July 9, 2024
By Paige Benning
AUBURN, Alabama - From the halls of Auburn to the research labs of Chicago, one Harrison College of Pharmacy graduate student is embodying the promise of diversity in science with plans to redefine the future of neuropharmacological care.
Miles Wiley, a graduate student pursuing the pharmacology option, was selected as one of a small group of students to participate in the Summer Program in Neuroscience, Excellence, and Success, or SPINES, at the Marine Biological Laboratory at the University of Chicago.
This three-week intensive program recruits a staff of 20 esteemed faculty from across the country to lead students in an immersive experience emphasizing the importance of diversity in neuroscience. With a track record of over 20 years training neuroscientists with underrepresented backgrounds, Wiley joins an exclusive group.
“When I arrive at the SPINES program, we will be paired with a lab so I am not sure yet what my role will be,” said Wiley. “However, outside of the lab, there will be numerous panel sessions and workshops to attend to learn more about the skills needed to be a neuroscientist in academia.”
Wiley was introduced to Auburn through former faculty member Dr. Vishnu Suppiramaniam while still a student at Tuskegee University. Suppiramaniam serves as one of his graduate program mentors and played an instrumental role in Wiley’s career development and inspiration to attend the SPINES program.
“Dr. Vishnu attended this program when he was a graduate student,” said Wiley. “He felt it was a good opportunity to develop more techniques in neuroscience and to explore possible post-doctoral opportunities.”
During his time at HCOP, Wiley is investigating the molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms underlying prenatal cannabinoid exposure mediated alterations in synaptic plasticity and memory.
“I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. to discover and develop novel therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases,” said Wiley. “I feel like minorities are the ones most affected by neuropsychiatric diseases, and I want to help ease the burden on patients and their families.”
When making the decision to continue his studies at HCOP, the choice was obvious.
“I chose Auburn because of the proximity to my undergraduate university, Tuskegee University. I volunteered in the lab my senior year first under Dr. Amit Mitra and then under Drs. Vishnu Suppiramaniam and Miranda Reed,” said Wiley. “Dr. Vishnu is a Tuskegee alum, and he taught my mom and godmother while they were earning their masters. It was an easy transition into his lab.”
While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Wiley’s original area of interest included oncology. However, once making the transition to Auburn, a new category of research sparked his interest.
“I decided to pursue neuropharmacology instead of oncology because when I explored neuroscience, it was like a light bulb went off,” said Wiley. “I felt that this is what I want to study for the rest of my life.”
After completing the SPINES program, Wiley will return to HCOP with a plethora of new connections and enhanced research skills as he works toward an anticipated 2025 graduation date.
“I plan to incorporate grant writing skills and lab techniques to finish my dissertation project,” said Wiley. “Hopefully, the lab techniques acquired in this program will help me address some novel questions involving learning and memory.”
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Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 20 percent of all colleges of pharmacy in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master's in pharmaceutical sciences and a bachelor’s in drug and biopharmaceutical sciences. The College’s commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn’s overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the College, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.