Prospective Graduate Students

Department Description

The Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences is a dynamic organization of approximately 35 full-time faculty, 50 staff, 60 graduate students, and 18 postdoctoral fellows. The main theme of the departmental teaching and research activity is bridging structural and functional relationships of life processes at levels ranging from those of the molecule and cell through those of the organism and population. We teach undergraduate and graduate students in the Biomedical Sciences program, and veterinary students. There are six focus areas for Graduate Programs within the department:

• 1. Environmental Health/Toxicology/Food Safety
• 2. Epidemiology
• 3. Genomics
• 4. Neuroscience
• 5. Reproductive Biology
• 6. Science and Technology Journalism

In each of these areas, the expertise of several disciplines is brought to bear on complex problems of societal importance, maximizing the potential for interdisciplinary synergy. Many of the faculty are members of university-wide interdisciplinary programs that mirror the major research foci of department. The department has recently added a master's degree program in science and technology journalism to promote communication with the public and within the scientific community. There are also two faculty members with interests in immunology.

Within the VIBS there are additionally four excellent service laboratories: Histology, Trace Elements Research Laboratory, Molecular Cytogenetics and Laboratory Animal Genetics Lab. In addition, VIBS contributes to College-level laboratories such as the Image Analysis Laboratory, which serve the research and clinical communities within and beyond the university.

Departmental website: vetmed.tamu.edu/vibs

Degree Programs: Departmental graduate programs educate students with the objective of advancing biomedical science through original research and to disseminate that knowledge for the protection and promotion of animal and human health. The department offers both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Sciences (with major specialty areas of cell/molecular biology, developmental biology/embryology, genetics, epidemiology, reproductive biology, and neuroscience). The M.S. degree is awarded in Epidemiology and in Veterinary Public Health (with a major specialty area of food safety/toxicology). The department also offers the M.S. degree in science and technology journalism.

General Application Information

To be considered for acceptance into the VIBS graduate program, the student should submit a complete application. This includes the application, English translations of degree statements and transcripts with official signatures from all secondary institutions attended per requirements posted on the websites, official GRE and TOEFL scores, a resume, and at least 3 recommendations. Generally these documents along with the application form are submitted through the TAMU Admissions Office, and when the application is complete, it is forwarded to our department for review. Once received in VIBS, the application is reviewed by the potential advisor and by our VIBS Faculty Graduate Committee to determine if the student meets criteria for acceptance. You should be aware that it is the advisor's responsibility to provide the funds for the graduate assistantship stipend as well as the funds for the research expenses involved until the time that the degree is awarded. Competitive stipends are available in teaching and research for highly qualified students. Informal contact can be made to the VIBS departmental advisor (listed below) or directly with any of the VIBS faculty whose research interests are shown in below.

For further details please contact:

Texas A&M University
Office of Admissions and Records
College Station
Texas 77843-0100
USA
PO Box 40001 College Station, Texas 77842-4001

Electronic Application

You should submit an application electronically (Texas Commons Application). The Texas Commons application is available at both the TAMU Office of Admissions and the TAMU Office of Graduate Studies websites.

This address, of the TAMU Admissions website, http://admissions.tamu.edu/ gives links to the application and the most detailed information on the process and requirements for international applicants as well as deadlines for the intended semester.

The TAMU Office of Graduate Studies website at http://ogs.tamu.edu/ provides a link for prospective students that also provides information on applying to TAMU and the application form as well.

VIBS Admissions Requirements

Competitive students will have the following:

• GPR - 3.0 or better
• GRE - 1100 or better (Test should be taken within 5 years of application and verbal score must be at least 400)
• TAMU TOEFL Requirements - (Scores are valid for 2 years):
  • IBT - 80 or better
  • PBT - 550 or better
  • CBT - 213 or better
• YOU MUST HAVE AN ADVISOR BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION CAN BE PROCESSED.

Deadlines for Domestic Students

Completed applications should be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records by the following deadlines:

• Fall semester - June 1^st
• Spring semester - October 1^st
• Summer semester - March 1^st

International Students

The application should be completed and submitted online to ensure that it is received for processing in the TAMU Admissions Office by the international deadline.

A pamphlet entitled "Information for Prospective International Students" is available from the Office of Admission and Records. An application fee of $75 is required. If the student is successfully admitted then the Department of VIBS reviews the application to determine acceptance into the VIBS graduate program.

