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USC Leonard Davis School PhD students in the Gerontology and Biology of Aging programs are some of the most promising minds in the science of aging. In this section, learn more about our doctoral students and program policies.

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PhD Student Forms

PhD in Gerontology Program

PhD in Biology of Aging Program

A few notes regarding the Appointment/Change of Quals/Dissertation Committee forms:

The Post Code for the Biology of Aging PhD program is 1529. The Post Code for the GERO PhD program is 1047.
In the Rank section, for Buck Institute faculty, you will add Adjunct in front of their normal title at the Buck Institute. For example, Dr. Andersen would be listed as Adjunct Professor.
Under the Appointment Type, Buck Institute faculty are considered Non-Tenure Track (NTT).
For the Home Dept section, you may list Buck Faculty as USC GERO, like all GERO faculty.
Please read the instruction section at the top of the Committee form regarding committee composition, outside/external committee members, and instructions for changes of chair or other committee members.
You may use DocuSign to obtain the signatures from all your Committee members, including the Dean and PhD Chair. The Dean signature can be either Dr. Cohen or Maria Henke. The PhD Chair is Dr. Curran for the Biology of Aging PhD program and Dr. Jacobson for the GERO PhD program.
Questions regarding the Committee forms or access issues to send DocuSign forms can be addressed by Jim deVera (edevera@usc.edu).

PhD Student Handbooks

Academic Advisement

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is committed to helping students build a vibrant, supportive academic, personal and professional network. The Office of Academic Advisement and Student Services provides services and resources related to academic advising, course planning, and registration as well as helping with any additional issues that students may have.

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Two men, one older and one younger, talking at a table

Colorful image of a brain scan showcasing different brain areas in vivid colors

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Research Opportunities

The USC Leonard Davis School offers numerous opportunities for students in all programs to participate in research. Several broad areas of focus spark curiosity and collaboration in researchers at all levels, and their goal is to discover and perfect new breakthroughs, technologies, and findings that benefit older adults around the world.

