Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
2024 - 2025
12 Admitting PhD Programs
133 Students from Disadvantaged SES Background
3.76 Average GPA
121
271 International students
53 Countries
737 DBBS Faculty
290 Thesis Advisors
87 Faculty who have completed 8+ hours of mentorship training
Dear DBBS Training Community,
It is our distinct pleasure to share with you the second annual report of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS). This past year has been one of meaningful change and progress for the Division.
The fiscal year began with an external review of DBBS, commissioned by university leadership and conducted by the Huron Consulting Group. Through extensive stakeholder engagement and benchmarking, the review identified three key areas for improvement:
1. Inconsistency in the student experience
2. Siloed governance and admissions processes
3. Challenging cross-unit relationships
In response, a WashU Medicine Task Force composed of Executive Faculty has been working since January to reimagine DBBS governance in ways that directly address these challenges. We are excited to implement a new governance model that aligns with our longstanding strategic pillars: interdisciplinarity, comprehensive trainee support, and robust evaluation and tracking of trainee progress.
We believe these changes will position DBBS to be more agile and responsive to the evolving landscape of graduate education, while continuing to deliver an exceptional training experience for our students. We look forward to engagement of our faculty and students to bring the new governance to life!
Thank you for your continued commitment to the success of DBBS and its mission.
Warm regards,
Steven Mennerick, PhD
Associate Dean | Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
While this year has brought meaningful change to the Division, it has also reaffirmed the strength and relevance of our mission. As we evolve, our commitment to interdisciplinary training, comprehensive student support, and robust evaluation and tracking remains steadfast.
Over the past year, our teams have worked collaboratively to ensure that students are supported not only academically, but also personally and professionally. The launch of an expanded student support network exemplifies this holistic approach—bringing together identity-based support, wellness resources, co-curricular programming, and career development under one unified initiative. Our curriculum team continues to foster community through innovative ethics training and immersive learning experiences, while our information systems group is expanding access to critical data tools that empower faculty and staff to better support student progress. Our finance team supported a record number of fellowship applications, and we’ve celebrated student success through new programming focused on academic milestones. These are just a few examples of the many initiatives developed by our dedicated DBBS staff, Program Directors, and faculty.
These efforts are not just about maintaining excellence—they are about deepening it. As we look ahead, we remain focused on strengthening these systems and relationships that help our students—and our science—thrive.
Thank you for being a part of it!
Kindest regards,
Cami Spampani, MBA Executive Director | Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
David Kast, PhD, works with DBBS Molecular Cell Biology student Christopher Archer in his lab.
Dr. Kast was recognized with a Dean’s Impact Award on his efforts to improve education and research.
The program is continuing to provide more support and structure to students preparing for the qualifying exam. The course on how to prepare for the qualifying exam is being converted into a NanoCourse, which will feature guidance on topic development, grant writing and development, and support in the form of mock presentations and feedback.
The program hosted an in-person visit in addition to Zoom interviews, featuring a round table information session, faculty meetings, lightning talks, and poster sessions.
The program has multiple planned initiatives. Examples include reworking the required curriculum into a two-part semester course and introducing additional NanoCourses. These NanoCourses include topics such as singular molecular fluorescent spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and machine learning. Lastly, the program will continue to improve and streamline the qualifying exam.
All core courses from the PhDprograms are comprised of traditional students and working professionals in clinical, basic science, public health, and informatics and data science. This allows for all students to mentor, be mentored, and learn from the diverse backgrounds of one another.
The program has adjusted the curriculum to provide more direct access to hands-on learning. This multistep initiative began by forming a student-led community, creating guidelines, organizing social events, facilitating student feedback, and providing touchdown space inside the Becker Medical Library. Additionally, a student-run seminar for practicing qualifying exam and thesis proposals has been launched.
The program plans to update both the program guidelines and overall curriculum to better reflect student needs. The aim is to enhance the student community through more peer support initiatives and build an even stronger sense of belonging
The program has transitioned the Foundation in Cancer Biology Course into four NanoCourses, composed of: (1) Cancer Biology Research Tools; (2) The Molecular Biology of Cancer; (3) Cancer Metabolism and DNA Repair; and (4) Metastasis and Tumor Immunology. Each NanoCourse includes approximately eight lectures that are grouped together to support students in learning the material more efficiently.
This year, the program increased the number of entering MSTP students to four. This represents a significant increase and is met with excitement to see older students interact with the new recruits.
The program is looking forward to the Siteman Cancer Center Symposium this fall. The event promises to be an enriching experience, in which all the program’s students will participate.
The program has led the development of a new co-curricular concept called an Emphasis, which provides a micro-credential for students who take a set of selected thematically related electives. The Emphasis in Human Genetics is now available to students. The possibility of adding additional Emphasis options, including Microbial Multi-Omics, Computational Neuroscience, and Computational Immunobiology, is being explored.
The program modified elective requirements to allow students to substitute one of the three elective requirements by combining multiple NanoCourses, totaling at least three credits.
