About Biomolecular Sciences
Learn more about our department and its mission, vision, and values.
The Department of BioMolecular Sciences
was formed by combining the departments of medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, and pharmacology, as well as the environmental toxicology research program. Within the department, graduate programs are offered from the divisions of medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, and environmental toxicology.
Message from the Chair
Our department is proud to be one of the four academic departments in the School of Pharmacy. BMS faculty expertise in research and teaching spans four areas: environmental toxicology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacognosy. We offer a highly collaborative environment to improve health, well-being, and quality of life through basic and applied research. BMS graduate programs prepare students for positions in academia, government, and industries, including pharmaceutical, chemical, and agrochemical. Our diverse graduate community includes faculty and students from around the globe whose research, teaching, and service are consistently recognized at the state, regional, and national levels for their impact and significance. I encourage you to explore our site and visit us in person in Faser Hall and the National Center for Natural Products Research.
Kristine L Willett
Chair and Professor of Pharmacology & Environmental Toxicology in BioMolecular Sciences and Research Professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mission
Our mission is to drive innovation through combined excellence in Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Environmental Toxicology to understand and improve human and environmental health. We will provide positive impacts to our school, the state of Mississippi, and the world via education and mentored research at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels and through our leadership in interdisciplinary chemical and biological sciences.
Vision
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.
Events and Awards
In the 1950s, Dr. Joseph Sam had a vision of offering a graduate program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His vision was to develop a program that would train and educate future scientists in the field of drug development and discovery. Dr. Sam served as one of the first chairs of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, the university’s Dean of the Graduate School, and eventually the Vice Chancellor of Research. At his funeral, it was stated by an upper administrator of the university that Dr. Sam did more for graduate education and research development at the University of Mississippi than any other person in its history. In fact, the first graduate degrees of Ole Miss were offered under his tutelage.
While in industry, Dr. Sam had synthesized one of the earliest drugs to be used clinically for the relaxation of skeletal muscle spasms. That drug, chlorzoxazone (Paraflex), is still used today as a clinical muscle relaxant.
The success of our graduate program can obviously be attributed to the quality of its faculty and students. Yet no one has contributed more to the spirit and inspiration of these efforts than Dr. Joseph Sam. His service to our department and the university has reflected very well on us.
As a result of the impact Dr. Sam has had on each of us, in 2009, we created The Joseph Sam Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of Joe.
In 2005, the Department of Medicinal Chemistry held its inaugural Ronald F. Borne Distinguished Lectureship. This lectureship was created to recognize the work Dr. Borne has provided to the department, school, and university. He came to Ole Miss in 1968 from the University of Kansas after receiving his Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry. Ron served the university and school as department chair from 1979 to 1988 and interim vice chancellor of research from 1997 to 2001. Under his direction as the vice chancellor of research, the university increased its extramural funding from $18.5 million to $73.5 million.
His dedication to teaching was acknowledged by students who selected him as the School of Pharmacy Outstanding Teacher six times (1982, 1983, 1989, 1993, 1997, and 1998). In 1972, he was the first School of Pharmacy faculty member to receive the Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award, which is the university’s highest teaching award. In 1996, he was selected as the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Distinguished Pharmacy Educator, which is presently recognized as the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award.
Looking for past publications or other historical records?
Check out eGrove, The University of Mississippi's informational repository!