Physiologists study the machinery of life. Some examine cellular processes, others ask questions about organ systems. Some are concerned with how tissues control other tissues and how they are themselves controlled. Others focus on the clinical applications of basic science information. All are preoccupied with understanding how the body functions.
Physiology is one of the oldest scientific disciplines. It is the root from which branched pharmacology, biochemistry, bioengineering, molecular biology, clinical medicine and many other contemporary fields of study. For this reason, there is great intellectual, academic and research diversity in physiology. Some faculty in our department, for example, share academic appointments and research interests with others in departments of biochemistry, medicine, engineering, pharmacology, among other areas. It is also why many of our faculty provide consulting services to hospitals, departments of public health, state and national-level research institutes, as well as to physicians, health care, social services and legal agencies. Some of our faculty may seem at first glance to be biochemists, others neurobiologists, others biophysics, others pharmacologists, but all are, nonetheless, physiologists.
Although perhaps somewhat confusing at first, there is great strength for physiologists to have so many different interests. Among its many advantages, it provides opportunities for students in our department to explore different areas of their own interests, as well as to receive competent training with different focuses of attention. The challenge to each student is to become aware of the diversity of faculty interests in our department and sample a range of them over the undergraduate years.