The program is collaborating with the GATP T32 program, co-led by Barak Cohen, PhD, and Michael Brent, PhD to include its eight-week industry internships in the DBBS Mentored Professional Experience (MPE) program. This will give all DBBS students access to the GATP’s database of industry connections.
Students in the program have successfully led numerous social events, including bowling, a tour of St. Louis, apartment tours, and a lunch for prospective students to meet current students in a relaxed social setting. Additionally, the students organize a weekly seminar and a student-run journal club. These activities provide an invaluable platform for peer feedback and support, fostering a collaborative and nurturing environment within the program.
All students in the program passed their qualifying exams (QEs). The students prepare for the QE through the use of practice talks and peer feedback. Senior students share their experiences and provide guidelines based on successful QEs. The Developmental Biology course is strategically timed to provide grant writing training.
The program aims to increase opportunities for interactions between students and faculty mentors. Additionally, mentorship is encouraged by fostering more interactions between senior and junior students.
The program’s seminar series is now fully coordinated and led by graduate students, including Sean McHugh and Calum Stephenson. As student representatives, they invite, schedule, plan, and introduce speakers for the series.
Students are actively involved in a variety of key campus events and programs, including the Tyson Research Center Undergraduate Fellows Program and the Living Earth Collective Tropical Forest February event. Additionally, current and prospective students were given a tour of the research facilities at the Missouri Botanical Garden to foster connections.
The program plans to restart the St. Louis Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (SLEEC) Retreat, which was paused during the pandemic. The 2025 Retreat will be held at the Missouri Botanical Garden in collaboration with several local institutions.
“By far, the most enjoyable aspect of being the HSG Co-Director has been interacting with our students. They have different interests and backgrounds and are bright and motivated. Helping them navigate their career paths has been particularly rewarding. They are a cohesive group that supports each other through their studies and program events. I have benefited more from them than they have from me.” — Dr. John Rice, PhD
“What I have enjoyed the most about being a Program Director for HSG is interacting with the students, helping them to navigate situations, and celebrating their successes.” — Nathan Stitziel, MD, PhD
Although the HSG program is sunsetting as of 2022, its curricular elements will be integrated into other programs. Additionally, students will now have the option to pursue an Emphasis in Human Genetics. To complete this Emphasis, students must commit to taking two elective courses: Human Genetic Analysis (BIOL 5483) and Computational Statistical Genetics (MSB 621). Upon completion, students are awarded both a certificate and an electronic micro-credential.
The ImmunoLab Spotlight, which features short talks from faculty, was designed to help students choose lab rotations and expose them to as many labs as possible.
To enhance the academic experience for students, the program has added several new initiatives. These include adding additional student-led journal clubs to foster critical analysis and discussion, expanding immunology discussions to deepen subject matter expertise, and hosting lunch meetings that allow students to connect with internal faculty speakers in a more informal setting.
The program is interested in exploring various options related to the development of NanoCourses. These specialized courses would provide focused, short-term learning opportunities designed to enhance specific skills and knowledge areas for students.
The program has been working to foster a stronger sense of community through the use of Work in Progress (WIP) talks on Fridays and numerous social events, including visits to the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum.
The program has redesigned the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) curriculum to incorporate an accelerated path for interested students, ensuring that they can achieve their educational and professional goals more efficiently.
The Program Directors will continue to meet with students individually each year to advise them in all areas of graduate education and career development. Guidelines and advising sessions will continue to be streamlined and clarified with instructive documentation, which will be provided for both the qualifying exam and thesis proposal.
The program has developed a new six-hour workshop to help students create an individualized training plan for their PhD program. Using the National Institutes of Health F30/F31 training plan as a template, the workshop ensures students have a solid draft for fellowship applications. Students write sections focusing on prior experience, PhD training goals, and a plan for specific activities (e.g., courses, workshops, student groups) to gain necessary scientific, technical, and professional skills.
Sheng Chih (Peter) Jin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics, took over the Genomics course from long-time Course Director, Ting Wang, PhD. Dr. Jin has updated the course to keep pace with the evolving field and student feedback.
The program is looking into the option of rekindling the Faculty Rotation Talk Series and plans to continue fostering a sense of belonging through regular cohort-building activities.
The program hosted a Meet the Faculty Lunch Series to allow first-year students the opportunity to interact with faculty in a casual lunch setting and will continue to give opportunities to first-year students to engage with faculty frequently. Group lunches have been organized for upper-level students to discuss shared experiences and offer relevant resources as students complete thesis work.
The program has hosted synchronous virtual interviews with candidates to include opportunities to interact casually with faculty and students through a trivia competition. There was also an in-person dinner event hosted by faculty, which was well-received by prospective students.
The program will be implementing three new NanoCourses in the next academic year. These will include courses on microbial genomics and bioinformatic analysis, microbiological laboratory techniques, and a reimagined ID gateway. Feedback collection and identification of best practices for these courses are eagerly anticipated.
