PhysiologyThe 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 QuestionsDo 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 QuestionsDo 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?

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

Example: Why do some persons with diabetes have depressed heart pump function?

Example: [Insert your research question here]

Tools, Techniques and Models: [Insert the techniques and models you use here]

What Kinds of QuestionsDo Physiologists Ask?

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

Making a tough decision: Medicine or research? Developing new medicines Researching cardiovascular functions and

hypertension Teaching future physiologists and physicians

Evangeline Motley, Ph.D.

Meharry Medical College

Nashville, Tennessee

Meet Physiologists:Michael Romero and Caroline Sussman

Becoming interested in “how living things work”

Research on the kidney and the brain

Successfully balancing careers and family

Michael Romero, Ph.D. and Caroline Sussman, Ph.D.Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, Ohio

Meet a Physiologist: Magdalena Alonso-

GaliciaMagdalena Alonso-Galicia, Ph.D.

Merck Research Laboratories

West Point, Pennsylvania

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.Naval Submarine Medical Research LaboratoryGroton, Connecticut

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 PhysiologistsWork?

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

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)

Lab Technician (University)Assistant Scientist (Industry)

Lab Manager (University)Associate Scientist (Industry)

Assistant Professor (University)Scientist (Industry)

(with experience)

Degree Possible Jobs

Salary Expectations

• Bachelors degree – University - $30,000– Industry - $50,000

• Masters degree – University - $35,000– Industry - $56,000

• Stipends– Graduate student - $20,772 (set by NIH) – Postdocs - $35,568-51,036 (depending on years of

experience)

• Salaries– Assistant Professor at Medical School - $71,000– Industry Senior Scientist (with postdoc exp.) - $78,000

G 21

Typical Salaries for BS/MS Scientists

30,000

50,000

35,000

56,000

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

$

Lab Technician (BS) Lab Manager (MS)

Academic

Pharmaceutical Co

G 22

Stipends for Pre- &Postdoctoral Trainees

20,772

35,568

43,428

05,000

10,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000

$

Graduate Student Postdoc Yr 0 Postdoc Yr 3

NIH Stipends FY2003

Ph.D. Physiologist Salaries in Academia and Industry

71,000

78,000

66,000

68,000

70,000

72,000

74,000

76,000

78,000

$

Assistant Professor Senior Scientist

Medical School(average)

Pharmaceutical Industry(entry level)

G 24

Average Faculty Salaries in Physiology Departments

46549

71400

86567

119762

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

$

Instructor Assistant Associate FullProfessor

Academic Rank

ACDP 2003 Survey Results

Physiology Training Opens Doors to Many Careers!

Because scientific training emphasizes:

Creativity and analytical thinking skills needed to solve problems

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

Law and Legal

Writing

Business Management

SciencePolicy

Scientific &Medical Writing

Physiology Training Opens Doors to Many Careers!

Physiology

Law and Legal

Writing

Business Management

SciencePolicy

Scientific &Medical Writing

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?

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

Physiology is an ExcellentCareer Choice

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 MoreAbout 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