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PhD Program Faculty

Name	Title	Expertise	PhD Program
Aaron Hagedorn, PhD	Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology
Albert Almada, PhD	Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine		Biology of Aging
Alexis Coulourides Kogan, PhD	Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Gerontology
Amy Christensen, PhD	Research Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Alzheimer's and dementia, Sex differences, Nutrition and diets
Andrei Irimia, PhD	Associate Professor of Gerontology, Quantitative & Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience	Alzheimer's and dementia, Brain injury, Brain aging, Deep learning	Biology of Aging, Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Anna Arabyan, PharmD	Pharmacist Adjunct Lecturer
Ashley Webb, PhD	Associate Professor, Buck Institute Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology
Bérénice Benayoun, PhD	Associate Professor of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine	Big data, Sex differences, Immune function	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Birgit Schilling, PhD	Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Caleb Finch, PhD	University Professor ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Chair in the Neurobiology of Aging	Alzheimer's and dementia, Environment, Biology	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Carol Prescott, PhD	Professor Emerita of Psychology Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Caroline Cicero, PhD, MSW, MPL	Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology	Policy, Housing, Sociology
Cary Kreutzer, EdD, MPH, RD, FAND	Instructional Professor of Clinical Gerontology and Pediatrics	Nutrition and diets, Nutrigenomics, Wellness
Changhan David Lee, PhD	Associate Professor of Gerontology	Mitochondria, Mechanisms of aging, Stress response	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Christian Pike, PhD	Professor of Gerontology Assistant Dean of Research	Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Sex differences	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Christopher R. Beam, PhD	Associate Professor of Psychology and Gerontology
Constanza Cortes, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Alzheimer's and dementia, Resilience, Mechanisms of aging
Cristal M. Hill, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Nutrition/Metabolism, Mechanisms of aging, Nutrigenomics
Dana Goldman, PhD	Dean, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and Professor of Gerontology
Daniel Nation, PhD	Professor of Gerontology and Medicine Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology	Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Brain aging	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Daniel Winer, MD	Associate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Deborah Fui-Yuen Hoe, PhD	Instructional Assistant Professor for Gerontology	End-of-life, Palliative care
Derrick Morton, PhD	Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology
DeWayne McMullin, CPA, MBA, MAG	President of New Life Development Adjunct Lecturer
Doerte Junghaenel, PhD	Associate Professor (Research) of Psychology and Gerontology
Donna Benton, PhD	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion	Alzheimer's and dementia, Caregiving, Long-term care
Duke Han, PhD	Professor of Family Medicine and Gerontology	Alzheimer's and dementia, Cognition, Financial well-being
Eileen Crimmins, PhD	University Professor AARP Chair in Gerontology	Mortality and life expectancy, Demography, Cognition	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Eleanor Hayes-Larson, PhD, MPH	Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD	Professor of Gerontology and Psychology	Cognition, Memory, Technology	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Emma Aguila, PhD	Associate Professor of Economics and Gerontology
Emma Nichols, PhD	Adjunct Research Scientist of Gerontology
Enrique Cadenas, MD, PhD	Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Eric Verdin, MD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Francesca Falzarano, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Caregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia, Technology	Gerontology
Gordon Lithgow, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Hiroshi Kumagai, PhD	Research Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Genetics, Mitochondria, Biology
Hussein Yassine, MD	Associate Professor of Medicine and Gerontology
Irene Chiolo, PhD	Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Janette C. Brown, EdD	Assistant Vice Provost, Emeriti Center Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Jennifer Ailshire, PhD	Professor of Gerontology and Sociology Associate Dean of Research Associate Dean of International Programs and Global Initiatives	Environment, Social-determinants and disparities, Global aging	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Jennifer Garrison, PhD	Assistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Joanna Davies, MD	Director of Osteoporosis Center of Los Angeles Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
John Tower, PhD	Professor of Biological Sciences and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
John Walsh, PhD	Associate Professor of Gerontology Associate Dean of Education	Chronic diseases, Neuroscience, Biology	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Jonathan Matthew Wanagat, MD, PhD	Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Joseph Saenz, PhD	Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Social-determinants and disparities, Global aging, Alzheimer's and dementia
Julie Bates, PhD	Associate State Director for AARP Adjunct Lecturer	LGBTQ older adults, Resilience, Optimal aging
Julie K. Andersen, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Julie M. Zissimopoulos, PhD	Professor of Economics and Gerontology
Jung Ki Kim, PhD	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology	Big data, Social-determinants and disparities, Biodemography
Junxiang Wan, MD, PhD	Research Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Age-related diseases, Mitochondria, Longevity
Kai Zhou, PhD	Fellow, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Fellow of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Kaoru Nashiro, PhD	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology	Cognition, Neuroimaging, Emotional well-being
