Graduate Studies Leading to the PhD in Physiology
The Department of Physiology is positioned at a critical intersection of the School of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies and offers graduate programs leading to the Biomedical Sciences PhD and MD/PhD degrees. Our training program is renowned for its intensity and passionate dedication to graduate student mentoring and career development. In turn, our students are highly successful researchers, with many obtaining their own fellowship funding and travel awards to present their research at major national and international conferences.
Our PhD and MD/PhD graduates are equipped to become future leaders in biomedical science and translational medicine. We also welcome students from the MS in Biomedical Sciences Program, and our MS graduates have successfully transitioned to PhD programs and other health professional programs, including medical school. Our rigorous training program emphasizes customized career development and a team-based mentoring approach that centralizes the needs of our students as individuals with unique interests and a desire to succeed in a competitive job landscape following graduation. Our goal is not to simply provide you with an advanced degree, but to establish a life-long mentoring and collaborative relationship.
Physiology is by nature a highly translational discipline and requires the effective integration of knowledge related to biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and other health-related disciplines. Members of the Department of Physiology at LSU Health New Orleans conduct NIH-funded research on the function of organisms at every level of biological organization: molecular, cellular, tissue, organ system, and whole-body integration. This approach maximizes the translatability of our research as well as prepares individuals in training to conduct high-impact investigations.
The Department of Physiology is committed to excellence in research, training, and
education. We strive to provide an environment that supports continuous and self-directed
learning and professional growth for students, faculty, and staff across our department
and institution.
Research Topics of Interest in the Department of Physiology
Alcohol & Substance Use Disorders: Biomedical Consequences
- Impact of alcohol and drugs of abuse on simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) disease progression
- Impact of chronic binge alcohol, SIV, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on immunological abnormalities
- Mechanisms through which chronic binge alcohol alters key signaling pathways, including epigenetics and bioenergetics
- Spheroid and organoid modeling of integrative pathophysiology
Alcohol & Substance Use Disorders: Neurobiology of Stress and Addiction
- Neurobiological intersections of chronic pain and substance use disorders, with a focus on alcohol & opioids, including fentanyl
- Neurobiology of alcohol & stimulant interactions
- Neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and interactions with escalated alcohol drinking
- Neurobiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and interactions with endocannabinoid signaling and alcohol drinking
Cardiovascular Pathophysiology
- Pathophysiology of alcohol-related cardiomyopathy and cardiac fibrosis
- Adverse cardiac and effects of alcohol and inhaled nicotine
The faculty of the Department of Physiology are extensively involved in collaborative research with scientists from the following:
LSU Health New Orleans
- Clinicians from the Departments of Medicine and Cardiology
- Scientists from the Departments of Cell Biology & Anatomy, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Experimental Therapeutics (PBET), and Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology (MGI)
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center of Excellence
- Cardiovascular Center of Excellence
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence
- LCMC Cancer Center
Tulane University Neuroscience Program
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Information for Admissions and Application Procedures
The Department of Physiology is a part of the School of Graduate Studies’ PhD program in Biomedical Sciences. Applications should be completed by April 1 for matriculation in August of the same year.
For application materials or more information contact:
Dr. Scott Edwards
Professor of Physiology and Vice Chair for Training and Mentoring
Department of Physiology
LSU Health New Orleans
2020 Gravier Street, Room 734
New Orleans, LA. 70112
Telephone: 619-241-3380
sedwa5@lsuhsc.edu
Financial Aid
Graduate student fellowships are available on a competitive basis for PhD and MD/PhD candidates while enrolled in the School of Graduate Studies. Awards are $37,500 per year and provide a full tuition waiver and 75% of health insurance coverage. PhD candidates will also be mentored to apply for individual fellowships through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other programs such as the American Heart Association (AHA).
Student Benefits
https://www.lsuhsc.edu/orgs/studenthealth/insurance/
For more information, visit the School of Graduate Studies web site.
Living in New Orleans
The four seasons in New Orleans are: Carnival (Winter), Crawfish (Spring), Snoball (Summer), and Football (Fall). Our campus is located in the heart of downtown New Orleans and is heavily surrounded by world-famous restaurants, bars, and Mardi Gras parade routes. Our students (and faculty) can often be seen together downing pints and crawfish at Bayou Beer Garden after hours.