TAMU International Student Services (ISS) has the responsibility of seeing that the international student has proper student visa and immigration documents and oversees the processing required to obtain these documents. The ISS website is: http://international.tamu.edu/iss/ .

For further details please contact:
Texas A&M University
Office of Admissions and Records
College Station
Texas 77843-0100
USA
PO Box 40002 College Station, Texas 77842-4002

Current VIBS Graduate Advisors

Faculty Advisor

C. Jane Welsh, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Veterinary Integrative Bioscience
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station TX 77843-4458
Phone (979) 862-4974
FAX (979) 847-8981
Email

Staff Advisor

Dana Parks
Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station TX 77843-4458
Phone (979) 845-3268
FAX (979) 847-8981
Email

Epidemiology/Public Health

If you are interested in the Epidemiology/Public Health aspects of our program, please see: vetmed.tamu.edu/vibs/vetepi.

M.S. in Science and Technology Journalism

The master's degree program in science and technology journalism at Texas A&M University prepares students for careers as writers and editors in science, technology, and medicine. Open to candidates with scientific or other backgrounds, it includes course work in both science journalism and science. Students choose between an internship track and a thesis track. For information, please contact the program coordinator, Barbara Gastel, MD., or visit the program's homepage: vetmed.tamu.edu/vibs/stjr.

Non-Thesis MS

The non-thesis M.S. is a new program in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Please write MS NTO (non-thesis option) on your application form. This program should take approximately 18 months to complete and will focus mainly on course work. There are no student stipends for this degree program. Contact Mr. David Kessler for further details (email).

