article that has been published in Biochemical Pharmacology and was featured in the NIEHS newsletter this May. Jamie J. (&’Brien) Bernard received the 1st place Society of Toxicology Drug Discovery Specialty Section’s Emil A. Pfizer award at the annual SOT meeting in Baltimore.   Bethany Winans received the URMC Graduate Alumni Fellowship Award. This award is designed to recognize students just entering the graduate program at URMC who show promise for exceptional accomplishment in the program.   Betina Lew received an Outstanding Postdoctoral award from the Women in Toxicology special interest group of the Society of Toxicology. The award recognizes academic achievement, leadership, and service.

Shujie (Jessie) Shi and her mentor, Ned Ballatori, after she had presented her PhD thesis defense seminar, September 24, 2009. She will take a postdoctoral position at the University of Pittsburgh.

Brittany Black, summer undergraduate student in the SURF exchange program, has been awarded the prize for best poster and oral presentation. Here she is with co-author Dr. David Adenuga and her mentor, Professor Irfan Rahman. The title of the poster is “Effect of cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress on cytokine production in transformed lung epithelial cells.” It is here.

Sarah Latchney attended the 25th International Neurotoxicology Conference in Israel and received first place in the Graduate Student Poster Competition. Professors Bernie Weiss and Lisa Opanashuk also attended. Only Lisa got to ride the camel.

Jonathan Holz gave his Qualifying Oral presentation on June 19th on “Low Level Lead Exposure Generates ROS in Articular Chondroctyes and Disrupts Maintenance of Articular Cartilage.” His mentor is Dr. J. Edward Puzas.

Sophia Fang, Ned Ballatori and Na Li at Graduation 2009.

Prospective students visited the basic science programs at the Medical Center in early February, 2009.

Our faculty, students and prospective students were temporarily deprived of their shoes while at dinner in the toxicology program director’s home.