Cell & Developmental Biology
Open Access

Julie V. May

Biography

I have spent the last eight years teaching undergraduate courses in human sciences – the courses needed by premedical/dental/health professional/nursing students. It has been an absolute honor to watch these students develop the concepts and skills needed for acceptance and success in health related professional schools. Although I work at an institution that has a medical school, I really enjoy teaching at the undergraduate level. When I started graduate school, I felt underprepared for what was required of me on the research and presentation level. So I aim to incorporate these skills into my courses probably more so than many undergraduate professors, so that students will start their postgraduate education with an added advantage of vital research skills. Outside of education, I strive to have balance in my life. My husband and I have six children between us, and I have a successful food blog – which is probably my biggest hobby.

Research Interest

As a broad generality, my research has been in the area of aging and neurological disease. My early career revolved around assisting individuals with age- and trauma- related diagnoses with reestablishing independent living skills. In my field, I worked with individuals affected by a wide variety of neurological disorders. Then I researched the accelerated neurological aging that accompanies Alzheimer ’s disease, and the power of various antioxidants in slowing down this process. My research in this area extended across several models – from the molecular and cellular level all the way up to the whole organism. I followed that up with involvement in research in the field of human obesity and how caloric restriction could alter markers of disease as well as extend the life span.