Skip to main content
search

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.

Student Resources

Course Catalogue

Course Catalogue

Schedule of Classes

Schedule of Classes

Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

Student Handbooks

Student Handbooks

Academic Advisement

Academic Advisement

Career Development

Career Development

Research Opportunities

Research Opportunities

Finding Support

Finding Support

PhD Student Forms

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.

Learn more
Juan Bravo injecting something into tubes in a lab
Two men, one older and one younger, talking at a table
Colorful image of a brain scan showcasing different brain areas in vivid colors
Two woman looking at a white board, with one pointing at it

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.

Learn more

PhD Program Faculty

NameTitleExpertisePhD Program
Albert Almada, PhDAlbert Almada, PhDAssistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative MedicineBiology of Aging
Andrei Irimia, PhDAndrei Irimia, PhDAssociate Professor of Gerontology, Quantitative & Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience
Alzheimer's and dementia, Brain injury, Brain aging, Deep learningBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Bérénice Benayoun, PhDBérénice Benayoun, PhDAssociate Professor of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular MedicineBig data, Sex differences, Immune functionBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Birgit Schilling, PhDBirgit Schilling, PhDAssociate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Caleb Finch, PhDCaleb Finch, PhDUniversity Professor
ARCO/William F. Kieschnick Chair in the Neurobiology of Aging

Alzheimer's and dementia, Environment, BiologyBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Changhan David Lee, PhDChanghan David Lee, PhDAssociate Professor of GerontologyMitochondria, Mechanisms of aging, Stress responseBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Christian Pike, PhDChristian Pike, PhDProfessor of Gerontology
Assistant Dean of Research
Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Sex differencesBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Constanza Cortes, PhDConstanza Cortes, PhDAssistant Professor of GerontologyAlzheimer's and dementia, Resilience, Mechanisms of agingBiology of Aging
Cristal M. Hill, PhDCristal M. Hill, PhDAssistant Professor of GerontologyNutrition/Metabolism, Mechanisms of aging, NutrigenomicsBiology of Aging
Daniel Nation, PhDDaniel Nation, PhDProfessor of Gerontology and Medicine
Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology
Alzheimer's and dementia, Neuroscience, Brain agingGerontology
Daniel Winer, MDDaniel Winer, MDAssociate Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Edward Schneider, MDEdward Schneider, MDProfessor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biology
Elder abuse, Mortality and life expectancy, Long-term careBiology of Aging
Eileen Crimmins, PhDEileen Crimmins, PhDUniversity Professor
AARP Chair in Gerontology
Mortality and life expectancy, Demography, CognitionGerontology
Elizabeth Zelinski, PhDElizabeth Zelinski, PhDProfessor of Gerontology and PsychologyCognition, Memory, TechnologyGerontology
Enrique Cadenas, MD, PhDEnrique Cadenas, MD, PhDProfessor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Eric Verdin, MDEric Verdin, MDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Francesca Falzarano, PhDFrancesca Falzarano, PhDAssistant Professor of GerontologyCaregiving, Alzheimer's and dementia, TechnologyGerontology
Gordon Lithgow, PhDGordon Lithgow, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Irene Chiolo, PhDIrene Chiolo, PhDAssociate Professor of Biological Sciences and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Jennifer Ailshire, PhDJennifer Ailshire, PhDProfessor of Gerontology and Sociology
Associate Dean of Research
Associate Dean of International Programs and Global Initiatives
Environment, Social-determinants and disparities, Global agingGerontology
Jennifer Garrison, PhDJennifer Garrison, PhDAssistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
John Tower, PhDJohn Tower, PhDProfessor of Biological Sciences and GerontologyBiology of Aging
John Walsh, PhDJohn Walsh, PhDAssociate Professor of Gerontology
Associate Dean of Education
Chronic diseases, Neuroscience, BiologyBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Julie K. Andersen, PhDJulie K. Andersen, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Kai Zhou, PhDKai Zhou, PhDFellow, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Fellow of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Kathleen Wilber, PhDKathleen Wilber, PhDProfessor of Gerontology
Mary Pickford Foundation Chair in Gerontology

Caregiving, Elder abuse, Long-term careGerontology
Lauren Brown, PhDLauren Brown, PhDAssistant Professor of Gerontology
Edward L. Schneider, MD, Chair in Gerontological Research
Stress, Ethnic disparities, BiodemographyGerontology
Lisa Ellerby, PhDLisa Ellerby, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Lucio Comai, PhDLucio Comai, PhDProfessor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Mara Mather, PhDMara Mather, PhDProfessor of Gerontology, Psychology, and Biomedical EngineeringNeuroscience, Emotion, CognitionGerontology
Marc Vermulst, PhDMarc Vermulst, PhDAssistant Professor of Gerontology, Molecular and Computational Biology, Biological Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular MedicineMitochondria, Mutagenesis, TranscriptomicsBiology of Aging, Gerontology, Biology of Aging Core
Michael A. Bonaguidi, PhDMichael A. Bonaguidi, PhDAssistant Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Michael R. Lieber, MD, PhDMichael R. Lieber, MD, PhDProfessor of Pathology and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Michelle Keller, PhD, MPHMichelle Keller, PhD, MPHAssistant Professor of Gerontology
Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Endowed Chair in Minority Aging
Alzheimer's and dementia, Social-determinants and disparities, Translational researchGerontology
Mireille Jacobson, PhDMireille Jacobson, PhDAssociate Professor of Gerontology
Assistant Dean of Academic Initiatives
Health economics, PolicyGerontology
Myron F. Goodman, PhDMyron F. Goodman, PhDProfessor of Molecular Biology and Chemistry and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Nicholas Graham, PhDNicholas Graham, PhDAssistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Pankaj Kapahi, PhDPankaj Kapahi, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Pejmun Haghighi, PhDPejmun Haghighi, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Pinchas Cohen, MDPinchas Cohen, MDDistinguished 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 agingBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Rachel Brem, PhDRachel Brem, PhDAdjunct Associate Professor, UC Berkeley
Adjunct Associate Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Ralf Langen, PhDRalf Langen, PhDProfessor of Physiology & Neuroscience and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Raquel D. Arias, MDRaquel D. Arias, MDClinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Rong Lu, PhDRong Lu, PhDAssociate Professor of Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine and GerontologyBiology of Aging
Ryo Sanabria, PhDRyo Sanabria, PhDAssistant Professor of GerontologyStress response, Mechanisms of aging, GeneticsBiology of Aging
Scott Kaiser, MDScott Kaiser, MDDirector of Geriatric Cognitive Health, Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Sean Curran, PhDSean Curran, PhDProfessor of Gerontology
Vice Dean
Dean of Faculty and Research
James E. Birren Chair in Gerontology
Biology, Genetics, Nutrition and dietsBiology of Aging, Gerontology
Simon Melov, PhDSimon Melov, PhDProfessor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Adjunct Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Susan Enguídanos, PhD, MPHSusan Enguídanos, PhD, MPHAssociate Professor of GerontologyPalliative care, End-of-life, Ethnic disparitiesGerontology
Tara Tracy, PhDTara Tracy, PhDAssistant Professor, Buck Institute for Research on Aging

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gerontology
Biology of Aging
Teal S. Eich, PhDTeal S. Eich, PhDAssistant Professor of Gerontology and PsychologyCognition, Memory, NeuroscienceGerontology
Valter Longo, PhDValter Longo, PhDProfessor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences
Edna M. Jones Chair in Gerontology
Fasting, Nutrition and diets, Chronic diseasesBiology of Aging, Gerontology

Meet Our Current Students

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

Learn more

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.

Learn more
Close Menu