Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program in Toxicology

Valeria Culotta, PhD
vculotta@jhsph.edu
410-955-3029

Admissions Information:
Nina Kulacki, Senior Academic Program Coordinator
nkulacki@jhsph.edu or 410-955-2212

Toxicology research and training in the Department focuses on the mechanisms of toxicity in cells, and tissues and organisms at the chemical, biochemical, cellular and molecular levels. Faculty research programs involve investigation of the mechanisms of toxicity of environmental agents, the mechanisms controlling host responses to environmental toxicants, the potential hazards of exposure to such agents and methods for protecting the exposed host from environmentally induced disease. Emphasis is on cellular macromolecules and biochemical/molecular processes as targets for environmental toxicants. Doctoral students receive basic training in toxicology, as well as in cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology and biostatistics.

Doctoral students also gain initial research experience through research rotations in the laboratories of departmental faculty. Following completion of basic coursework and laboratory rotations, students proceed to advanced training in a selected area of concentration, including biochemical/molecular toxicology, neurotoxicology, immunotoxicology and molecular biomarkers. The diversity of interests represented in the Department provide a unique interdisciplinary background in toxicology that will ultimately permit students to address toxicologic problems affecting public health in comprehensive and innovative ways.

Predoctoral candidates within the Division of Toxicology are generally supported by an NIEHS training grant. Predoctoral students have the opportunity to choose from various disciplines of toxicology in which to conduct research rotations and dissertation research. Such disciplines include immunotoxicology, neurotoxicology, chemoprevention, molecular genetic toxicology and biomarkers.