Kathleen Wilber, PhD	Professor of Gerontology Mary Pickford Foundation Chair in Gerontology	Caregiving, Elder abuse, Long-term care	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Kelvin Yen, PhD	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology	Mitochondria, Mechanisms of aging, Biology
Kurt Hong MD, PhD	Clinical Professor of Medicine and Gerontology
Lauren Brown, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology Edward L. Schneider, MD, Chair in Gerontological Research	Stress, Ethnic disparities, Biodemography	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Lisa Ellerby, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Lucio Comai, PhD	Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Malene Hansen, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Manuel Acevedo	Founder and CEO, Helpful Village Adjunct Lecturer	Technology, Big data, Caregiving
Mara Mather, PhD	Professor of Gerontology, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering	Neuroscience, Emotion, Cognition	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Marc Vermulst, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology, Molecular and Computational Biology, Biological Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine	Mitochondria, Mutagenesis, Transcriptomics	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Margaret Gatz, PhD	Professor of Psychology and Gerontology
María P. Aranda, PhD	Professor of Social Work and Gerontology
Marie-Therese Connolly, JD	Former Senior Scholar of United States Studies Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Martin Levine, PhD	UPS Foundation Chair in Law, Gerontology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Michael A. Bonaguidi, PhD	Assistant Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Michael R. Lieber, MD, PhD	Professor of Pathology and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Michelle Keller, PhD, MPH	Assistant Professor of Gerontology Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Endowed Chair in Minority Aging	Alzheimer's and dementia, Social-determinants and disparities, Translational research	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Min-Kyoung Rhee, PhD	Instructional Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Social-determinants and disparities, Technology, Translational research
Mireille Jacobson, PhD	Associate Professor of Gerontology Assistant Dean of Academic Initiatives	Health economics, Policy	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Myron F. Goodman, PhD	Professor of Molecular Biology and Chemistry and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Nicholas Graham, PhD	Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Nicolas Musi, MD	Adjunct Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Pankaj Kapahi, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Paul Nash, PhD	Instructional Professor of Gerontology	Ageism and intersectionality, HIV and aging, Stigma and discrimination
Pejmun Haghighi, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Peter J. Mullen, PhD	Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Gerontology
Piedad Suarez, DDS	Professor of Clinical Dentistry and Gerontology
Pinchas Cohen, MD	Distinguished Professor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biological Sciences Dean, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology William and Sylvia Kugel Dean’s Chair in Gerontology	Alzheimer's and dementia, Mitochondria, Technology, Personalized aging	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Rachel Brem, PhD	Adjunct Associate Professor, UC Berkeley Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Ralf Langen, PhD	Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Raquel D. Arias, MD	Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Renee Smith Maddox, PhD	Teaching Professor of Social Work and Gerontology
Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhD	Instructional Associate Professor of Gerontology	Age-related diseases, Nutrition and metabolism, Mental health
Rong Lu, PhD	Associate Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Ryo Sanabria, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Stress response, Mechanisms of aging, Genetics
Sara E. Espinoza, MD, MSc	Adjunct Clinical Professor of Gerontology
Scott Kaiser, MD	Director of Geriatric Cognitive Health, Pacific Neuroscience Institute Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Sean Curran, PhD	Professor of Gerontology Vice Dean Dean of Faculty and Research James E. Birren Chair in Gerontology	Biology, Genetics, Nutrition and diets	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Sebastian Brandhorst, PhD	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology	Nutrition and diets, Translational research, Longevity
Simon Melov, PhD	Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Stefan Schneider, PhD	Professor (Research) of Psychology and Gerontology
Su-Jeong Kim, PhD	Senior Scientist II Adjunct Research Professor of Gerontology	Mitochondria, Neuroscience
Susan Enguídanos, PhD, MPH	Associate Professor of Gerontology	Palliative care, End-of-life, Ethnic disparities	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
T. Em Arpawong, PhD, MPH	Research Associate Professor of Gerontology	Social-determinants and disparities, Genetics, Resilience
Tameka Brown, MBA, MAG	Adjunct Lecturer
Tara Mastro, PhD	Instructional Assistant Professor of Gerontology	Memory, Neuroscience, Biology
Tara Tracy, PhD	Assistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology		Biology of Aging
Teal S. Eich, PhD	Assistant Professor of Gerontology and Psychology	Cognition, Memory, Neuroscience	Gerontology, Gerontology Core
Valter Longo, PhD	Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences Edna M. Jones Chair in Gerontology	Fasting, Nutrition and diets, Chronic diseases	Biology of Aging, Gerontology
Yuri Jang, PhD	Professor of Social Work and Gerontology

Meet Our Current Students

Learn more about our current students in the PhD in Gerontology and Biology of Aging programs.

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Colloquium Series in Multidisciplinary Research on Aging

Students are expected to attend invited lectures by nationally and internationally recognized scholars in the field of aging. There are generally 5-6 lectures per semester given in this series.

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