Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
The Environmental and Molecular Toxicology (EMT) program offers a unique and exciting synthesis of the fields of Biology (Molecular Toxicology) and Chemistry (Environmental Chemistry). EMT degree programs focus on creating, disseminating and applying new biomedical and biophysical knowledge to enhance the treatment and prevention of human disease, and to ensure the protection of the environment and public health. This integrated approach, combining both the biological and physical sciences, provides exciting training and research opportunities for graduate students and supports our state-of-the-art and internationally competitive research programs. EMT offers a highly collegial and exceptionally collaborative, research, and training environment dedicated to the success and advancement of all EMT students, faculty, and staff.
The current EMT department has a long and illustrious history, having evolved extensively over the years since 1883 when our very first faculty member was hired into the original Dept. Of Agricultural Chemistry here at OSU. Over the past 125 years, our department changed and adapted to the ever-evolving fields of agricultural sciences and toxicology, and in 1998 was reorganized and renamed Environmental and Molecular Toxicology to more clearly communicate the breadth, depth and research and training emphases of our current programs.
Our Mission
The integrated mission of the Department of Environmental & Molecular Toxicology is to educate students in the toxicological sciences, to conduct research on the effects of chemicals and other agents on humans and the environment and to engage the public through extension and outreach. The EMT Department focuses on creating, disseminating, and applying new knowledge to enhance the treatment and prevention of human disease and to ensure the protection of the environment and public health.
Programs
We offer a PhD, Master and certificate program in Toxicology, an undergraduate minor, and an Accelerated Masters Platform degree in Toxicology and Risk Analysis.
Research Expertise
Our nineteen faculty direct state-of-the-art and internationally competitive research programs collectively aimed at understanding environmental hazards and their impacts on biological systems in order to protect human health and the environment. EMT research expertise is in 4 areas: Experimental Toxicology, Environmental Chemistry, Extensions Service Pesticide Information and Data Science.
Career Paths
Training in toxicology prepares students for careers in industry, government, and academic institutions. Biochemical, chemical, and molecular research approaches are emphasized, focusing on the following areas: analytical and exposure assessment, aquatic, biochemical, comparative, environmental, food, immuno- and neurotoxicology.
Financial Support
Financial support is available to doctoral students in the program through graduate research assistantships or from an NIEHS environmental health predoctoral training program. Typically Masters students are not eligible for graduate research assistantships.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for full consideration is December 1st for the PhD program, February 1st for the MS program and May 1st for the Graduate Certificate. For more information, see the EMT website.
Prerequisite/Curriculum
Students who wish to enter the program should have a BS degree (or equivalent) in a science-related field and are expected to select an MS or PhD curriculum related to their own area of specialization. Students will take a core set of courses typically completed within the first 1.5 years (27 credits) and will attend and participate in the toxicology seminar class. Upon entry into the EMT graduate program, students will meet with faculty to learn about research opportunities during the Fall quarter. After this, Masters students will identify a thesis mentor (if a thesis option is desired) and PhD students will identify faculty to conduct their Winter and Spring quarter research rotations. Courses in toxicology also may be taken by students in engineering or the basic sciences.
Kim Anderson, Department Head
1007 Agricultural and Life Sciences
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-7301
Phone: 541-737-8501
Email: kim.anderson@oregonstate.edu
Website: http://emt.oregonstate.edu/
Faculty
https://emt.oregonstate.edu/emt/directory/faculty-members
Staff
https://emt.oregonstate.edu/emt/directory/administrative-staff
TOX 003, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, 0 Credits
Students engage in research activities appropriate to their discipline; and through the research experience, to acquire skills, techniques, and knowledge relevant to their field of study. In consultation with a faculty mentor, students will engage in research activity, and make and execute a plan for a project.
TOX 360, *THE WORLD OF POISONS, 3 Credits
Provides a basic understanding of how we are exposed and respond to chemicals, examples of human diseases associated with toxic insult, the role of technology and the interface of society and toxicology in risk perception and legislation.
Attributes: CSST – Bacc Core, Synthesis, Science/Technology/Society
Recommended: One 3-credit course in chemistry or one 3-credit course in biology.
TOX 401, RESEARCH, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 405, READING AND CONFERENCE, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 411, FUNDAMENTALS OF TOXICOLOGY, 3 Credits
Introduction to the discipline of toxicology. Examination of the basic concepts that define how chemicals are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body. Overview of associated dose/response relations.
Prerequisite: BB 350 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better or BB 450 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better or BB 490 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better
Available via Ecampus
TOX 413, ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND RISK ASSESSMENT, 3 Credits
Procedures for defining exposure and the use of toxicological data in defining risk assessment. Recent application of mechanistic concepts are reviewed.
Prerequisite: TOX 411 with D- or better
TOX 429, TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN FOOD, 3 Credits
Toxicology and epidemiology of human exposures to pesticides and food toxicants.
Prerequisite: BB 350 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better or BB 450 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better or BB 490 (may be taken concurrently) with D- or better
Equivalent to: TOX 429H
Available via Ecampus
TOX 430, CHEMICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 3 Credits
Applications of chemical concepts in the definition and solution of pollution problems; analytical considerations, thermodynamic factors influencing movement of chemicals, physical and metabolic transformations occurring in the environment.
Prerequisite: CH 123 with D- or better or CH 331 with D- or better
TOX 435, *GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK, 3 Credits
A multidisciplinary course that examines the scientific, social, political, economic, environmental, and ethical controversies surrounding agricultural and natural resource biotechnologies. CROSSLISTED as FES 435/TOX 435.
