DEGREE PLAN IN EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY

Year One

Principles of Laboratory Biosafety

Frontiers of Infectious Diseases

Basic Human Pathobiology-Infectious Diseases/Toxicology

Functional Histology and Pathobiology

Research Rotations

Year Two

Intro to Competitive Grant Writing

ExPath Trainee Work in Progress

Frontiers in Infectious Diseases

Year Three–Five Dissertation

ExPath Trainee Work in Progress

Frontiers in Infectious Diseases

Qualifying Examination

Program Electives (3 credits)

Introduction to Vaccinology

Workshop in Phylogenetics

Cellular Microbiology & Disease

Biology of Arthropod Dis. Vectors

General Virology

Imaging in Biology

Advanced Immunology

Tropical Infectious Diseases & Biodefense

Fundamentals of Inflammation

Vaccine Development Pathway

Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms in Health & Disease

Pathogenic Bacteriology

Clinical Microbiology Practicum

Special Topics

Electives and Frontiers of Infectious Diseases

The qualifying examination in the Experimental Pathology Graduate program requires that the student proposes, writes and orally defends an NIH-style F31 fellowship proposal, which will be evaluated by a faculty committee. The graduate student preliminary (qualifying) examination (often referred to as “Prelims” or “Qualifiers”) must be successfully completed in order to pursue your graduate research and to advance to doctoral candidacy in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS)/Program according to the timeline set forth in the GSBS bylaws. The purpose of this examination is to test your understanding of the BBSC (Basic Biomedical Science Curriculum) course work, program-specific course work, general science and critical thinking, the basis of research methods and, to evaluate ones aptitude for scientific research. The examination will ordinarily be completed by the end of April of the second year of study, including those admitted through the direct admission mechanism, and is a prerequisite for admission to candidacy to the PhD program. Students who fail the examination cannot enter candidacy and are eligible to repeat the exam once in the following year.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students seeking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must submit an application for admission to candidacy and an approved research proposal. Each student must have an overall 3.0 grade point average or better at the time of admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy requires the fulfillment of all program requirements, including passing the qualifying examination, and must be approved by the Dean of the graduate school. The qualifying examination will ordinarily be completed by the end of the second year of study and is a prerequisite to admission to candidacy.

Dissertation Proposal Defense

Prior to admission to candidacy, the student (in consultation with the mentor) shall select a dissertation supervisory committee which, after approval by the ExPath Program Director and SEAC and, ultimately, the GSBS Dean, will be in charge of the candidate’s doctoral dissertation. Students are responsible for contacting all members of the committee and coordinating the time and location of their proposal defense (typically in Mary Moody Northen Pavilion Pathology Education Conference room reserved through the Program Coordinator). Meetings, vacations, and external commitments by faculty can make this scheduling difficult, so students should be proactive and not leave it to the last minute. The length of the dissertation proposal defense is variable, but should last no more than three hours. The format can be discussed and agreed upon by the student and committee members, but usually consists of a one hour student presentation followed by discussion and a question/answer session. Students should be prepared to fully explain details and limitations of technical approaches, experimental design, justification of animals, statistical analyses, and alternative approaches and hypotheses.

Galveston, Galveston, Texas – graduated 1998

Shannon Langford - Lead Toxicologist/ Senior Scientist, KBRwyle, Houston, Texas –graduated 1998

Adrian Billings - Chief Medical Officer, Preventive Health Services, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Permian Basin. Graduated 1998

Aaron Brault - Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, CDC, Fort Collins, Colorado –graduated 2001

Gustavo Valbuena - Clinical Associate Professor, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California – graduated 2003

Scott (Wesley) Long - Associate Professor of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas – graduated 2005

Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz - Associate Professor & Director, Women’s Health Research Program, The University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona – graduated 2006

Slobodan Paessler - Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas –graduated 2007

Shannan Rossi - Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas –graduated 2008

Heather Stevenson-Lerner - Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas – graduated 2009

Where they are now?

