Degree Program: Ph.D., Pharmacology
Anticipated Graduation: 2026
Advisor: Vishnu Suppiramaniam
Co-Advisors: Miranda Reed and Subhrajit Bhattacharya
Email: mtw0055@auburn.edu
Miles Wiley am a graduate student mentored by Dr. Vishnu Suppiramaniam and co-mentored by Dr. Subhrajit Bhattacharya. Their research investigates the molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms underlying prenatal cannabinoid exposure (PCE) mediated alterations in synaptic plasticity and memory.
Wiley is currently performing research in molecular biology, data-science, and western blotting, analyzing the changes in the hippocampus of THC exposed rodent offsprings. The chemical structure of THC is similar to the brain’s chemical anandamide, and it acts as a neurotransmitter. THC attaches to cannabinoid receptors on neurons and activates them to impair thinking. As an undergraduate student, he assisted in the delivery of daily doses of THC in rats to induce neurocognitive alterations. His previous research experience was focused on investigating the pharmacogenomic and genomic factors in multiple myeloma. His role in that group was passaging cells to identify potential known drugs that can be repurposed based on an algorithm that was created by the group leader.
Wiley also conducted daily qPCR QA (Quality Assurance) testing for COVID-19 saliva samples. For two summers, he interned at Fidelity Investments in Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina gaining knowledge in data analytics. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a summer invitation to intern was rescinded. During that time, he self-learned R and Python to potentially analyze genomic data. In the summer of 2021, he interned at Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Malvern, Pennsylvania as a Biologics Clinical Supply Integrator.
Wiley is currently a GEM full fellow in conjunction with Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and is also a NIH G-Rise Fellow and a NIDA R01 Diversity Supplement Awardee. He became a distinguished Eagle Scout at age 14 and further earned all three palms. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and served as an undergraduate regional officer (Alabama and Florida) for two years.