In response to external evaluation, the advising structure has evolved by successfully implementing the career-focused Personal Academic Lifecoach (PAL) program. This program pairs incoming first-year students with a senior faculty advisor from outside their primary research area. These advisors meet informally with students twice a year for casual coffee chats and provide guidance on goals and professional development.
Harrison Gabel, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, and Jason Yi, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience have been running the program’s core Cellular Neurobiology course for over five years. Both continually receive positive feedback from students on their mentorship and rapport.
The program will be launching two new AI-centered NanoCourses, exploring the use of neural networks as analysis tools in modern Neuroscience and their potential as foundational models and digital twins to supplement and enhance work in biological model organisms.
Following the program’s annual town hall meeting, the qualifying exam was updated based on valuable recommendations from both students and faculty. These changes aim to clarify expectations and promote greater transparency in the examination process.
Students have taken the initiative to organize monthly social events aimed at fostering a stronger sense of camaraderie and community among their peers. These gatherings provide valuable opportunities for students to connect, enhancing their overall academic and social experience.
The program is actively exploring the possibility of starting a new plant-focused journal club in collaboration with the Danforth Plant Science Center faculty. Additionally, there are revisions underway that will better align courses to the Division’s mission.
Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Structural Biology
The program held their annual retreat on September 12, 2024, at the St. Louis Zoo. The retreat featured two keynote talks from junior faculty, lightning talks, posters and a talent show.
Biomedical Informatics & Data Science, Computational and Systems Biology, Human and Statistical Genetics, and Molecular Genetics & Genomics
The programs held a joint retreat September 26–27, 2024, at Pere Marquette Lodge. The retreat included 13 student speakers, 11 new faculty posters, and 16 student posters. CSB student Qian Zhang earned an award for Best Student Talk.
Cancer Biology
The program held their annual retreat November 5-6, 2024, at Deer Creek Lodge and had nine student presentations ranging from third- to fifth-year students, and a poster session that included 24 posters from all PhD levels.
Developmental, Regenerative, & Stem Cell Biology
The annual joint retreat with the Department of Developmental Biology, and the Center of Regenerative Medicine was on September 16-17, 2024, at Pere Marquette Lodge and featured poster session and karaoke.
Immunology
The program held their retreat at Pere Marquette Lodge on August 29-30, 2024, and featured two keynote speakers, Caroline Sokol, MD, PhD, and Erin Chen, MD, PhD. The retreat included 39 posters, a career panel, and 18 student, staff, and faculty talks
Molecular Cell Biology
The program partnered with the Cell Biology and Physiology Department to host a joint retreat at Trout Lodge October 10-11, 2024. The retreat featured talks from 12 students, 6 junior faculty, and two poster sessions with 42 presenters.
Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis
The program held their retreat at Pere Marquette Lodge October 10-11, 2024, with keynote speaker Ting Wang, PhD. The event featured 11 talks from trainees and a poster session.
Neurosciences
The program held their retreat on September 9-10, 2024, at Pere Marquette Lodge. The retreat featured two keynote speakers Marisa Spann, PhD, and Anna Penn, MD, PhD, from the University of Columbia. Additionally, 16 students gave talks.
Plant & Microbial Biosciences
The program held their retreat at the St. Louis Zoo on October 18, 2024. The keynote speaker was Courtney Leisner, PhD, an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. There were 10 talks given by trainees.
(July 2024-June 2025)
Program faculty serve as principal lab advisors, mentoring of students in their thesis work.
M. Catalina Camacho, PhD | Robert Cambell, PhD | Siyan Cao, MD, PhD | Malay Choudhury, PhD | Kevin Cox, PhD | Zhiyu Dai, PhD | Ziao Fu, PhD | Aliereza Ghanbarpour, PhD | Charles Goss, PhD | Andy Groves, PhD | Aditi Gupta, PhD | Brett Herzog, MD, PhD | Eric Huang, MD, PhD | Umang Jain, PhD | Joanna Jankowsky, PhD | Ramon Jin, MD, PhD | Sana Karam, MD, PhD | Andreas Kautt, PhD | Alexander Knights, PhD | Dmitri Kotov, PhD | Shinijini Kundu, PhD, MD | Timothy Laumann, MD, PhD | Jose Marcio Luna, PhD | Cindy Ly, MD, PhD | Kiran Mahajan, PhD | Naoka Murakami, MD, PhD | Arash Nazeri, MD | Miranda Orr, PhD | Bhuvic Patel, MD | Alex Ramsey, PhD | Philip Ruzycki, PhD | Rebecca Schwarzlose, PhD | Eric Thompson, MD | Aki Ushiki, PhD | Qian Wang, PhD | Max Wattenberg, MD | Bo Zhang, PhD | Ting Zhang, PhD | Ofer Zimmerman, MD
(July 2024-June 2025)
General faculty serve in various training and mentorship roles, such as committee members, course instructors, and career mentors.
