Master of Science in Pharmacology & Toxicology
Our innovative program provides a comprehensive introduction to the broad range of theoretical concepts that comprise pharmacology and toxicology, providing both historical context and state of the art technical approaches to solving pharmacological and toxicological problems. This goal of providing students with a career-oriented yet theoretically based education will be accomplished within the core curriculum through the combination of text and literature based lectures, complemented by laboratory instruction and journal club type seminars.
The Master of Science Thesis option and a Master of Science
Non-Thesis option are available to our students. All Master of Science in
Pharmacology and Toxicology candidates, regardless of the option chosen, are
required to have an advisor and an advisory committee. The advisory committee
will help formulate a study program, provide counseling and evaluate student
progress. To qualify for the Master of Science degree a student must satisfy
the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies as well as the program
requirements.
Eligibility requirements
The minimum entry degree required for this program is a
bachelor of science or equivalent degree from an accredited college or
university. Your undergraduate preparation should include mathematics through
calculus, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and general physics. You will need
to have attained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher at
your undergraduate institution. Although not required, it is
advisable to provide Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores as part of your
application for admission. You are also expected to be fluent in both spoken
and written English.
Taking courses before admission
Students may be eligible to take courses prior to admission
although such cases are exceptions to our general policy of admitting students
for full-time graduate study and research training. Students may apply up to 12
credits earned towards the master's of science thesis or non-thesis degree
upon admission. However, taking courses does not guarantee admission to the
program. Check with the School of Graduate Studies for information on non-declared major.
What is pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of the therapeutic value and/or
potential toxicity of chemical agents on biological systems. It targets every
aspect of the mechanisms for the chemical actions of both traditional and novel
therapeutic agents. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
provides more information in this PDF document.
What is toxicology?
Toxicology is the study of the adverse or toxic effects of drugs and other chemical agents. It is concerned both with drugs used in the treatment of disease and chemicals that may present household, environmental, or industrial hazards. The Society of Toxicology (SOT) provides more information about this exciting field. |
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Program
requirements & standards
You
will participate with faculty in intramural seminars and a weekly Journal Club
and may be selected to attend and present your research findings at local and
national scientific meetings and conferences.
Advisory
Committee
Each student must
have an advisory committee which will consist of two members of the
Pharmacology and Toxicology faculty and the advisor. The
committee will monitor the student’s progress and serve as the examination
group for the oral exam.
For more information about each program, see:
For application information, see:
For information on costs, see:
What research facilities are available?
The Pharmacology and Toxicology Department occupies the second floor of the Health Sciences Building on the main campus of Wright State University. Resources include seven well-equipped biomedical research laboratories and common equipment facilities. The department has an Imaging Suite that features a laser scanning confocal microscope (Leica SP-2) and an epifluorescence microscope (Leica DM-5). Computer workstations for storage, quantification and analysis of data, and high-resolution printers for making images, are available.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is located immediately adjacent to Wright State University, where the facilities of the Air Force and Naval Toxicology Laboratories are available to students in the program. In addition to providing a training site for thesis research, these sites also serve as a window to potential career opportunities for graduates of this program. The laboratories at WPAFB conduct research on the health effects of a wide variety of agents for military and other government agencies including the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The university has an agreement of cooperation with WPAFB promoting educational and research interactions applicable to this M.S. program.
Proteome Analysis Laboratory
Students also will have the opportunity to learn the latest molecular biology techniques in the Proteome Analysis Laboratory. This laboratory contains equipment used for molecular biology, imaging and proteomics research. In these labs, equipment is made available for WSU faculty and collaborators to work on proteomic projects.
Mass spectrometers (MS) are at the core of the PAL. The first mass spectrometer, a Ciphergen SELDI-TOF MS, was acquired with Department of Defense grant support. It provides fast, reliable and convenient protein and proteomic profiling by using chemically treated ProteinChips® to which proteins adhere or are removed based on their specific protein chemistries. The resulting spectra can generate a proteomic profile or fingerprint of a tissue extract or body fluid (plasma or urine).
The facility was expanded in 2006 when the Kettering Fund provided support to purchase a High Capacity Ion Trap mass spectrometer (Bruker HCTUltra IonTrap MS). This high-end equipment allows separation of peptides and proteins on a Dionex nanoHPLC followed by nano electrospray injection into the IonTrap. Peptides are then fragmented with helium for Collision Induced Dissociation and the data processed by computer. The resulting sequences lead to specific protein identification and are matched with the proteins and peptides expected in the tissue. Post-translational modification of peptides is accomplished by Electron Transfer Dissociation.
Program Faculty
Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors
Yanfang Chen Ph.D., M.D., neurosciences, molecular biology and cardiovascular physiology
Khalid Elased, R.Ph.,Ph.D., Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) relevant to hypertension and diabetes
Courtney E.W. Sulentic, Ph.D., mechanisms of immune modulation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and other chemicals with particular emphasis on immunoglobulin heavy chain gene regulation
Program administration
Responsibility for program administration lies within the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Boonshoft School of Medicine. A program advisor will initially advise new program entrants until such time as a research advisor is selected by the student and approved by the program director. A Thesis Committee consisting of three graduate faculty members in addition to the research advisor will be selected by the student in consultation with the research advisor.
 Terry Oroszi, M.S., Director
Master of Science Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
234 Health Sciences Building
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435
Phone: (937) 775-2395
E-mail: juanita.davis@wright.edu
For more information regarding the Master of Science Program, please contact:
Nita Davis, Graduate Program
Coordinator
Phone: (937) 775-4091
E-mail: juanita.davis@wright.edu
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