GSBS News Archive

July 19, 2022

We are pleased to announce the following leadership appointments for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. These individuals have been serving in their GSBS leadership roles in an ad interim capacity and have made outstanding contributions to the Graduate School in service of our trainees, faculty, staff, and community.  

Janice Jones Endsley, PhD, has been appointed Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Dr. Endsley has served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs ad interim since Feb. 1, 2021.

Dr. Endsley joined UTMB in 2006 and is currently a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Pathology. She earned her doctoral degree in immunobiology from Iowa State University, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri-Columbia and in the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB. Dr. Endsley is an infectious disease immunologist whose laboratory has made important contributions to understanding immune dysfunction in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and HIV co-infections through the development of novel animal models and discovery approaches using clinical research specimens. Through collaborative partnerships at UTMB, she has further advanced knowledge important to the development of clinical interventions for several other human pathogens, including the causative agents of plague, anthrax, melioidosis, and, more recently, COVID-19. Dr. Endsley has served on multiple institutional and educational committees, is an active educator and research mentor, and has been recognized by her peers and trainees with multiple awards for her educational excellence.

Daniel Jupiter, PhD, has been appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. Jupiter has served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ad interim since Oct. 1, 2021.

Dr. Jupiter joined UTMB in 2014 and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation. He earned his doctoral degree in mathematics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, followed by postdoctoral training in the Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine and the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Texas A&M Health Science Center, in Temple, TX. Dr. Jupiter’s research investigates lower extremity complications of diabetes, including ulceration, amputation, and infectious diseases such as osteomyelitis. He partners with clinical collaborators in studying the epidemiology of, risk factors for, and treatment of these diseases, with the objective of designing better interventions to cure the disease or alleviate its symptoms and develop more successful preventive measures. Preceding his appointment as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jupiter served as the GSBS Assistant Dean for Recruitment from September 2018 until October 2021. Dr. Jupiter has been actively involved in various educational programs and initiatives at UTMB, the Graduate School, the John Sealy School of Medicine, and the new School of Public and Population Health, as well as efforts to expand and build new collaborations with other UT System institutions and inter-institutional cooperatives.

Tracy Toliver-Kinsky, PhD, has been appointed Assistant Dean for Recruitment. Dr. Toliver-Kinsky has served as Assistant Dean for Recruitment ad interim since Oct. 1, 2021.

Dr. Toliver-Kinsky earned her doctoral degree in human biochemistry and genetics from the UTMB Graduate School, followed by postdoctoral training in the UTMB Department of Human Biochemistry and Genetics and Department of Anesthesiology. She joined the UTMB faculty in 2003 and is currently a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology. Dr. Toliver-Kinsky’s basic science and translational research program studies the immunological responses to trauma, wound healing mechanisms, and stem cell regenerative therapy. Her research has garnered funding from multiple entities such as the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Toliver-Kinsky also serves as the Director of the Basic Biomedical Science Curriculum in the Graduate School. She has demonstrated a commitment to teaching, mentoring, and continuous development of the learning experience through innovative approaches in areas such as research ethics, science communication, and more.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Endsley, Dr. Jupiter, and Dr. Toliver-Kinsky on their appointments.

Justine Ortega, one of our Pharmacology & Toxicology PhD students from Mexico that is funded by a Conacyt-ConTex scholarship, was recently spotlighted in a ConTex interview.

Neuroscience graduate student Tony Tang shared his research with the neurotrauma research community at the 39th Annual National Neurotrauma Society Conference in Atlanta this week. Thank you for representing the GSBS!

2022 Achieving Data Quality and Integrity in Clinical Trials Involving High Consequence Pathogens
Registration is open for the FDA-sponsored 2022 Achieving Data Quality and Integrity in Clinical Trials Involving High Consequence Pathogens course. This free course will be held from July 11 - 13, 2022 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) - Global Center for Health Security (GCHS). In-person and virtual options are available. To register and learn more about this course, visit the link below or click here to view the flyer. Registration closes on June 30, 2022; limited in-person seats available.
https://lnkd.in/g7_XUAR6

Donna Herrera Bell, a graduate student in the GSBS Graduate Nursing Program, recently gave an oral presentation on Eliminating Barriers to Fertility Discussions at the 47th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Anaheim, CA. Her work was highlighted at: https://bit.ly/3yXDJem. Congratulations, Donna!

Congratulations to Michelle Nighswander, GSBS Graduate Nursing Program student, on her recently accepted publication in the Journal of School Nursing. The online version will be available by July 2022, and the print version is slated to be published February 2023.

2022 GSBS Commencement

UTMB Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Commencement was held in conjunction with the School of Public and Population Health on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 4:00pm. Please click here to view the livestream recording.

News Archive ...

Novel Biomarkers

Neuroscience graduate student Zifeng (Tony) Tang is showcasing his research in the Sigma Xi Student Research Showcase event, which is also a competition. You can view Tony's entry through the link provided, and can comment on and "like" his entry. Best of luck, Tony!

Novel biomarkers for the evaluation of traumatic brain injury (tumblr.com)


Career Exploration & Development Events

Welcome! A graduate degree in biomedical science opens doors to a variety of career paths, each requiring some shared and some unique skills.

Events Calendar


Career Exploration Network

A news story on the UT System home page discussed the successful piloting of a virtual networking program aimed at aiding graduate students and postdocs in pursuing the next steps in their careers. The initiative was developed with the 6 University of Texas System Health Institutions, and both UTMB students and alumni participated.


GSBS Commencement 2021

View video of event

IHII & GSBS Award for Excellence

Award for Excellence Grant Application for UTMB predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows who have excelled in research related to COVID-19 is currently available. Application due date: 9 AM, July 1st, 2021


Internship Opportunities in Infectious Diseases

The following WGCVBD-affiliated summer student internships are currently available. The deadline to apply is March 26, 2021.


MPH Student Selected as 2020 Archer Fellow

Congratulations to Semira Solomon, one of our MPH students, for selection as a UT System ⁦‪‬⁩2020 Archer Fellow! She intends to spend her time in DC in working with Housing and Urban Development on a project related to health outcomes for children living in public housing.

The Archer Fellowship Program was established by the UT System in conjunction with former U.S. Representative Bill Archer as a way to bring highly motivated and accomplished students to Washington, DC, for a comprehensive academic and professional experience.


BioMedCAS

UTMB GSBS joins other schools in adopting the BioMedCAS system for processing applications to graduate school. See Liaison International's press release here: https://www.liaisonedu.com/news/liaisons-biomedcas-doubles-membership-in-its-third-cycle/