Nicholas Borcherding, MD, PhD | Frederik Denorme, PhD | Young Ah Goo, PhD | Mark Huffman, MD, MPH | Reyka Jayasinghe, PhD | MohammadMehdi Kafashan PhD, MSc | Sunny Lou, MD, PhD | Dario Maschi, PhD | Jeramia Ory, PhD | Cyril Pottier, PhD | Buck Rogers, PhD | Yidan Sun, PhD
Kevin Cox, PhD
Dr. Cox joined WashU in 2024 as an Assistant Professor, whose lab specializes in the field of single-cell and spatial biology. Dr. Cox is a recipient of the HHMI Hanna Gray Fellowship award and the 2025 Eric E. Conn Young Investigator Award. His research, developing ExPOSE (Expansion Microscopy in Plant Protoplast Systems), a technique that brings expansion microscopy to plants, was recently published in The Plant Journal.
“Mentoring PhD students, postdocs, and other trainees is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. I consider it a great privilege—and never take it for granted—to serve as a mentor and leader and help them develop their careers.” — Kevin Cox, PhD
Celeste Morley, MD, PhD
Primary DBBS Program: Immunology
Celeste Morley is the Park J. White, MD Professorship in Pediatrics endowed chair at the McDonnell Pediatric Research Building. She leads a team of researchers in exploring how actin cytoskeletal elements shape immune cell activation and development and how mitochondrial metabolism is remodeled during inflammation to combat pathogens and enhance defense mechanisms in children. Her lab opened in 2010 and is known for using cutting-edge techniques including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, live cell imaging, standard biochemical analyses, RT-PCR, ELISAs, and in vivo analyses of cellular immunology.
“The life of a scientist should be a journey of exploration and discovery, As a mentor, I serve as a guide to those who are forging their own paths, assisting by providing insight and advice derived from years of experience in mapping the biological world and problem-solving.” — Celeste Morley, MD, PhD
David Pagliarini, PhD
Primary DBBS Program: Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Structural Biology
Dave Pagliarini is the Urbauer Distinguished Professor and BJC Investigator at WashU Medicine where he leads an interdisciplinary team of scientists investigating leading-edge challenges in mitochondrial biochemistry and metabolism. In particular, his lab blends large-scale systems approaches with mechanistic biochemistry to define the molecular underpinnings of mitochondria dysfunction in human disease. For this work, Dr. Pagliarini has received a Searle Scholar Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Young Investigator award from the Protein Society, and the Earl and Thressa Stadtman Young Scholar Award from the ASBMB. In 2024, Dr. Pagliarini became an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He is also a member of numerous prestigous groups such as the American Heart Association and the Protein Society.
“I have found that coaching motivated trainees to meet their goals is the singularly most rewarding aspect of being a PI. I believe that helping PhD students is essential for ensuring their individual success and the preserving of a rigorous scientific enterprise” — David Pagliarini, PhD
Lila Solnica-Krezel, PhD
Primary DBBS Program: Developmental, Regenerative, & Stem Cell Biology
Lila Solnica-Krezel is the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor and served as the Head of the Department of Developmental Biology at WashU Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), recipient of 2019 Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Award from the European Zebrafish Society, 2023 Edwin Conklin Medal from the Society for Developmental Biology and was elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. From 2018-2019 Dr. Solinica-Krezel served as the President of the Society for Developmental Biology, and in 2021-2022 as the President of the International Zebrafish Society. She is one of the pioneers of the zebrafish model, having established methods for efficient germline mutagenesis and coordinating a genome-wide screen for embryonic lethal mutations. Her lab is leading the efforts of the WashU Zebrafish Model Organism Screening Center.
“The process of scientific discovery is particularly rewarding and effective as a collaborative endeavor. In my laboratoy, [we] pursue research together-learning from one another-to answer meaningful research questions and grow into the best scientists and people they can be.”
— Lila Solnica-Krezel, PhD
“Throughout FY25, Research Administrator Dana Kharibian managed an extraordinary workload, balancing a record number of student fellowship applications while also coordinating complex training grant submissions. Her subject matter expertise, attention to detail, and ability to maintain composure under pressure make her an invaluable asset to DBBS/MSTP.”
— Alison Wessels, PhD, Director of Finance & Administration
“Grants Specialist, Amy Johnson continued in her professional development over the last year, managing numerous fellowship RPPRs from initiation to submission, learning and taking on the fellowship termination process, and providing essential support for training grant renewal projects. Her efforts have strengthened the administrative bandwidth of the Finance Team and contributed to the academic success of our students.”
— Alison Wessels, PhD, Director of Finance & Administration
“Julianne excels in her role as the Summer Programs Manager, consistently going above and beyond expectations. Her involvement in the Emerging Leaders Program at the Institute for Leadership Excellence at WashU has further honed her skills, elevating her professional contributions. Julianne’s unwavering dedication and commitment to continuous improvement exemplify her leadership style.”
