- MCT Program Description
- MCT Research
- MCT Course Requirements
- Current Students and Recent Graduates in MCT
MCT Program Description
The objective of the MCT Concentration is to provide students and postdocs with the skills and knowledge necessary to investigate and elucidate how environmental toxicants/cellular stressors contribute to toxicity and influence human disease outcomes. Our mission is to train the next generation of toxicologists/environmental health scientists to be competent scientists who are capable of conducting high impact independent research as well as working as part of a multidisciplinary team aimed at understanding the deleterious effect of environmental factors on human health and disease.
PhD students acquire a solid background by completing coursework in toxicology, molecular biology, pharmacology, statistics, and pathology. Pre/postdoctoral trainees receive training in ethics, grant writing and oral communication skills. Mentors and committee members of pre/postdoctoral trainees provide training in research skills and knowledge associated with each specific research field in molecular and cellular toxicology. Pre/postdoctoral trainees participate in a weekly departmental seminar program both as members of the audience and as presenters. Each semester a former trainee is invited back to the department to present a seminar and to share their career experiences with current trainees.
If you have questions about the MCT Concentration or would like to arrange a visit to our campus please contact Dr. Jun Ninomiya-Tsuji, the Director of the MCT concentration.
MCT Research
The broad research theme is to understand how toxicants and cellular stressors perturb cellular signaling pathways and deregulate gene expression and how this contributes to toxicity, adverse human health outcomes and human disease. Specific environmental-associated human diseases/health conditions such as asthma, lung fibrosis, reproductive/endocrine abnormalities, developmental abnormalities and cancer as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related toxicity are the focal molecular/cellular research areas. Examples of types of environmental agents that are being investigated include environmental carcinogens, pesticides, particulates, metals, endocrine disrupters and nanoparticles. For more information about MCT faculty research interests, visit the Molecular and Cellular Research page.
MCT Course Requirements
| Core course requirements for all Ph.D. students | |
|---|---|
| TOX 701 | Fundamentals of Toxicology (3 credits) |
| TOX 710 | Molecular & Biochemical Toxicology (3 credits) |
| BCH 553 | Biochemistry of Gene Expression(3 credits) |
| CBS 762 | Principles of Pharmacology (3 credits) |
| ST 511(b) | Experimental Statistics for Biological Sciences (3 credits) |
| TOX 801(c) | Toxicology Seminar (1 credit/Semester) |
| TOX 820 | Responsibility in Science (1 credit) |
- Students who have no previous Biochemistry should also enroll in BCH 451 – Principles of Biochemistry
- Another graduate-level statistics course can be substituted with approval of the student’s committee
- Enrollment is required for each semester registered while in Doctoral Program (6 credits minimum)
| Research requirements for all Ph.D. students | |
|---|---|
| TOX 895 | Doctoral Dissertation Research (6 credits minimum) |
| TOX 896 | Summer Dissertation Research (as needed) |
| TOX 899 | Doctoral Thesis Preparation (as needed) |
| Additional requirements for Molecular & Cellular Toxicology Concentration | |
|---|---|
| CBS 795 | General Pathology I (3 credits) |
| Electives | 6 credits related to Molecular and Cellular Toxicology must be selected |
Normally a total of 72 credit hours is required, with the majority of these credits being dissertation research. See the Graduate School handbook for specific credit hour and residency requirements.
Current Students and Recent Graduates in MCT
The heart and soul of the MCT concentration are the current and former students. Listed below are the names of recent graduates of the MCT concentration along with their thesis titles, the MCT laboratories in which they conducted their doctoral research, and their current research positions. You will also find a list of current students and their areas of research and the laboratories in which they are studying. Feel free to contact any MCT student for information about their specific research project, their laboratory, or the MCT concentration. Complete contact information for all current students may be found on the People/Student page.
