Graduate Research Opportunities
The Research Team Leaders at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute also serve as thesis mentors to Ph.D.-level graduate students at Virginia Tech. Candidates interested in carrying out thesis research with investigators at the institute should consider applying to Virginia Tech's Master's and Ph.D.-level program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, or one of Virginia Tech's departmental-based graduate programs.
Master's of Science Degree Program
Students pursuing a M.S. must earn a minimum of 38 credit hours beyond the B.S. degree. Students will engage in research throughout both years in the program, while completing most of their core coursework by the end of year 1. Students will take an intensive “Gateway” course in semester 1, where they will learn the fundamentals of biomedicine, physiological systems, and translational science. They will then select a focus area in semester 2 and take two intensive “Fundamentals” courses (4 credits each) covering in depth the fundamentals of that focus area, with heavy emphasis on translational exemplars and case studies. Students will continue a core curriculum in parallel with their focus-area-specific coursework, which includes professional development, ethics, and statistics, as well as program retreats and presentations. In total, students will take 24 credits of core coursework, 3 credits quantitative requirement, and a minimum of 11 credits of thesis research. Learn More
Doctoral Degree Program
Students pursuing a Ph.D. will earn a minimum of 100 credit hours beyond the B.S. degree. Students will engage in research rotations in year 1, while completing most of their core coursework, and will commit to a thesis research lab at the end of year 1. Students will take an intensive “Gateway” course in semester 1, where they will learn the fundamentals of biomedicine, physiological systems, and translational science. They will then select a focus area in semester 2 and take two intensive “Fundamentals” courses (4 credits each) covering in depth the fundamentals of that focus area, with heavy emphasis on translational exemplars and case studies. Students will continue a core curriculum in parallel with their focus-area-specific coursework, which includes professional development, ethics, seminars and scientific analysis, as well as program retreats and presentations. In total, students will take 31 credits of core coursework, 3 credits quantitative requirement, 3 credits of free electives, and 63 credits of dissertation research. Learn More
Many students enrolled in the Virginia Tech Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health doctoral degree program complete research rotations and research assistantships under the mentorship of Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty.
In addition, many graduate students who train with us are enrolled in Virginia Tech doctoral degree programs offered through other departments, including, but not limited to:
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
- Genetics, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Human Development
- Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
- Neuroscience
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Physics
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine offers students a variety of advanced degree opportunities. VTCSOM students may now enroll in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health M.S. and Ph.D.-level training programs.
Students with questions directly related to the Translational Biology, Medicine and Health programs are encouraged to contact Veronica Van Montfrans, Ph.D. Students considering a transition out of the medical doctorate program of study are encouraged to talk with Aubrey Knight, M.D. about other potential degree options available.
IGNITE KUH
The Integrated Virginia Research Training Centers in Kidney, Urology and Hematology (IGNITE KUH) is designed to address the increase in disease burden in the areas of kidney, urology, and hematology, where there is a shortage of the workforce to advance scientific discoveries and technology. This program provides tuition, stipend and travel support for first and second year PhD students, and for postdoctoral fellows.
Graduate Student Research Spotlight
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Laboratories
-
Home Item
Amo Lab , homeThe Amo Lab aims to uncover the neural circuit mechanisms underlying the generation of diverse dopamine signals and their evolutional origins.
-
Home Item
Casas Lab , homeThe Casas Lab addresses two broad areas of inquiry: (1) neural underpinnings of valuation and learning in social settings, and (2) how social and economic preferences influence valuation and learning.
-
Home Item
Chappell Lab , homeThe Chappell Lab studies how the blood vasculature develops during early organ formation and during certain diseases such as tumor progression and neurological disorders.
-
Home Item
Chiu Lab , homeThe Chiu Laboratory examines the neuroscience of human motivation and social decision-making.
-
Home Item
DeLuca Lab , homeThe DeLuca lab has examined the impact of intensive neurorehabilitation treatments on children and adults with neuromotor impairments for more than 25 years.
-
Home Item
DiFeliceantonio Lab , homeDr. DiFeliceantonio's laboratory uses multimodal imaging and metabolic measures to study how the brain integrates peripheral signals to guide food motivation, choice, and eating behavior.
-
Home Item
Farris Lab , homeThe Farris Lab studies how neurons respond during learning and how those responses differ between genetically distinct cell types thought to be required for storing memories.
-
Home Item
Finkielstein Lab , homeThe Finkielstein lab studies how disruption of the body's circadian rhythm influences cancer initiation and progression.
-
Home Item
Freitas-Lemos Lab , homeThe Freitas-Lemos Lab studies the effects of new regulations or tobacco products on disparities in tobacco use and its health impacts among different populations.
-
Home Item
Friedlander Lab , homeThe Friedlander Lab uses quantitative single neuron patch clamp electrophysiological methods and imaging to see structural changes in the calcium signals that underlie synaptic function.