— Cindy Vigueira, PhD, Director, Curriculum & Graduate Programs
“Rosie began her journey as a Diversity and Student Affairs Coordinator with a strong emphasis on student support and has since advanced through several key roles, including Senior Project Manager of Strategic Initiatives and University Collaboration, and now serves as Director of Strategic Projects. In addition to her leadership within DBBS, Rosie was the employee representative on the School of Medicine Task Force on Climate & Culture and serves on both the SAFE Committee and University Sexual Harassment Investigation Board. Her contributions have significantly enhanced the Division’s documentation practices and elevated our visibility through strategic communications and social media. We’re truly grateful for Rosie’s thoughtful leadership, creative energy, and the steady impact she makes every day in strengthening our community and advancing our mission.”
— Cami Spampani, MBA, DBBS Executive Director
Congratulations to all award, fellowship, and scholarship recipients within the Division! DBBS takes great pride in the diverse array of honors achieved by our students. We celebrate the recipients of the awards, fellowships, and scholarships listed below.
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship
American Society of Hematology (ASH) Graduate Hematology Award
Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin-Chancellor’s Fellowship (OCF)
Antoinette Frances Dames Award in Cell Biology and Physiology
Autism Science Foundation
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Award
Catharine Lieneman Botany Fellowship
Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship
Cognitive, Computational, and Systems Neuroscience (CCSN) Pathway
DBBS Internal Student Fellowship
Dean’s Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
Dr. Barbara Jakschik Award
Dr. Michael V. Seiden Fellowship
Dr. Philip Needleman Endowed Fellowship
Dr. Sondra Schlesinger Graduate Student Fellowship
Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
Gary D. Stormo Computational & Systems Biology Fellowship
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship
Imaging Sciences Pathway Fellowship
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)
John P. Atkinson Fellowship in Human IMM
McDonnell International Scholars Academy
MilliporeSigma Fellowship
Ministry of Education (MOE) Taiwan - Partial Scholarship
Molecular Science Software Institute (MoISSI)
National Institutes of Health Individual Diversity NRSA (F31)
National Institutes of Health Individual NRSA (F30)
National Institutes of Health Individual NRSA (F31)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Spencer T. & Ann W. Olin Medical Science Fellowship
William H. Danforth Plant Sciences Fellowship
James McCarter, MD, PhD
By The Numbers
Dr. James McCarter leads BioGenerator Ventures as Senior Managing Director and is the Senior Vice President at BioSTL in St. Louis creating, building, and investing in start-ups that solve important problems in human health and agriculture. Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Genetics at WashU Medicine.
Previously, he led clinical research and medical affairs for new biosensors at Abbott Laboratories launching OTC CGM technology in the US and UK. Prior to Abbott, he led research and clinical operations for Virta Health, a tech-enabled nationwide medical provider delivering the first clinically-proven treatment to safely and sustainably reverse type 2 diabetes (T2D). Dr. McCarter directed the Virta clinical trial proving diabetes reversal at scale, resulting in changes to the American Diabetes Association 2019 standards of care and creating a paradigm shift in T2D treatment.
Scientific Publications and Patents 20
Nonprofit Boards and Professional Advisory Boards Served Innovation Award
Recipient from the Academy of Science of St. Louis Fellowship The Aspen Institute
Dr. McCarter was the Founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer of Divergence, Inc., a front-runner in the application of genomics to infectious disease and agriculture. The Company’s discoveries led to products in agriculture and veterinary diagnostics. Divergence was acquired by Monsanto where he was an executive in chemistry technology and with Monsanto Growth Ventures. Dr. McCarter was a scientific advisor for Readout, Inc. and was a board observer for Neurolutions, Inc., both medical device companies supported by BioGenerator.
“One of the defining experiences of my time in DBBS was co-founding the Young Scientist Program (YSP), enabling students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter careers in science. The YSP high school student I mentored, Bart Bartlett PhD, has gone on to an exceptional career in science and is now Chair of Chemistry at the University of Michigan. Seeing hundreds of YSP students launch their own careers in science has been among the greatest joys of my career. The skills I learned leading a large volunteer organization as a graduate student are useful to me every day leading BioGenerator as we help entrepreneurs launch new biotech companies in St. Louis.”
— James McCarter, MD, PhD
Erica Barnell, MD, PhD
Molecular Genetics and Genomics, 2023
Britt Moss, PhD
Molecular Cell Biology, 2011
Dr. Erica Barnell is the Co-founder, Chief Medical, and Chief Science Officer of Geneoscopy, a healthcare company that is developing innovative tests to prevent, detect, and monitor gastrointestinal disease.
“DBBS is unique in its ability to shape training around individual goals, not just to mold scientists, but to empower them as leaders. The Division embraced the idea that scientific innovation can thrive in both academic labs and biotech companies, and that the world is better when organizations are led by individuals with rigorous scientific training.”— Erica Barnell, MD, PhD
“Alumni offer a glimpse of the future for our current trainees their experiences show our students the many leadership paths open to DBBS graduates.”
— Steve Mennerick, PhD
Dr. Britt Moss is an Associate Professor and Program Chair of Biology and Biochemistry, Biophysics, & Molecular Biology (BBMB) at Whitman College. Her research program with undergraduates focuses on dissecting the cellular machinery that enables plant cells to detect and respond to the hormone auxin.