VIBS Faculty Research Interests

Drag a column header here to group by that column Name Areas of Specialization Department Scholarly Interests Loading…   Anatomy Avian Medicine Biodefense Cardiology Cell Biology Dermatology Diagnostic Imaging Disaster Management Ecology Education Environmental Health Epidemiology Field Service (Equine) Field Service (Livestock) Food Animal Food Safety Genetics Genomics Imaging Immunology Infectious Disease Laboratory Animal Medicine Lameness Medicine Microbiology Neurology Neuroscience Oncology Orthopedics Parasitology Pathology Pharmacology Physiology Production Medicine Public Health Reproductive Biology Science/Tech Journalism Surgery Toxicology Virology Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine Loading…   BIMS DCVM VIBS VLCS VSCS VTPB VTPP Abbott, Louise, Associate Professor Epidemiology, Toxicology, Neuroscience, Anatomy, Cell Biology, Environmental Health, Imaging, Neurology, Education VIBS Developmental neurobiology of the mammalian nervous system; neuroanatomy; neurochemistry; specific neurologic disorders including cerebellar ataxia and spatial learning and memory; developmental neurotoxicologymmore... Arosh, Joe, Associate Professor   VIBS central role of prostaglandins on molecular and cellular aspects of reproductive processes, gynecologic diseases and endocrine cancers. Banu, Sakhila , Assistant Professor Toxicology, Reproductive Biology, Environmental Health, Oncology VIBS Endocrine toxicology; endocrine oncology; reproductive toxicity of chromium-VI on ovarian development and function, pregnancy, and fetal development; vitamin C and nutrioxidants' intervention on heavy more... Barhoumi Mouneimne, Roula, Research Professor Toxicology, Imaging VIBS Bazer, Fuller, Distinguished Professor Reproductive Biology VIBS Reproductive biology with emphasis on uterine biology and pregnancy. Mechanisms of action of pregnancy recognition signals from the conceptus to the maternal uterus, including interferon tau and estrogen.more... Bratton, Gerald, Senior Professor   VIBS gross anatomy; neuroanatomy; nutritional influences on lead intoxication; metal effects on reproductive function; localization of central nervous system neurons and their peripheral distribution. Budke, Christine, Associate Professor Epidemiology, Food Safety, Infectious Disease, Public Health, Parasitology, Education VIBS Epidemiology; burden of disease indicators; zoonotic diseases (larval cestodes); transmission dynamics of parasitic diseases; international veterinary medicine and public health. Burghardt, Robert, Professor Toxicology, Reproductive Biology, Cell Biology, Environmental Health, Imaging, Physiology VIBS Cellular signaling and signal transduction; reproductive physiology; pregnancy and parturition; development/application on non-invasive imaging tools using biosensors and biomarkers; in vitro toxicology. Cai, James, Assistant Professor Genomics VIBS Dr. James Cai develops computational tools and statistical tests to investigate evolutionary processes shaping genomic variability within and between species. He applies population genetics theory to genomic.more... Cannon, Marvin, Visiting Professor   VIBS Chapkin, Robert, Professor - Joint Appointment   VIBS chemoprevention; dietary effects on chronic inflammation, T-cell biology and colon cancer; plasma membrane microdomain organization and protein trafficking; functional genomics and systems biology. Chenault, Edith, Lecturer Science/Tech Journalism VIBS Chowdhary, Bhanu, Professor and Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies Genomics, Education VIBS comparative genomics of domesticated animals; molecular cytogenetics; equine genome analysis; physical and comparative gene mapping; disease genetics; molecular analysis of equine fertility; functional.more... Cothran, Jr., Ernest (Gus), Clinical Professor Genomics, Genetics VIBS heredity basis of equine congenital defects and economically significant traits in domestic animals (mainly the horse); interrelationships of inbreeding, genetic polymorphism, and reproductive performance more... Cummings, Kevin, Assistant Professor Epidemiology, Food Safety, Infectious Disease, Public Health, Biodefense VIBS My research focuses on the use of analytic and molecular epidemiology to study Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens at the pre-harvest level.  Work is targeted at minimizing zoonotic transmission of.more... Curley, Jr., Kevin, Lecturer Science/Tech Journalism VIBS science communication; educational technology; web-based learning Dees, W. Les, Professor Toxicology, Reproductive Biology, Physiology VIBS Factors controlling or altering the onset of female puberty. Frank-Cannon, Tamy, Lecturer   VIBS Funkhouser, Norma, Associate Professor - Joint Appointment   VIBS Information management education; organization, retrieval and database searching methods; new technology for information management; computer-aided instruction; web-based instruction/tutorials Gastel, Barbara, Professor Science/Tech Journalism, Education VIBS Science communication, especially (1) biomedical journalism, (2) science editing, and (3) international communication of science Hamer, Sarah, Assistant Professor Epidemiology, Infectious Disease, Public Health, Ecology VIBS Disease ecology and epidemiology; one health initiative; wildlife diseases; vector-borne diseases; ticks, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne zoonoses; wild birds as dispersal agents for vectors and pathogens;emore... Hiney, Jill, Research Assistant Professor   VIBS Hoffman, Anton, Clinical Professor Anatomy VIBS 1. Comparative and applied gross anatomy 2. Comparative clinical neuroanatomy 3. Surgical & radiographic anatomy 4. Medical illustration 5. Computer assisted instruction Ing, Nancy, Associate Professor - Joint Appointment Reproductive Biology, Cell Biology, Genomics, Genetics, Oncology VIBS My laboratory team studies steroid hormone action using livestock species as model organisms. One project focuses on changes in gene regulation that make the uterus able to support embryo growth. Another more... Ivanek-Miojevic, Renata, Assistant Professor Epidemiology, Food