Department of BioMolecular Sciences

WHAT WE DO

We are a department of leaders in interdisciplinary life sciences dedicated to improving human and environmental health through education, biological and chemical research, and committed service.

    Our Department

    student doing an experiment

    What is BioMolecular Sciences?

    Want to learn more about our department?

    Student using machine.

    Dedication to Excellence

    Cutting-edge research, practical experience, and our commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and personalized mentorship empower students to reach new heights and set the standard for greatness in Bio-molecular science.

    scientist looking at test tubes

    Leaving Our Mark on Research

    As a graduate student, you will be deeply immersed in research with our faculty. The BMS' faculty and scientists maintain active, funded research programs in a variety of science fields.

    Meet The Department

    Kristine Willett

    Kristine Willett

    • Chair and Professor of Pharmacology & Environmental Toxicology in BioMolecular Sciences and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Paul Boudreau

    Paul Boudreau

    • Assistant Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Assistant Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    David Colby

    David Colby

    • Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Online Graduate Programs for BioMolecular Sciences
    Jessica Crawley

    Jessica Crawley

    • Operations Coordinator II
    Robert Doerksen

    Robert Doerksen

    • Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Rama Sarma Gadepalli

    Rama Sarma Gadepalli

    • Senior Scientist
    Mckenna Garrison

    Mckenna Garrison

    • Associate R&D Biologist
    Deborah Gochfeld

    Deborah Gochfeld

    • Principal Scientist in National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Professor of Environmental Toxicology in Biomolecular Sciences and Adjunct Professor of Biology
    Sherrie Gussow

    Sherrie Gussow

    • Operations Coordinator II
    Katie Heath

    Katie Heath

    • Principal R&D Biologist
    Ikhlas Khan

    Ikhlas Khan

    • Director, the National Center for Natural Products Research; Distinguished Professor;Research Professor of Pharmacognosy; Program Director for Federal Drug Administration Program; and Research Professor and Coordinator for Natural Products Research in the
    Shabana Khan

    Shabana Khan

    • Principal Scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research and Research Professor in Pharmacognosy
    Brenton Laing

    Brenton Laing

    • Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Research Assistant Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Jing Li

    Jing Li

    • Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Assistant Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Xing Li

    Xing Li

    • Principal Scientist in the National Center for Natural Products Research and Research Professor in Pharmacognosy
    Candace Lowstuter

    Candace Lowstuter

    • Operations Coordinator II
    Fakhri Mahdi

    Fakhri Mahdi

    • Principal R&D Biologist
    Katherine Martin

    Katherine Martin

    • Principal Research and Development Biologist
    Sushil Mishra

    Sushil Mishra

    • Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
    Hang Nguyen

    Hang Nguyen

    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Vitor Pomin

    Vitor Pomin

    • Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Hayley Prescott

    Hayley Prescott

    • Instructional Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Sciences
    John Rimoldi

    John Rimoldi

    • Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Environmental Toxicology in Biomolecular Sciences, Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Research and Graduate Affairs in Biomolecular Sciences
    Gregg Roman

    Gregg Roman

    • Professor of Pharmacology in Biomolecular Sciences and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Courtney Roper

    Courtney Roper

    • Assistant Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Research Assistant Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Joshua Sharp

    Joshua Sharp

    • Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Research Associate Professor in Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
    Cole Stevens

    Cole Stevens

    • Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    James Stewart

    James Stewart

    • Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Research Associate Professor in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Marc Slattery

    Marc Slattery

    • Professor of Pharmacognosy, Environmental Toxicology in BioMolecular Sciences, Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director of NIUST
    Noa Valcarcel Ares

    Noa Valcarcel Ares

    • Instructional Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Instructional Coordinator for BioMolecular Sciences
    Joshua Zhu

    Joshua Zhu

    • Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Research Assistant Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
    Nicole Ashpole

    Nicole Ashpole

    • Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Research Associate Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Academic Affairs for Biomolecular Sciences
    Karin King Ballering

    Karin King Ballering

    • Project Coordinator
    Eliana Carter

    Eliana Carter

    • Associate R&D Biologist
    Antim Maurya

    Antim Maurya

    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Sandeep Misra

    Sandeep Misra

    • Research Scientist
    Alaa Qrareya

    Alaa Qrareya

    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Bakhtyar Sepehri

    Bakhtyar Sepehri

    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    Anter Shami

    Anter Shami

    • Senior R&D Chemist
    Ajay Sharma

    Ajay Sharma

    • Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Our Research Areas

    Scientist observing Cannabis Plants

    Dietary Supplements and Medical Cannabis

    Carve out your place in two in-demand industries to advance policy, research, and product design.

    Student Pouring Water into a beaker.

    Environmental Toxicology

    Participate in research and educational activities seeking to identify and resolve environmental and human health issues.

    Scientist filling test tubes

    Medicinal Chemistry

    An interdisciplinary field of chemistry, biology, and pharmaceutical sciences. You will be involved in the development of new therapeutics for diseases.

    student working on experiment

    Pharmacognosy

    You will research the chemistry and pharmacology of bioactive natural products and their application in disease treatments.

    Scientists looking at data

    Pharmacology

    Research how chemical agents, including potential therapeutic candidates, act on biological systems.

    Our Programs

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    BMS News

    Check out the exciting things that the Department of BioMolecular Sciences is up to.
    Two women wearing white lab coats watch as a young woman uses a small net to retrieve a minnow from a fishtank in a laboratory.
    Research News

    OXFORD, Miss. – New research from two University of Mississippi scientists aims to shed light on the potential effects of cannabis use during pregnancy.