May 2022
Kristie Willett Receives University’s Top Research Award
May 6, 2022
OXFORD, Miss. – Sometimes parents are the best role models to follow. Kristie Willett may be an example of that.
Lynn B. Willett, now a retired animal science and toxicology professor from Ohio State University, showed his daughter, Kristie, the world of toxicology from a young age. Kristie attended her first Society of Toxicology, or SOT, meeting in 1978, and her first publication was with him when she was in high school in 1989 on the topic of polychlorinated biphenyls metabolism by rumen microorganisms.
Read More: “Kristie Willett Receives University’s Top Research Award”
March 2022
UM Researchers Working for Safe Drinking Water in Mississippi
March 22, 2022
OXFORD, Miss. – Kristie Willett, BioMolecular Sciences department chair and professor, is part of an interdisciplinary team that is raising awareness of lead in drinking water through outreach, research and education.
This fall, Willett and Stephanie Otts of the National Sea Grant Law Center will teach an honors class about the topic and direct a lead forum in Jackson to help solve the problem.
Watch Video: “UM Researchers Working for Safe Drinking Water in Mississippi”
November 2021
Research conducted at The University of Mississippi into the effects of water quality stressors on early oyster life stages is essential for ensuring the long-term success of oyster reef restoration.
July 2021
UM Researchers Working to Protect Mississippi’s Environment
Preserving the health of the Mississippi Coast is important for the health of the state as a whole. Fortunately for the state, the researchers at the Environmental Toxicology Research Program are here to help.
At ETRP, graduate students work alongside University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy faculty, research scientists and staff to resolve problems related to environmental and human health. Their research provides valuable resources for state and local decision-makers. With events such as extreme storms putting pressure on the Gulf of Mexico in recent years, those resources are more important than ever.
Read More: “UM Researchers Working to Protect Mississippi’s Environment”
April 2021
Up Front: Virtual Talks with UM Experts Hosts BMS Faculty April 22
BioMolecular Sciences faculty Courtney Roper and Marc Slattery along with BMS Chair Kristie Willett will discuss how environmental toxicologists at the school are working to improve human and environmental health. Join the trio via Zoom and celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 at 1 p.m. CT. Register at olemissalumni.com/events.
August 2020
Researchers Tackle Challenges of Safe Drinking Water in Mississippi
July 29, 2020
OXFORD, Miss. – Recognizing that clean drinking water is a necessity of life, a group of University of Mississippi professors is using community-based research, education and outreach to work with communities in addressing water quality challenges.
Most Mississippians receive their drinking water from a network of more than 1,100 public water systems. The smaller systems serve dozens of people, while larger ones supply tens of thousands of citizens with water. Other Mississippians obtain their water from private wells.
Read More: “Researchers Tackle Challenges of Safe Drinking Water in Mississippi”
June 2020
BioMolecular Sciences Chair Receives AACP Graduate Education Award
June 30, 2020
OXFORD, Miss. – Kristie Willett, chair of the Department of BioMolecular Sciences at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, has been named the inaugural recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Graduate Education Special Interest Group Achievement Award.
The honoree must exemplify teaching excellence and commitment, inspirational leadership, and be a valued mentor, which are many of the qualities Willett portrays.
Read More: “BioMolecular Sciences Chair Receives AACP Graduate Education Award”
February 2020
Graduate Students Find Impacts of Freshwater in Mississippi’s Oysters
February 24, 2020
OXFORD, Miss. – As Ann Fairly Barnett pulled an oyster dredge up through the shoreline waters of the Mississippi Sound, she was dreading what she was about to find.
“Not a single living oyster,” said the University of Mississippi master’s student in environmental toxicology.
The Jackson native, along with UM environmental toxicology graduate student James Gledhill and chemistry graduate student Austin Scircle, had chartered a small fishing boat to visit several native oyster reefs in the sound to check the water quality and the health of the reefs.
Read More: “Graduate Students Find Impacts of Freshwater in Mississippi’s Oysters”
January 2020
BMS Chair Named Toxicological Sciences Deputy Editor
January 16, 2020
OXFORD, Miss. – The Society of Toxicology’s official journal, Toxicological Sciences, has named Kristine Willett, chair of the Department of BioMolecular Sciences, as one of two new deputy editors to its staff.
Willett, also a professor of pharmacology and environmental toxicology at the University of Mississippi, “will be coordinating solicitation and peer review of Forum articles and developing and administering new training for the editorial board and reviewers,” according to Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey M. Peters
Read More: “BMS Chair Named Toxicological Science Deputy Editor”
Kennedy Dickson, a student researcher in Dr. Kristie Willett’s lab and 2019 National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Scholar, had a 1st author publication in the Fall 2019 Arizona Journal of Environmental Law and Policy. We are so proud of all the hard work Kennedy has done!
Read more: “Cannabinoid Conundrum: A Study of Marijuana and Hemp Legality in the United States”
November 2019
Cammi Thornton, Principle R&D Chemist in Environmental Toxicology, shared how fun science can be with her daughter’s pre-K class!
August 2019
Forensic Chemistry Major Named Portz Scholar
August 1, 2019
OXFORD, Miss. – Kennedy Dickson (SMBHC 19) has been named a 2019 National Collegiate Honors Council Portz Scholar. She is one of three recipients nationwide and will present her honors thesis, “Cannabinoid Conundrum: A Study of Anti-Epileptic Efficacy and Drug Policy,” at the NCHC conference in New Orleans this coming November as well as collect her certificate and award of $350.
This summer, California-native Kennedy is working as a Forensic Science Intern for the Orange Crime Laboratory in Southern California. She has begun the law school admissions process and hopes to study intellectual property, patent law, and bioethics. This fall, she will continue researching cannabinoids with Professor Kristie Willett, who also advised her honors thesis. Kennedy is grateful for Professor Willett along with Ms. Cammi Thornton and Professors Zach Pandelides, Erin Holmes, and Nicole Ashpole.
Congratulations, Kennedy!
June 2019
Congratulations to Dr. Nicole Ashpole on receiving the 2018 – 2019 New Investigator Research Award and Dr. Kristie Willett on receiving the 2018 – 2019 Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. Faculty Research Award!!
March 2019
Congratulations to the team of Dr. Kristine Willett, The Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Mississippi Law Research Institute and UM Center for Population Studies for recognition as an Excellence in Community Engagement Finalist at the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement Celebration of Service! Their collaborative teaching engages students and communities about clean water in Mississippi.
January 2019
University Professor Awarded Cancer Research Grant
January 31, 2019
OXFORD, Miss. – After nearly 50 years of cancer research in the U.S., the search for a cure continues at the University of Mississippi.
The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy received a research grant from the National Cancer Institute this week for the cancer prevention research work done by the university’s Cole Stevens and Kristie Willett, both of whom are professors in the School of Pharmacy.
Read more: “University Professor Awarded Cancer Research Grant”
June 2018
BioMolecular Sciences and Environmental Toxicology, along with National Sea Grant Law Center and Center for Population Studies, welcomed the Tri-County Workforce Alliance for a tour. Students learned about our lead study as well as oyster and zebrafish research.
December 2017
Congratulations – Dr. Dennis Carty!
Wishing the best of luck to Dr. Dennis Carty, 2017 PhD graduate from our Environmental Toxicology program, on starting your new post-doctoral position at UC Davis!