“As a DBBS student, I was grateful for many opportunities for fruitful collaborations with other research groups at WashU. This gave me valuable insights on how to successfully navigate collaborative research during my post-doctoral fellowship and now as a faculty member. My advice would be to seek out opportunities for research collaborations with fellow scientists at WashU. It is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in new areas of science and to learn how to effectively navigate collaborations.” — Britt Moss, PhD
“I devloped lots of transferable skills at WashU. I learned to think critically and question everything, I learned to analyze data, to manage people, and work collaboratively to give back to the community.”
— Nicquet Blake, PhD, Neurosciences 2001
P. Roy Vagelos, MD, is an internationally renowned physician, scientist, and philanthropist. Dr. Vagelos has authored over 100 scientific papers and is a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National of Academy of Science of St. Louis, and the American Philosophical Society.
After a 10-year career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Vagelos joined WashU in 1966, where he succeeded Nobel laureate Carl Cori as head of the Department of Biological Chemistry. Through his leadership he recruited leading scientists to the faculty, created a framework for integrating diverse disciplines in life science education by creating the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences in 1973. He founded the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) three years earlier. Dr. Vagelos was also an early champion of educational access, sending representatives to colleges in the 1960s to recruit historically excluded students.
After leaving WashU, Dr. Vagelos became Senior Vice President of Merck, where he continued his philanthropic efforts. Under his leadership Dr. Vagelos ensured that populations in need had access to medication to treat river blindness and vaccinate against Hepatitis B even if they could not afford it. These acts of service led to the foundation of Merck’s Mectizan Donation Program, which as of 2023, has distributed over 5.5 billion treatments to those in need.
“My focus is on helping people.”
— P. Roy Vagelos, MD
In September 2024, Jeffrey Gordon, MD, Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Biology, had the opportunity to converse with Roy Vagelos, MD, and his wife, Diana Vagelos. This conversation was conducted as part of the WashU School of Medicine Oral History Project. This ongoing series captures firsthand accounts and reflections on the history of the medical school. Read excerpts from their interview below.
Jeffrey Gordon, MD
“You [have] deep commitments to enhancing education and removing financial barriers for people so they can pursue education in medical school or elsewhere. What was your reason for targeting undergraduates as a major source of your philanthropy? And what are your expectations about how to continue to improve the capacity of people to realize their full potential, but also to make the world a better place?”
P. Roy Vagelos, MD
“Our focus on education, undergraduate and graduate education, was developed based on our own experience. We were both scholarship students. And we recognized the rising costs of education. And that there was a huge population of people who are fully capable of being educated that would not be educated without financial aid. And so financial aid of students was one of our targets going back many, many years. Which has been a great joy because some of our students have been extraordinary in what they’ve accomplished, which never would’ve happened without financial aid.”
Diana Vagelos
“I also think that somehow we appreciated early on that you really weren’t educated if you weren’t in a diverse environment because you were missing a lot about a lot of different people. And in order to really have honestly a diverse school population, it was clear that there were very many people who were not as comfortable financially as it takes to attend a good, not a graduate, but an undergraduate school. And even spending time learning rather than working was not easy for a lot of students. So if they didn’t have scholarships, they really didn’t have the time or the luxury to be a college student. And somehow that seemed to make all the difference. And I think it has been proven that the more diverse and the better the school, the better the outcomes in the long run for society in general. And we just hope that people continue to think that way. And do not reverse and forget that education changes people’s lives, changes communities, it changes the world. And so we have to think it’s worthwhile spending what it takes to do that.”
Jeffrey Gordon, MD
“The world is facing so many challenges that require people to look outside of self and to commit themselves to helping others. And you talk about the importance in your own lives of experiencing a diverse community where people looked at the world through different sets of lenses. And I guess part of your hopes for investment in children’s education, whether it be early on or later on, is to be able to look at the world around them and to try to make it a better place in whatever ways they can. I think that’s probably fantastic advice to every single university around in our country and beyond.”
P.
“My advice to young people is that they should work in an area that they love. Because to succeed, big time, requires a great deal of effort and time. And if you love what you’re doing, it’s not a negative. The work is part of the love. And I have always worked in areas that I was deeply interested in and therefore did not resent the amount of time that I’ve spent there. And that’s always been the case.”
“I would like to be remembered as someone who’s willing to help an individual [who is] capable of doing whatever they focus on, but needs a little help.”
— P. Roy Vagelos, MD
The Division has prioritized three strategic initiatives: Interdisciplinarity, Evaluation and Tracking, and Student Success. Learn more about a selection of programs and projects that are in service of these overarching initiatives.
The Division is committed to fostering a collaborative approach to enhance academic and research experiences. Through interdisciplinary initiatives, students, faculty, and staff work together to address complex challenges, driving progress, and advancing knowledge.
Interdiscplinary Initiatives:
• Standardized program guidelines and syllabi highlight shared expectations and cross-program collaboration.
• NanoCourses and Scientific Immersion foster interdisciplinary learning.
• New Chemical Biology & Human Genetics inter-programmatic, interdisciplinary enrichment training.