-
Home Item
Gourdie Lab , homeThe Gourdie Lab studies subunit proteins called connexins, which are located in gap junctions that enable direct communication between cells.
-
Home Item
Howell Lab , homeThe Howell Lab studies ways to improve mother-infant health outcomes by exploring the factors that influence healthy infant brain and behavioral development.
-
Home Item
Johnstone Lab , homeThe Johnstone Lab focuses on understanding how healthy blood vessels are altered in disease and defining effective pathways to therapeutically target vascular disease.
-
Home Item
LaConte Lab , homeResearch in the LaConte lab is devoted to advanced neuroimaging acquisition and data analysis approaches, aimed at basic scientific discovery as well as understanding and rehabilitating neurological and psychiatric diseases.
-
Home Item
LaMantia Lab , homeThe LaMantia Lab studies the genetics underlying neural development to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for a broad range of disorders that compromise brain and organ system development.
-
Home Item
Legon Lab , homeThe Legon Lab studies modulation of the human brain via focused ultrasound.
-
Home Item
Mishra Lab , homeThe Mishra Lab studies the molecular signaling perturbations associated with metabolic syndrome.
-
Home Item
Montague Lab , homeThe Montague Lab's work focuses on computational neuroscience – the connection between physical mechanisms present in real neural tissue and the computational functions that these mechanisms embody.
-
Home Item
Morozov Lab , homeThe Morozov Lab studies the neuronal circuits associated with empathy and examines how these circuits become altered in pathological conditions related to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, psychopathy, autism, and schizophrenia.
-
Home Item
Munson Lab , homeThe Munson Lab studies the tumor microenvironment in cancers, including glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer. Our research focuses on the emerging research area of fluid flow.
-
Home Item
Pan Lab , homeThe Pan Lab aims to elucidate the general principles of vertebrate development and uncover the genetic and developmental causes of human neurological and psychiatric disorders.
-
Home Item
Parker Lab , homeThe Parker Lab conducts basic and translational research into the performance of health care teams in numerous clinical domains, including the ICU, operating room, and outpatient clinical practice.
-
Home Item
Poelzing Lab , homeThe Poelzing Lab studies the electrical activity of the heart through cardiac myocytes and proteins and how abnormalities are linked to sudden cardiac death.
-
Home Item
Purcell Lab , homeThe work of the Purcell Lab is aimed at understanding the neurobiology of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
-
Home Item
C. Ramey Lab , homeThe Ramey Lab's program of research centers on the role of experience – across the human lifespan - in the development of competence and robust health.
-
Home Item
S.L. Ramey Lab , homeThe Landesman Ramey Lab addresses the contribution of early experience from before conception to later health and development and the development and testing of highly promising treatments for children with disabilities and at-risk conditions.
-
Home Item
Sassi Lab , homeThe Sassi Lab focuses on studying the role of non-coding RNAs, coding RNAs and cyclic nucleotides pathways in cardiac health and disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis.
-
Home Item
Sheng Lab , homeResearchers in the Sheng Laboratory are particularly interested in glioblastoma multiforme.
-
Home Item
Shin Lab , homeThe Shin Lab aims to understand the role of brain circuit-specific mechanisms using translationally relevant animal models of stress-induced psychiatric diseases.
-
Home Item
Smyth Lab , homeThe Smyth Laboratory studies cardiomyopathy at a subcellular level, searching for potential targets for therapeutic interventions to help restore normal cardiac function to diseased hearts.
-
Home Item
Stein Lab , homeThe Stein Lab's research interests include behavioral economics, neuroeconomics, addiction, obesity, and health behavior.
-
Home Item
Swanger Lab , homeThe Swanger Lab studies subtypes within a glutamate receptor family, called N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), located in the brain's thalamus to understand the origins of seizures.
-
Home Item
Van der Heijden Lab , homeThe Van der Heijden Lab studies the development of cerebellar function in health and disease.
-
Home Item
Warren Lab , homeThe Warren Lab studies the mechanisms underlying metabolic reprogramming in the failing heart.
-
Home Item
Weston Lab , homeThe Weston Lab studies gene variants that cause human childhood epilepsies and seeks to understand how they alter neuronal physiology to cause network hyperexcitability and seizures.
Contacts
-
Bio Item
Veronica van Montfrans, Ph.D. , bioDirector of Curriculum Development and Academic Partnerships, Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program Research Assistant Professor
-
Bio Item
Leanna Blevins, Ph.D. , bioAssociate Vice President for Health Sciences Academic Affairs, Co-Director, Integrated Health Sciences Research Program, Affiliate Research Assistant Professor, Population Health Sciences
-
Bio Item
Dustin Eshelman , bioHealth Sciences and Technology Coordinator of Experiential Learning