Galveston, Texas – graduated 2008

Jeeba Kuriakose - Associate Director, Immatics, Houston, TX – graduated 2011

Sara Woodson - Program Officer, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Washington, DC – graduated 2011

Jessica Plante - Research Scientist I, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas – graduated 2013

Kenneth Plante - Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas – graduated 2013

Farooq Nasar - Senior Scientist at US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (GDIT/CRM), Fredrick, Maryland –graduated 2014

Nick Bergren - Medical Science Liaison, Sanofi Pasteur, Houston, Texas – graduated 2016

Meghan Hermance - Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama – graduated 2016

Shannon Ronca - Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas – graduated 2016

Adam Ronk - Lead Virologist, CBRNE Defense at Battelle, Columbus, Ohio –graduated 2020

Emily Davis - APHL-CDC Infectious Disease Fellow, Association of Public Health Laboratories, Houston, Texas – graduated 2020

Life In Galveston

Galveston Island, on the Gulf Coast less than an hour south of Houston, is much more than just a resort town. The small city has a long history to match its rich beauty and charm. With architectural examples from every era since Galveston’s inception in the 1820s, the homes, mansions and commercial buildings on the East End preserve the island’s past and present as a cultural center of the Gulf Coast. Organizations like the Galveston Historical Foundation work tirelessly with the city and local residents to ensure these buildings are protected, while also maintaining several mansions open to public viewing. Visitors can explore the original rooms, furnishings and artifacts of several grand estates, like the Bishop’s Palace and Moody Mansion.

On the island’s West End, the homes take to the skies, perched safely on a solid footing of beams and pilings. For those who elect to call these wonderful beachfront and waterfront properties their homes, the sand and sea are never more than a few steps away, and the lifestyle is one that can be hard to describe: equally relaxing, inspiring and exhilarating.

A strong connection to nature features prominently in Galveston, with views of the beach and bays, endless preserved marshlands, clear skies and open space. The Gulf of Mexico creates miles of clean, uncrowded public beaches with warm, gentle tides. Outdoor sportsmen and sportswomen will find the island to be a paradise, featuring some of the best birding in the country, as well as excellent fishing and other recreational pursuits.

At 25th St. and the Seawall, Galveston’s Pleasure Pier extends 1,130 feet out over the Gulf of Mexico. The large park has multiple shops, game booths and rides, including a neon-lit Ferris wheel and roller coasters. On the bay, the three pyramids of Moody Gardens punctuate the skyline. Here, guests can walk through a tropical rainforest, experience various IMAX films and explore a large aquarium.

art galleries display the talents of local artists. From oil paintings to wood sculpture to mixed media creations, the island art scene is thriving through the visions of creators, many of whom have relocated to the island to draw inspiration from its inherent beauty.

With its rich history, natural assets, unrivaled beauty and distinctive culture, Galveston Island is an extraordinary place to call home. The community is founded on a collective appreciation for its individuality and a sense of hospitality fills every aspect of life on the island.

Houston

The style-savvy residents of the country’s fourthlargest city and third-largest county (Harris) know that there’s no place quite like Houston. With more than 2.2 million residents, the city attracts visitors and transplants with a wonderful mix of world-class arts, booming business, pro sports and award-winning cuisine. And the nearby Museum District stakes its claim as the country’s fourth-largest, with 18 cultural powerhouses set within blocks of one another. The Texas Medical Center remains the largest in the world with 47 highly lauded research and treatment institutions.

Though the Gulf waters are easily Galveston’s most recognizable feature, the island has much more to offer to local residents and visitors. Downtown, the Strand and nearby streets are filled with wonderful shops and cafes, live music and several annual events unique to the Island. In December, the island hosts Dickens on the Strand, a weekend-long holiday festival that revisits the tales of Charles Dickens and the charm of England’s Victorian Era. Mardi Gras Galveston!, Texas’ largest Mardi Gras celebration, brings grand parades, great bands and tons of visitors food and fun for two weeks in February. Throughout the year, the Strand sees several other large events like the Yaga’s Wild Game BBQ Cookoff, the Lone Star Biker Rally, Oktoberfest and multiple evenings of Art Walk.

Nasa

Just a short drive from Galveston is NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston. Aeronautic research is unsurpassed at NASA headquarters—the facility responsible for putting the first man on the moon.

Just behind the shoreline stands Galveston’s famous Seawall, a protective wall that also acts as the island’s main boulevard and promenade. With shops, restaurants and a large, accommodating sidewalk that runs a hefty length of the beach, the Seawall is a place to run, bike or simply relax and enjoy the Island’s unrivaled Gulf views.

Downtown is also the epicenter for the arts in Galveston. The Grand 1894 Opera House, a fully-restored theater that is listed on the National Register for Historic Places, hosts several A-list performances throughout its season. Just blocks away, the East End Theater Company, the county’s only professional repertory theater company, runs a several-show season each year with outstanding local actors and producers. Throughout downtown, several