Welcome to the Department of Biochemistry in the West Virginia University School of Medicine. I am very happy to be the new Chair. This is an exciting time in the Department as we embark on a period of growth. We are recruiting for a number of new faculty positions and are interested in candidates with expertise in biochemistry and research interests in a number of broad areas including cancer biology, cardiovascular biology and neuroscience. These represent areas of interest of the current faculty in the department and areas of strength in the three major research centers supported by the Health Sciences Center at WVU. Recruitment of these faculty members will further re-invigorate the research programs within the Department and provide new opportunities for post-doctoral and graduate student training.

The other major mission of the Department is teaching and includes professional education in the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive education in biochemistry for the students in these professional schools by didactic instruction and small group learning sessions led by experienced biomedical researchers and educators. We strive to use innovative approaches to teaching to enhance the educational experience of professional students and prepare them for their future careers.

WVU’s School of Medicine directs seven graduate programs leading to PhD degrees and faculty members from the Department actively participate in three of these programs, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Our goal is to provide broad experience in the area of biochemistry and specific expertise in the student’s area of research focus in preparation for a career in biomedical research. Opportunities are available for graduate research in many of the laboratories in the Department.

I am excited to be involved with the Department at this very opportune time, as we increase the vigor of our research programs and the innovation of our teaching programs. If you are interested in sharing these experiences, I invite you to peruse our web site to identify specific opportunities.