FACULTY AT UMMC
OUR FACULTY
Our Program faculty provide students with individualized coaching, instruction, and advising to assist them in understanding medical biochemistry concepts that will help them achieve their long-term goals.
Course Director: Dr. Bettye Sue Hennington
Dr. Bettye S. Hennington, professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and Master of Education in Gifted Education from Delta State University. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Dr. Hennington’s research interests include signaling pathways involved in the mechanisms that link adult hypertension to low birth weight and expression of proteins involved in transfer of nutrients into the placenta. Further research interests include identification of effective modes of teaching in the STEM fields.
Dr. Maryam Syed
Dr. Syed is an assistant professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. She received a BS in Biochemistry from Mississippi State University. Dr. Syed completed her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Dr. Syed’s research interests include the role and regulation of microRNAs in multiple pathologies with an emphasis in the role of microRNAs in aldosterone-mediated cardiac and renal injury and dysfunction.
Dr. Michael Hebert
Dr. Michael Hebert is a professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. He received a BS in Biology and Cytogenetics at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA, and a PhD in Biology and Molecular Genetics at Georgia State University.
Dr. Hebert’s research interests center around diseases which disrupt the functional organization of the nucleus adversely affecting ribonucleoprotein maturation. The ribonucleoproteins include small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), small Cajal body-specific ribonucleoproteins (scaRNPs) and telomerase, and the biogenesis of these ribonucleoproteins is altered in certain genetic diseases.