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 most well-established, research-oriented, 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 150 students have earned the doctorate and about 30-40 Ph.D. students are generally in residence. ------------------------------------ June 10, 2009 We congratulate this year’s toxicology PhD graduates! Zhengyu Yin has taken a postdoctoral position at the National Institute of Environmental Heath Sciences (NIEHS) Sara Saperstein is a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University; Na Li will be attending pharmacy school at St. John Fisher; Jamie J. (O’Brien) Bernard will be a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Diego; Sophia Fang will be a pharmacist in Seattle; Brent Kobielush is now Manager of Toxicology at General Mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Fanny Casado, Samuel Caito, David Adenuga, Michael Madejczyk, Ming Kung, Jennifer Head, Xianglu Han, Sarah Latchney, and Jonathan Holz all achieved their Master’s degrees this year, marking the “halfway point” of the PhD tracks. Many of these students and others 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. Lisa Bottalico was recognized as a Rochester Toxicology Scholar. 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. (O’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.   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. Prospective students visited the basic science programs at the Medical Center in early February, 2009. Some of our advanced students described their research to them at a poster session. Our faculty, students and prospective students were temporarily deprived of their shoes while at dinner in the toxicology program director’s home. 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).