Safety, Environmental Health, Genetics, Infectious Disease, Public Health, Parasitology, Ecology, Medicine, Microbiology, Biodefense, Virology, Zoo, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine VIBS Epidemiology and ecology of infectious and foodborne diseases; Addressing methodological research needs in epidemiology and ecology; Research at the interface between empirical and theoretical approaches.more... Janecka, Jan, Research Assistant Professor Genomics, Genetics, Ecology VIBS Population Genetics; Conservation Genetics; Phylogenetics; Noninvasive Genetics; Ecology; Wildlife Monitoring; Mammals; Felids; Equids; Snow Leopards; Mountain Lions; Ocelots; Bobcats; Adaptation to High-Altitude;nmore... Johnson, Gregory, Associate Professor Reproductive Biology VIBS Our laboratory utilizes domestic animals (pigs and sheep) and mice to investigate the cellular and molecular interactions between the conceptus and uterus during the processes of pregnancy recognition, more... Johnson, Larry, Professor Reproductive Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Education VIBS toxicology; histology; spermatogenesis; gamete physiology; gene expression of Sertoli cells; aging of the testis; seasonal reproductive changes; infertility in males and promotion of science in youth. Klemm, William, Professor Neuroscience, Education VIBS Alcohol mechanisms, Biology of thought, Brain electrical activity, Behavioral inhibition, Learning and memory, Pheromones. Science education, for Vita, see www.cvm.tamu.edu/wklemm Ko, Gladys, Associate Professor Toxicology, Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Physiology VIBS Integrating major research fields in neuroscience, pharmacology, neurotoxicology, chronobiology, cell and molecular biology, and signal transduction; research projects focusing on circadian regulation.more... Ko, Michael, Research Assistant Professor Neuroscience, Cell Biology VIBS Korich, Jodi, Clinical Assistant Professor Science/Tech Journalism, Education VIBS Dr. Korich is the founding director of the Educational Technology Center at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Established in 2010, the Educational Technology.more... Kornegay, Joe, Professor   VIBS Li, Jianrong, Associate Professor Toxicology, Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Pathology, Imaging, Physiology VIBS The central goal of our research is to understand how oligodendroglial development in the mammalian central nervous system is regulated in health and disease. Specifically, we are interested in molecular more... Li, Qinglei, Assistant Professor Reproductive Biology VIBS The myometrium plays a fundamental role in a variety of female reproductive events and has a significant impact on pregnancy outcome. The structural and functional abnormalities of myometrium can lead.more... Lupton, Joanne, Professor - Joint Appointment   VIBS Murphy, William, Associate Professor Genomics, Genetics VIBS Phillips, Timothy, Distinguished Professor Toxicology, Food Safety VIBS food safety; molecular toxicology; elucidation of fundamental chemical mechanisms of toxic action/interaction of food-borne carcinogens; mutagens; and developmental toxicants; and development of methods.more... Pine, Michelle, Clinical Assistant Professor Toxicology, Environmental Health, Neurology VIBS neurotoxicology; neuroendocrinology; the mechanism underlying the effects of pesticides (particularly synthetic pyrethroids) on neurodevelopment. Porter, Weston, Associate Professor – Joint Appointment Toxicology VIBS role of transcription factors in mammary gland development and breast cancer; stromal-epithelial interactions; environmental influences on development and breast cancer; mouse models Qian, Yongchang, Research Assistant Professor Toxicology, Neuroscience, Cell Biology VIBS The research interests include astroglial cell biology and heavy metal neurotoxicity. The studies have identified that Pb deposit in astrocytes competitively with copper (Cu) binds to heavy metal binding.more... Raudsepp, Terje, Associate Professor Reproductive Biology, Cell Biology, Genomics, Genetics VIBS reproduction genomics (horse); organization, function & evolution of mammalian sex chromosomes; animal cytogenetics & gene mapping. Ruoff, Lynn, Clinical Associate Professor Anatomy VIBS teaching gross anatomy in the undergraduate and professional curriculums Russell, Leon, Professor Epidemiology, Food Safety, Public Health VIBS epidemiology; medical mycology; zoonotic diseases (rabies); food toxicology. Samollow, Paul, Professor Genomics, Genetics, Ecology VIBS RESEARCH INTERESTS: Comparative functional genomics; structural organization of genetic material and its relationship to patterns of gene regulation and expression within and among species. Population more... Skow, Loren, Professor Immunology, Genomics, Genetics, Infectious Disease VIBS Comparative genomics of mammals with emphasis on organization and evolution of the mammalian genome; molecular analysis of the major histocompatibility complex of hoofed animals; genetic mechanisms of.more... Srivastava, Vinod, Research Associate Professor Toxicology, Reproductive Biology, Cell Biology VIBS Tiffany-Castiglioni, Evelyn, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Professor and Department Head Toxicology, Cell Biology, Education VIBS Dr. Tiffany-Castiglioni carries out research on the neurotoxicity of environmental contaminants, particularly heavy metal toxicity to astrocytes. She has served as major professor for 19 PhD and MS students,.more... Venkatraj, Vijayanagaram, Clinical Assistant Professor Epidemiology, Toxicology, Cell Biology, Environmental Health, Genomics, Genetics, Public Health, Imaging, Oncology, Neurology VIBS Welsh Jr., Thomas, Professor - Joint Appointment Immunology, Reproductive Biology, Physiology VIBS Page 1 of 2 (51 items) [1] 2 [Department] Equals 'vibs'   Clear Loading…

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CVM Graduate Information

You can view more information at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences website: vetmed.tamu.edu/graduate.

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