• Admissions: Moving to a single DBBS Admissions Committee with faculty from all programs for balanced, interdisciplinary cohorts.
“Becoming a successful bioscientist requires multidisciplinary training and mastery of integrated sciences. DBBS is ideally positioned to promote scientific training and discovery at the interfaces of disciplines, where the most important scientific breakthroughs occur.”
— Steve Mennerick,
PhD
Evaluation & Tracking
Interdisciplinarity Evaluation & Tracking
The Division aims to better measure trainee progress by implementing robust mechanisms to monitor and assess trainee development and competencies. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that each individual’s journey is guided and supported.
Evaluation & Tracking Initiatives:
• Centralized data systems and dashboards to monitor student milestones.
• Plans underway to implement third-party platforms for competency tracking.
• Developed a new framework for understanding how students complete the competencies of graduate education was developed. See The five Essential Scientific Skills (below).
Rooted in a commitment to holistic student development, the Division is dedicated to fostering student well-being, inclusion, and a sense of belonging throughout the PhD journey.
Student Support Initiatives:
• Holistic development emphasized through expanded advising, peer tutoring, and milestone support.
• Summer research programs that foster undergraduate recruitment into graduate training.
• Partnership with WashU Postdoctoral Affairs as pd|hub site offers career workshops focused on storytelling and communication.
• Streamlined financial processes ensure timely stipend and career & professional development payments.
• Record student fellowship submissions.
• Virtual career development networking with alumni through WashU’s CNX platform.
Interdisciplinarity Evaluation & Tracking Student Support
The Division and the WashU Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion co-hosted a three-day training on Restorative Practices in Biosciences and Academic Medicine in April 2025. AAMC Restorative Practices facilitators, Jay Behel, PhD, and Sonoo Thadaney Israni, MBA, led the sessions. Thirty participants from across WashU Medicine completed the interactive, on-site training. Program graduates will now participate in a community of practice for support and continued engagement. The Division will be implementing these skills and practices within our community to enhance culture change and student support.
“The Restorative Practices in Biosciences and Academic Medicine training was fantastic! The facilitators offered wonderful insights, and I believe we’ve created a broad base of support for a strong community of practitioners. I’m excited to see how this community grows, especially if we can create some real restorative pathways for managing conflicts down the road.”
— Peter Myers, PhD, Restorative Practices Ambassador
The Interdisciplinary Scientific Immersion Program at WashU offers incoming DBBS students a guided introduction to the culture, expectations, and collaborative nature of scientific research. Developed through a National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovations in Graduate Education grant led by Heather True, PhD, and Cindy Vigueira, PhD, the program is designed to replace early didactic instruction with immersive, student-driven exploration of interdisciplinary bioscience research.
As a formative experience at the start of students’ academic journey, the program includes two weeks of small-group, interdisciplinary research exploration and a separate week focused on science communication. Led by faculty facilitators and advanced trainees, Scientific Immersion helps students build essential research, analytical, and communication skills while also fostering connections across programs.
In 2024, over 135 incoming students participated in the two-week Scientific Immersion experience in August. Working in small groups, students explored distinct bioscience topics, critically evaluated primary literature, and drafted a one-page Specific Aims page modeled after NSF- or NIH-style grant proposals. These sessions helped students prepare for key milestones ahead, such as qualifying exams, thesis proposals, and scientific presentations. Throughout the two weeks, students reported significant gains in scientific reasoning, writing confidence, and collaboration. Notably, 100 percent of participants shared that they made new friends during this introductory grad school experience.
“I think Immersion is really important for incoming students as they transition from college to graduate school. There are no more books! We come up with new questions, and that means we have to find new approaches.”
Following the small-group experience, students reconvened for a dedicated Science Communication (SciComm) week in late August. Programming included high-energy workshops, expert talks, and hands-on sessions focused on writing, speaking, and communication in science. Scientific Immersion features distinguished keynote speakers to inspire students on various topics. The 2024 Scientific Immersion keynote speaker was Sara Serritella, a science communication expert, award-winning journalist, and private detective whose presentations grace the stages of global and national conferences. For students participating in Scientific Immersion, her guidance served as an opportunity to enhance their communication skills for graduate school and beyond.
The three-week 2024 Scientific Immersion experience provided students with the tools, community, and confidence to thrive in graduate training. The program reflects the Division’s long-standing commitment to interdisciplinary training and aims to improve early graduate student retention, scientific identity, and career readiness.
“What I think is remarkable about the Immersion program is that it’s a sort of micro synthesis of all the scientific communication skills you have toacquire during the course of your PhD.”
— David Kast, PhD, Faculty Facilitator, 5 years
The Division partnered with the Center for Career Engagement, the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and various student groups to host a month-long event series.