Recent MCT Graduates
| Year Graduated | Graduate Name Dissertation Title/Faculty Advisor |
Current Position, Organization, Address, Postdoctoral Position (if prior to current) |
| 2011 | Christopher Sistrunk, PhD The effects of the loss of Skp2 on keratinocyte proliferation and tumorigenesis. Mentor-M. Rodriguez-Puebla |
Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University |
| 2011 | John House, PhD Simultaneous removal of C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta reveals their critical roles in sebocyte and keratinocyte differentiation. Mentor-RC Smart |
Postdoctoral Fellow, NIEHS |
| 2010 | Peter Broglie, PhD The Role of TAK1 – associated binding protein 2 in Tumor Necrosis Factor Signaling and Cell Death. Mentor-J. Tsuji |
Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill |
| 2009 | Edward L. Croom, PhD Human hepatic expression of CTP2B6: developmental pattern and in vitro bioactiviation of chlorpyrifos. Mentors-E Hodgson & R Rose |
Postdoctoral Fellow, USEPA |
| 2009 | Rakesh Ranjan, PhD Role and regulation of C/EBP alpha in response to DNA damage. Mentor-RC Smart |
Scientist II, Bayer Crop Science |
| 2009 | Jae Young Kim, PhD TAK1 is a central mediator of NOD2 signaling and is essential for intestinal epithelial cell protection against chemical-induced colitis. Mentor-J. Tsuji |
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Moffitt Cancer Center, FL Postdoctoral Fellow, Burnham Institute for Medical Research |
| 2009 | Elizabeth E. Anderson Thompson, PhD Localization of C/EBPalpha within human skin, its response to UVB-light, and identification of mutations within the gene in human basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Mentor-RC Smart |
Postdoctoral Fellow, NC State University |
| 2008 | Kari Loomis, PhD C/EBPa is an epithelial tumor supressor gene and mitogenic stimulation reciprocally regulates C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta. Mentor-RC Smart |
Assistant Professor, Biology, Mars Hill College |
| 2008 | Rachel N. Murrell, PhD The effects of brevetoxin and brevetoxin antagonists on jurkat E6-1 cell proliferation, survival and gene expression. Mentor-D Shea & J Gibson |
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina-Wilmington/East Carolina University |
| 2007 | Leslie M. Tompkins, PhD Identification and characterization of a novel promoter for steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR) variant 2. Mentor-A Wallace |
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Maryland |
| 2007 | Kiros Hailemariam, PhD HIPK2 is a novel ATF1 kinase and regulates transcription of human ferritin H gene through an antioxidant responsive element. Mentor-Y. Tsuji |
ORISE Fellow, Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education, US FDA |
| 2007 | Sarah J. Ewing, PhD Functional relationship between Ras and C/EBP-beta in cell survival and skin tumorigenesis. Mentor-RC Smart |
Assistant Professor, Biology, Gannon University |
| 2007 | Amber Goetz, PhD Toxicogenomic study of triazole antifungal modes of action. Mentor-E Hodgson & D Dix |
Technical Expert II, Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. |
| 2007 | Elizabeth (Libby) MacKenzie, PhD Regulation of ferritin H in the cellular response to stress. Mentor-Y. Tsuji |
Medical Writer/Editor, Education and Training Systems International (ETSI) |
| 2007 | Christopher Brynczka, PhD Nerve growth factor regulation of transcription factor p53 activity. Mentor-Merrick |
Research Fellow, Harvard School of Medicine |
| 2007 | Wei-Chun HuangFu, PhD Osmotic stress activates JNK while blocking NF- k B pathway, and modulates immune responses. Mentor-J. Tsuji |
Senior Scientist, PharmaEssentia Corp Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania |
| 2006 | Jin-Ah Park, PhD Role of PKC delta in airway mucin secretion. Mentor-K Adler |
Research Scientist, Harvard School of Public Health |
| 2006 | Jonathan P. Jackson, PhD The role of the nuclear Receptors CAR and PXR in the drug induced transcriptional regulation of murine CYP2C subfamily of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Mentor-J Goldstein & R Rose |
Study Director, Cellz Direct Postdoctoral, University of Arizona |
| 2006 | Steven Simmons, PhD Biochemical and functional analysis of homeoprotein NKx3.1. Mentor-J Horowitz |
Principal Investigator, US EPA Postdoctoral Fellow, US EPA |
| 2004 | Kyungsil Yoon, PhD CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha) is a DNA damage inducible P53 regulated mediator of the G1 checkpoint. Mentor-RC Smart |
Research Scientist, National Cancer Center Postdoctoral Fellow, Texas A&M |
| 2004 | John Couse, PhD The role of estrogen receptor-alpha and estrogen receptor-beta in the hyperluteinized mouse ovary. Mentors-K Korach & RC Smart |
Senior Manager, Taconic |
| 2004 | Jason Ralph Pirone, PhD Stochastic Modeling of Transcription Factor Binding Fluctuations. Mentors-RC Smart & Elston |
Senior Biomathematician, Constella Health Sciences |
| 2003 | Minsub Shim, PhD Proteasomal regulation of C/ERPalpha protein and diminished expression in squamous cell carcinomas. Mentor-RC Smart |
Assistant Professor, Biology, University of South Carolina Postdoctoral Research Fellow, NIEHS |
| 2002 | Edward D. Karoly, PhD Mammalian monooxygenases and environmental chemicals. Mentors-R Rose & E Hodgson |
Senior Study Director, Metabolon, Inc. Postdoctoral Fellow, US EPA |