Attributes: CSST – Bacc Core, Synthesis, Science/Technology/Society
Equivalent to: BI 435, FES 435, TOX 435H
Recommended: One quarter each of biology and chemistry
TOX 435H, *GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK, 3 Credits
A multidisciplinary course that examines the scientific, social, political, economic, environmental, and ethical controversies surrounding agricultural and natural resource biotechnologies. CROSSLISTED as FES 435/TOX 435.
Attributes: CSST – Bacc Core, Synthesis, Science/Technology/Society; HNRS – Honors Course Designator
Equivalent to: BI 435, FES 435, TOX 435
Recommended: One quarter each of biology and chemistry
TOX 455, ECOTOXICOLOGY: AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, 3 Credits
Focuses on transport, fate, and effects of toxic substances in freshwater ecosystems. There is special emphasis on impacts on fish.
Prerequisite: CH 331 with D- or better
TOX 480, COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY AND RISK ASSESSMENT, 3 Credits
Provides an in-depth understanding of the current systems biology paradigm for chemical risk and drug safety assessment. Learn about novel technologies in computational chemistry, molecular biology and systems biology used to develop methods for risk assessment, including approaches for chemical prioritization for screening and testing, predictive models for high-throughput hazard identification and utilization of “big data” to determine chemical mechanisms of action and toxicity pathways. Apply these approaches to specific case studies in risk analysis, environmental health and toxicology.
Recommended: One year college chemistry and biology plus introductory toxicology or biochemistry
Available via Ecampus
TOX 490, ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSIC CHEMISTRY, 3 Credits
Principles of Good Laboratory Practice Standards, methodology, utility and limitations of chemical forensic methods as applied to real investigations.
Recommended: One year of college chemistry and one term of organic chemistry.
TOX 499, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 501, RESEARCH, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 503, THESIS, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 999 credits.
TOX 505, READING AND CONFERENCE, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 507, SEMINAR, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 511, FUNDAMENTALS OF TOXICOLOGY, 3 Credits
Introduction to the discipline of toxicology. Examination of the basic concepts that define how chemicals are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body. Overview of associated dose/response relations.
Prerequisite: BB 550 (may be taken concurrently) with C or better or BB 590 (may be taken concurrently) with C or better
Available via Ecampus
TOX 512, TARGET ORGAN TOXICOLOGY, 3 Credits
Examination of toxicological effects of chemicals at organ level. Normal physiology of the organ system is received.
Prerequisite: TOX 511 with C or better
TOX 513, ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND RISK ASSESSMENT, 3 Credits
Procedures for defining exposure and the use of toxicological data in defining risk assessment. Recent application of mechanistic concepts are reviewed.
Prerequisite: TOX 511 with C or better
TOX 529, TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN FOOD, 3 Credits
Toxicology and epidemiology of human exposures to pesticides and food toxicants.
Recommended: Completion or concurrent enrollment in BB 350, BB 450 or BB 490
Available via Ecampus
TOX 530, CHEMICAL BEHAVIOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 3 Credits
Applications of chemical concepts in the definition and solution of pollution problems; analytical considerations, thermodynamic factors influencing movement of chemicals, physical and metabolic transformations occurring in the environment.
TOX 535, GENES AND CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE: VALUE AND RISK, 3 Credits
A multidisciplinary course that examines the scientific, social, political, economic, environmental, and ethical controversies surrounding agricultural and natural resource biotechnologies. CROSSLISTED as FES 535/TOX 535.
Equivalent to: BI 535, FES 535, MCB 535
Recommended: One quarter each of biology and chemistry
TOX 555, ECOTOXICOLOGY: AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS, 3 Credits
Focuses on transport, fate, and effects of toxic substances in freshwater ecosystems. There is special emphasis on impacts on fish.
Recommended: CH 331
TOX 557, SCIENTIFIC SKILLS AND ETHICS, 3 Credits
Acquire a multitude of skills to launch and maintain productive extramurally funded careers as research scientists. Explore the ethical practices, data sharing approaches, and compliance requirements needed to conduct research. Examine the ethical use of human subjects and animals in research. Explore the changing landscape of intellectual property and commercialization policies for scientists. Introduces communication strategies for effective interactions with scientific peers, the general public and research sponsors.
Equivalent to: MCB 557
TOX 575, ADVANCED XENOBIOTIC METABOLISM AND DISPOSITION, 2 Credits
Focuses on structure, function and regulation of specific proteins that function in uptake, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs and other chemicals that are foreign to the body (xenobiotics). Focuses on proteins which are termed Phase I and Phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters. Emphasizes Cytochrome P450 enzymes and hepatic and renal xenobiotic transporter proteins and their key roles in xenobiotic metabolism and excretion.
Recommended: TOX 512
TOX 580, COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY AND RISK ASSESSMENT, 3 Credits
Provides an in-depth understanding of the current systems biology paradigm for chemical risk and drug safety assessment. Learn about novel technologies in computational chemistry, molecular biology and systems biology used to develop methods for risk assessment, including approaches for chemical prioritization for screening and testing, predictive models for high-throughput hazard identification and utilization of “big data” to determine chemical mechanisms of action and toxicity pathways. Apply these approaches to specific case studies in risk analysis, environmental health and toxicology.
Recommended: One year college chemistry and biology plus introductory toxicology or biochemistry
Available via Ecampus
TOX 590, ENVIRONMENTAL FORENSIC CHEMISTRY, 3 Credits
Principles of Good Laboratory Practice Standards, methodology, utility and limitations of chemical forensic methods as applied to real investigations.
Recommended: One year of college chemistry and one term of organic chemistry.
TOX 599, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 601, RESEARCH, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 603, THESIS, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 999 credits.
TOX 605, READING AND CONFERENCE, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 607, SEMINAR, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 699, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
TOX 808, WORKSHOP, 1-16 Credits
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.