The series featured three distinct themes:
1. Academic Careers and Postdocs
2. Industry and Entrepreneurship
3. Science Communication, Government, and Alternative Careers
The event series, hosted throughout the year, provided an invaluable opportunity for students within the Division to connect over lunch and address a wide range of topics. A few topics included Storm Recovery and Support, AI in Graduate Education, Career and Professional Development, Student Health, and Scientific Communication. This series not only fosters a sense of community among students but also offers a direct channel to central leadership, enabling an open dialogue for concerns and feedback.
Student Kia Barclay provides feedback and student insight during February Wednesday Wraps, while Dr. Christina Stallings, PhD takes notes.
“Wednesday Wraps serves as the perfect platform for DBBS administrative leaders to interface with students. The relaxed structure encourages dialog on topics that students would otherwise not raise as stand-alone issues, while incorporating the administrative support necessary to address issues and implement changes in real time Wednesday Wraps has been beneficial to my sense of significance at WashU and my enthusiasm for DBBS.”
— Jenny Srnak, PhD student, Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology Program
Student groups play a crucial role in helping to foster a vibrant and inclusive community. Through organized events, workshops, seminars, and social activities, student groups promote engagement, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. By participating in these groups, students gain access to valuable resources and support mechanisms that help them navigate their academic and social lives.
“Student groups are the heartbeat of DBBS. They serve as a platform for leadership development, providing opportunities for students to grow, collaborate, and lead in ways that support the Division-wide goals. What I find most rewarding is when a student’s involvement in these groups directly connects to their career path to help them define their ‘WHY’ for pursuing science, which gives deeper meaning to their journey.”
— Mike Jones, PhD, Community Engagement & Co-Curricular Education (CECE) Director
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FGS is determined to give graduate students and postdocs who were first-generation college students and/or from a low-socioeconomic status background a place to feel comfortable in academic research and at WashU. This year, FGS executed 7 events, workshops, mentorship initiatives, and outreach programs, prioritizing internal growth, skill-building for members, and expanding collaborations with campus partners.
Women in STEM (WiSTEM) is determined to give individuals who identify as women, and allies, within DBBS and the wider WashU visibility, a voice, and a place to feel comfortable in science, medicine, and other STEM fields. WiSTEM works to meet the needs of our members through professional development opportunities, campus and community outreach, and inclusive event programming in DBBS.
Through these efforts, WiSTEM hopes to create an inclusive environment within DBBS and the wider WashU community as a forum for the unique challenges that womenidentifying trainees face both on a daily basis and on a larger scale.
Additionally, WiSTEM hosted a variety of events to engage both the WashU and broader St. Louis community. These included a Gala for Dignity Period, which provides menstrual health education and reusable menstrual pads to middle and high school students attending St. Louis public schools.
Other notable events include SciFest at the St. Louis Science Center, She Leads held on the Danforth Campus, Bingo & Donuts, Galentine’s Day, Book Club, and Dance Class. These initiatives aimed to foster community involvement, promote health education, and create inclusive spaces for networking and support.
“By uplifiting and inspiring the women around us, we help them reach their full potential and ensure that everyone has a seat at ‘the table’.”
— Kaci Martin, WiSTEM President, PhD student, Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program
Guided by student and program leadership, the IMSD program, co-directed by Jim Skeath, PhD and Tracey Hermanstyne, PhD hosted a range of key events and activities throughout the 2024–2025 academic year. These events began by welcoming incoming students during Orientation Bootcamp, which featured dinners, social events, and peer mentoring panels designed to create a strong, supportive community as students begin their graduate journey.
Throughout the year, the IMSD program continued to facilitate monthly networking events, dinners, and social gatherings. Additionally, IMSD provided professional development opportunities, including community science engagements, financial literacy workshops, civil rights discussions, and mock rotation and qualifying exam (QE) talks. These initiatives helped IMSD students thrive both in and out of the lab, supporting their holistic development and success.
Drs. Jim Skeath and Tracey Hermanstyne will continue to provide PhD students with a supportive community through the Next Generation Science Scholars (NGSS) Program—Graduate Division. This program will encompass networking events, scientific outreach and engagements with surrounding communities, and near-peer mentoring for research-focused WashU undergraduates from first-generation and low-income backgrounds.
“Doing a PhD far from home, which in my case is Puerto Rico, has been really hard but in IMSD I have found a big family.”
— Melanie Cruz Berrios, PhD student, Neurosciences Program
The Division hosted our Hooding and Recognition Ceremony on May 9, 2025, at 560 Music Center to celebrate 88 participating graduates. Additionally, we are honored to have been joined by 98 faculty members, including DBBS Program Directors, Department Chairs, and dedicated mentors who attended the event alongside graduates’ invited guests.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was Dr. Nicquet Blake, alumna of the Division’s Neurosciences program. She is currently serving as the Vice Provost of Student Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate Division at University of California, San Francisco.
The Division is immensely proud of our graduates’ achievements. We are excited to see the bold, transformative impact they will make in the world.
“I’m asking you students to double-down. To do the courageous science. To take big risks in your area… Think about how you can help bridge the [science] communication gap.”
— Nicquet Blake, PhD, Neurosciences, 2001
Roy and Diana Vagelos Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences September 2025, All Rights Reserved