| 2002 | F. Javier Cisneros, DVM, PhD Epigenetic inheritance of 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-Cdr) induced alterations. Mentor-S. Branch |
Research Scientist, Charles River Laboratories Postdoctoral Fellow, US FDA |
| 2001 | Karen L. Porter, PhD 17-beta-estradiol is abundant in skin and influences hair follicle cycle and mirex tumor promotion. Mentor-RC Smart & Robinette |
Toxicologist, US Army Center for Environmental Research |
| 2001 | Barbara A. Wetmore, PhD Herbicide alachlor nasal carcinogenicity and hepatotoxicity involve site-specific bioactivation and oxidative stress. Mentor-Meyer & GA LeBlanc |
Research Investigator, The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow, NIEHS |
| 2000 | Michael E. Viana, PhD A functional role for protein kinase C in epidermal Langerhans cells. Mentor-RC Smart |
Toxicologist, Dynamic Corporation Postdoctoral Fellow, US EPA |
| 2000 | Hui-Qin Wang, PhD Overexpression of protein kinase C in the epidermis of transgenic mice results in striking alterations in phorbol ester-induced inflammation but nt tumor promotion. Mentor-RC Smart |
Research Investigator, Novartis Biomedical Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, Fox Chase Cancer Center |
| 1999 | Lynn M. Crosby, PhD Mechanisms of potassium bromate-induced mesothelial carcinogenesis in the male F344 rat. Mentor-DeAngelo |
|
| 1999 | Theresa Allio, PhD The role of genomic instability and mutation hypersensitivity in tumor development. Mentors-RJ Preston & RC Smart |
Pharmacologist, US FDA Postdoctoral Fellow, UNC-CH Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center |
| 1998 | James G. Christensen, PhD Dysregulation of apoptosis during nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Mentors-Goldsworhy & RC Smart |
Senior Principal Scientist, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals |
| 1998 | Christopher Saranko, PhD The roles of two epoxide metabolites in the mutagenicity of 1,3-butadiene. Mentor-Recio |
Principal Toxicologist, Environmental Planning |
| 1998 | Theresa S. Klose, PhD Polymorphisms, structure activity relationships and expression of the human CYP2Cs. Mentor-JA Goldstein |
Genetic Systems Specialist, Applied Biosystems |
| 1998 | Nathan Cherrington, PhD Murine hepatic flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO):gender differences across species, developmental pattern and molecular cloning and expression in E. coli. Mentors-R Rose & E Hodgson |
Associate Professor, University of Arizona Postdoctoral, Kansas University Medical Center |
| 1997 | Hye-Sun Oh, PhD, D.A.B.T. Role of estrogen receptor pathway and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Mentor-RC Smart |
Research Leader, Hoffman-La Roche Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Postdoctoral Lecturer, Harvard Medical School |
| 1996 | Tae-Won Kim, PhD Mirex promotes a unique populatio of epidermal cells that cannot be distinguished by their mutant Ha-ras genotype. Mentor-RC Smart |
Director of Toxicology, Isis Pharmaceuticals Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at San Francisco |
| 1996 | David M. Owens, PhD Genetic alterations cooperate with ras to influence premalignant progression in skin. Mentor-RC Smart |
Assistant Professor, Columbia University Postdoctoral Fellow, Imperial Cancer Research Fund |
Current MCT Students
| Year Enrolled | Student Name Research Area/Faculty Advisor & Laboratory |
Education |
| 2006 | Bo-Wen Huang Characterization of novel regulators of the ferritin H ARE. Mentor-Y. Tsuji |
B.S. in General Chemistry, National Changhua University of Education M.S. Biological and Life Sciences, National Chiao Tung University |
| 2006 | Paul Ray Ferritin and Neurodegeneration. Mentor-Y. Tsuji |
B.S. Toxicology, Northeast Louisiana University |
| 2007 | William Randall Lampe Effects of ozone on airway epithelial cell mucus production. Mentor-Adler |
B.S. Biology, UNC-CH |
| 2007 | Samuel Suarez Investigating the role of accessory proteins in pol eta dependent 8-oxo-G bypass. Mentor-McCulloch |
B.S. Biochemistry, Tulane University |
| 2008 | Brian Sayers Mechanisms of nanomaterial – Induced Cell Differentiation. Mentor-Bonner |
B.S. Toxicology, Northeastern University |
| 2008 | Ellen Glista Growth factor regulation induced by nanomaterials. Mentor-Bonner |
B.S. Biochemistry, Mount Union College |
| 2009 | Renee Beardslee Investigatins of the molecular determinants of lesion bypass fidelity. Mentor-McCulloch |
B.S. Chemistry, University of Michigan |
| 2009 | Hann Tam The role of c/EBPbeta in regulating tumor suppressor p53 in response to DNA damage. Mentor-Smart |
B.S. Biology, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2010 | Alexander Bogdan The role of cadmium in the regulation of ferritin H. Mentor-Y. Tsuji |
B.S. Biochemistry, St. Marys College |
| 2010 | Kimberly Herman Regulation of by-pass polymerases. Mentor-McCulloch |
B.S. Biology, University of Rochester |
| 2010 | Zachary Messenger Tumor microenvironment, Stat3 and C/EBPbeta. Mentor-Smart |
B.S. Forensic Science & Technology, Penn State University M.S. Forensic Science & Technology, Arcadia University |
| 2010 | September Mihaly The role of the MAPKKK TAK1 and it’s associated binding proteins in macrophage survival. Mentor-J. Tsuji |
B.S. Biology, UNC-Ashville |
| 2010 | Kelly Shipkowski How inflammasomes are affected by multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their role in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Mentor-Bonner |
B.S. Chemistry, Methodist College |