Toxicology Defined

Toxicology is the basic science of poisons. As such it focuses on understanding the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms by applying knowledge and techniques from biochemistry, chemistry, physiology, molecular biology, genomics and proteomics, and other disciplines.

What do Toxicologists do?

Upon completion of graduate education, toxicologists assume a variety of roles in academia, industry and government. These include teaching, basic research on mechanisms of toxicity, application of toxicology research to safety evaluation of both new and existing chemicals, and risk analysis to characterize and predict the potential of chemicals to produce acute and chronic illnesses in human populations.

Toxicologists are concerned with the hazards associated with chemicals encountered through occupational and environmental exposures including their occurrence as air and water pollutants. They are also concerned with risks resulting from the use of chemicals as pharmaceutical agents and food additives. In modern toxicology, emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms involved in the actions of toxicants in order to determine their relevance to human health. To accomplish these goals, studies are conducted using animal models at all levels ranging from whole animals to subcellular fractions as well as a large number of cell culture systems.

Training in Toxicology

• Toxicology Plan of Study

Graduate students in toxicology come from a variety of chemical and life science undergraduate backgrounds. The graduate program is designed primarily to prepare students at the Ph.D. level. Courses are selected in accordance with the research needs and career goals of the individual graduate student. These can be considered in three general areas, basic core courses, courses in toxicology, and those related to the area of research. Examples of courses that are typically taken by graduate students as presented below. This is not an exhaustive list but illustrate the variety of courses available at Purdue University.

Research Opportunities

In preparing for a career in toxicology, heavy emphasis is placed on laboratory research. Currently the focus of toxicology in the School of Health Sciences is in three areas: 1) the relationship between the bioactivation of chemicals, particularly solvents and alcohols, and their subsequent activities as toxicants, 2) the neurotoxicity associated with chemical exposure, especially metals such as manganese, lead and mercury, and 3) molecular and systems toxicology. In selecting, initiating and conducting their research, graduate students at Purdue are encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary activities. Multiple opportunities exist for interactions with scientists in other areas including the Cancer Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Biomedical Engineering, and Departments of Entomology, Biology, Psychology, Chemistry, Physics, Forestry and Natural Resources, and Agronomy. Also of interest are the Center for the Environment and the Purdue University Neurosciences Program.

Seminar and research group presentations, as well as the preparation of manuscripts, are employed to develop oral and written communication skills. Graduate students are encouraged to attend regional and national meetings to present the results of their research.

ALso see the Research in Toxicology page for a list of faculty and their research areas.

Facilities

The laboratories for toxicology research are well equipped with liquid scintillation counters, gas and high pressure liquid chromatographs, UV and visible spectrophotometers, spectrophotofluorometers, ultra-speed centrifugation, real-time RT PCR, and ELISA. Extensive facilities are also available for molecular biology, genomics, and cell culture work. There is access to campus wide centers such as the mass spectrometry center and flow cytometry laboratory. An accredited animal facility is conveniently located for studies in rats, mice, rabbits, and zebrafish. Extensive computer, statistical, and library resources are available.

More information on the Graduate Program

Toxicology Graduate Program Plan of Study