Transcript UpperUGoutreach-2010

Physiology
The Science of Life
[Add Your Institution Logo and Name Here]
©2005 The American Physiological Society.
Permission granted for workshop use.
What is Physiology?
Physiology is the study of
life processes
How living systems work at
many levels:
 Molecular level
 Organ and systems levels
 Whole organism level
How living systems respond
to physical activity
How living systems respond
to environmental conditions
How the genome translates
into function at different
levels
Why is Physiology
Important?
Physiology expands our
Understanding of…
What “life” is
How life processes work and are
regulated
Diseases and how to treat them
How living organisms cope with or
adapt to different environments
What Do
Physiologists Study?
Plants
Vertebrates, such as:
 Humans and other mammals
 Birds
 Reptiles
 Amphibians
 Fish
Invertebrates, such as:
 Insects
 Worms
 Mollusks
What Do
Physiologists Study?
Physiologists follow the
ABC rules for use of
living organisms:
Appropriate
Beneficial
Caring
What Kinds of Questions
Do Physiologists Ask?
Example:
How do mutations in genes affect
cellular, organ and bodily function in
health and disease?
Tools, Techniques and Models:
Use molecular biology techniques
to study DNA, RNA, and cell
proteins in cells in culture
Measure organ function in rat and
mouse strains with single gene
mutations or gene “knock-outs”
What Kinds of Questions
Do Physiologists Ask?
Example: Can exercise
decrease the loss of calcium
from the bones that occurs
when a person is exposed to
microgravity (space)?
Tools, Techniques and
Models:
Use a specialized X-ray
machine to measure bone
density before and after
space flight in those who did
and did not exercise on a
treadmill while in
microgravity.
What Kinds of Questions
Do Physiologists Ask?
Example: Why do some
persons with diabetes
have depressed heart
pump function?
Tools, Techniques and Models:
Use heart cells isolated from normal rats
and rats with diabetes
Use electrophysiological, biochemical,
pharmacological, and molecular biology
techniques to study why diabetic heart
cells work differently than normal heart
cells
What Kinds of Questions
Do Physiologists Ask?
Example: [Insert your research question here]
Tools, Techniques and Models:
[Insert the techniques and models you use here]
Meet a Physiologist
[Add your picture]
[Add a few points on how you got interested
and what your work is]
Meet a Physiologist:
Evangeline Motley
Evangeline Motley, Ph.D.
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, Tennessee
Making a tough decision: Medicine or research?
Developing new medicines
Researching cardiovascular functions and
hypertension
Teaching future physiologists and physicians
Meet Physiologists:
Michael Romero and Caroline Sussman
Michael Romero, Ph.D. and
Caroline Sussman, Ph.D.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Rochester, MN
Becoming interested in
“how living things work”
Research on the kidney and
the brain
Successfully balancing
careers and family
Meet a Physiologist:
Magdalena Alonso-Galicia
Magdalena Alonso-Galicia, Ph.D.
Forest Research Institute
Jersey City, New Jersey
Wanting to help make people healthy
Research labs win over hospital labs
Opportunities in industry
Cardiovascular research
Discovering new drugs to prevent or
cure disease
Meet a Physiologist:
Thomas Herzig
Lieutenant Thomas Herzig, Ph.D.
US Naval Station
San Diego, California
Taking an interest in
exercise
Choosing a military career
Researching exercise in
extreme environments
Teaching future doctors
What Do Physiologists
Do Every Day?
Investigate questions in
physiology that most interest
them
Decide what work they are
going to do each day
Often work longer hours, but
typically can be very flexible
What Do Physiologists
Do Every Day?
Many different tasks…never boring!
Teaching
Formulating new hypotheses to investigate
Designing and performing experiments
and gathering data
Troubleshooting laboratory methods and learning
new techniques
Analyzing data and drawing conclusions
Writing papers and grants
Training a new generation of scientists
Presenting at national and international meetings
Collaborating with other scientists nationally
and internationally
Where Do Physiologists
Work?
Universities and colleges
Medical and dental schools
Drug and biotech companies
Government and military labs
Would You Like to Be a
Physiologist?
Which Degree?
Bachelor’s?
Master’s?
Doctoral?
College Education With a
Major in a Life Science
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
(4 yrs)
Masters (MS)
in Physiology
(2 yr)
Doctorate (PhD) in Physiology
(4-5 yr)
(2-3 yr)
Postdoctoral Training
(2-3 yr)
Possible Jobs
Lab Technician (University)
Assistant Scientist (Industry)
(with experience)
Lab Manager (University)
Associate Scientist (Industry)
Assistant Professor (University)
Scientist (Industry)
Salary Expectations
Bachelors degree
University: $29,000 – 34,000
Industry : $40,000 – 55,000
Masters degree
University : $35,000 – 45,000
Industry : $50,000 – 65,000
Stipends (set by NIH)
Graduate student: $28,300
Postdocs: $37,740 – 52,068
Ph.D. Salaries
Assistant Professor at Medical School: $82,000
Industry Senior Scientist (with postdoc exp.): $70,000 – 90,000
Typical Salaries for BS/MS
Scientists
G
21
Stipends for Pre- &
Postdoctoral Trainees
G
22
Ph.D. Physiologist Salaries
in Academia and Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry
(entry level)
Medical School
(mean)
Mean Faculty Salaries
in Physiology Departments
AAMC 2009 Survey Results G
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Physiology Training Opens
Doors to Many Careers!
Law and
Legal
Writing
Business
Management
Because scientific training
emphasizes:
Creativity and analytical thinking skills
needed to solve problems
Physiology
Scientific &
Medical
Writing
Science
Policy
Facility with mathematical concepts and
their applications (e.g., data analysis and
statistics) that can be applied in many
different fields
Well-developed skills in oral and written
communication of ideas and data; and
In-depth understanding of the biological,
chemical and physical principles that
underlie life processes
Physiology Training Opens
Doors to Many Careers!
Law and
Legal
Writing
Business
Management
Physiology
Scientific &
Medical
Writing
Science
Policy
It opens the doors to other
fields, such as:
Law and legal writing
Business management and
administration
Policy, especially science policy
Scientific and medical writing
Physiology…
A Good Choice for Me?
Physiology is an Excellent
Career Choice
Want to…
 understand how living processes
and systems work
 help others live longer and better
lives through biomedical
research
Are creative
Are self-motivated and
an independent worker
Like to work with others
on a shared problem
Enjoy writing and
communicating
with others
Preparing for a Career in
Physiology
Take relevant science courses to
be ready for graduate coursework
Practice your writing and
speaking skills
Get research experience in a lab
(APS Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship)
Talk to scientists in fields that you
find interesting
Try to attend a local scientific
meeting if possible
Learn More
About Physiology
The American
Physiological Society
Careers Website
www.the-aps.org
Click on “Careers”
The American
Physiological Society
Association of physiologists
Started in 1887
Research journals
Education programs and materials
Awards
Meetings