Cleveland State University

Program Director
David J. Anderson, PhD, DABCC
Director of Clinical Chemistry and Professor of Chemistry
d.anderson@csuohio.edu
(216) 687-2453

About the Program

The doctoral degree program in Clinical Bioanalytical Chemistry, in which the ComACC-accredited program is a specialized tract, is a joint program of Cleveland State University and the Cleveland Clinic. The ComACC-accredited program is affiliated with Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, and Akron Children’s Hospital. The Doctoral Clinical Chemistry program gives rigorous instruction in all aspects of disease processes, with in-depth coverage given for testing strategies and methodologies used in disease diagnosis. Imparting knowledge of both clinical aspects and interpretation of test results, as well knowledge of analytical techniques and various aspects of the quality operation in the clinical laboratory, are central to the program’s goals and mission. Additionally, the program mentors students to become independent researchers, educating and mentoring the student in cutting-edge analytical methodologies and novel clinical/biomedical research, such that the Ph.D. recipient can make significant scientific contributions to the field of clinical chemistry.

The instructional and training components are carried out by clinical chemistry faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Cleveland State University, with active participation of the clinical scientists at Cleveland area medical institutions and reference laboratories. The program prepares students for one of the following paths upon graduation:

1. to obtain further practical training in the field through clinical chemistry post-doctoral fellowships, in order to prepare them for careers as directors of clinical laboratories;
2. to directly assume other scientific positions in clinical laboratories, either at medical institutions or reference laboratories;
3. to assume positions in the in-vitro diagnostics, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, which are increasingly seeking scientists with knowledge of clinical chemistry.

The program sets high standards of excellence in delivering its curriculum to prepare students for these careers. There is an excellent track record of placing graduates in clinical chemistry postdoctoral programs.

Program Requirements

To be considered for the program, prospective fellows must have:

1. Bachelor’s degree in a basic science, laboratory medical science or related field, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
2. The requirement for obtaining and maintaining a teaching assistantship is a GPA ≥ 3.25, while the requirement for obtaining and maintaining a research assistantship funded by a grant is a GPA ≥ 3.00. Assistantships under normal circumstances are provided for 5 years of study in the program, with the possibility of a 6th year with petition.
   • Having the assistantship is contingent on continuing to meet GPA requirements, as well as acceptable performance of duties.

The ComACC-Accredited doctoral clinical chemistry program is a specialized certificate track in the general doctoral Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry degree program. Students are accepted in this doctoral clinical chemistry certificate program by meeting the following minimum requirements after the first year of coursework:

• Holding regular graduate admittance status in the graduate chemistry program
• Having a minimum of B (3.0) grade in each of Clinical Chemistry I and II (CHM 651 and CHM 652) and Advanced Biochemistry I and II (CHM 653 and CHM 654) courses
• Having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 for the above courses. Students interested in pursuing the certificate should seek advising from the Director of Clinical Chemistry and complete the required Intent to Complete the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Chemistry Form.

To Apply

All applications are done online at CSU Graduate Admissions. For applicants requesting financial support, the application deadline each year is February 15 (for fall admission) and October 15 (for spring admission). Those seeking admission only can apply anytime.

The application packet must include:

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
2. Two letters of reference from professionals
3. Personal Statement
4. Standardized Tests as described below
   • Typically, chemistry applicants are required to submit an official report of their performance on the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to the University by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). However, applicants with outstanding records (grade-point average above 3.0 in addition to other evidence of solid preparation) may request that this requirement be waived by the Graduate Committee of the Chemistry Department.
   • The GRE requirement cannot be waived for international students. International students who do not have a degree from an institution in the United States must also arrange to have the results of their performance on the TOEFL sent to the University by ETS.

Training Level

Postdoctoral Training Level
Number of positions available per year: Varies
Duration of program: 5 years
Approximate annual salary or stipend: Annual stipend: $21,000 (pre-candidacy assistantship); $22,500 (post-candidacy assistantship); Assistantship also provides full annual tuition fees and health insurance
Source of funding: Cleveland State University (teaching assistantships); Grant Funding (research assistantships)
Current number of trainees: 10
Number of past graduates: 104

Faculty

Cleveland State University	Department of Chemistry
David Anderson, PhD, DABCC	HPLC and Mass Spectrometry – Proteins, Proteomics, Pharmacokinetic Studies, Gangliosides; HPLC Development and Innovation, Chromatographic Theory
Yana Sandlers, PhD, DABCC	Clinical Chemistry; Mass Spectrometry; Inborn Errors of Metabolism; Metabolomics; Induced Stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (iPSCM); Barth Syndrome; Cardiomyopathy
Mekki Bayachou, PhD	Functional Biomaterials; Antithrombotic Surfaces; Electron-transfer; Nitric Oxide Synthases; Metalloproteins; Metalloenzymes; cyt P450s; Bio-electrochemistry; DNA-sensors; DNA-protein interaction; Small Molecule Metabolite Sensors; Nanotechnology
Anthony Berdis, PhD	DNA replication; chemotherapy; mutagenesis; cancer biology; nucleoside analogs; pharmacology; drug discovery; medicinal chemistry
Warren Christopher Boyd, PhD	Transition Metals; Coordination Chemistry; Spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Catalysis; Redox-Active Ligands; Apoptosis; Anticancer Agents
Valentin Gogonea, PhD	Computational Chemistry; Enzyme Reactivity; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Hydrogenase; Cholesterol Transport; Deuterium Exchange; Quantum Mechanical Molecular Mechanics; Molecular Dynamics; Protein Folding
Junior Gonzales, PhD	Rainforest bio-natural peptide; fluorescence; synthetic chemistry; peptide chemistry; repurposing of natural substances; nerve imaging; radiolabeling; ion channels; cancer imaging; neuropathies; female post-chemotherapy monitoring; porphyrin sensors
Baochuan Guo, PhD	MALDI-TOF based DNA sequencing; mass spectrometric immunoassay; mass spectrometry characterization of synthetic polymers
Michael Kalafatis, PhD	Thrombosis; haemostasis; coagulation factors; factor V; factor X; prothrombin; prothrombinase; thrombin; platelets; endothelial cells; kinase; phosphorylation; signal transduction; cancer; cell division; apoptosis; kinase; lupus anticoagulant
Bin Su, PhD	Drug development; cancer; african trypanosomiasis; synthetic medicinal chemistry; pharmacokinetic studies
Xue-Long Sun, PhD	Pharmaceutical chemistry; chemical biology; biopharmaceutical chemistry; cellular chemistry; glyco-engineering; antithrombtic and antiviral drugs; immunomodulation
John Turner, II, PhD	Raman spectroscopy; fluorescence; infrared; IR; near infrared; NIR; visible; chemical imaging; multivariate analysis; chemometrics; mineral; biomineral; bone; teeth; biomaterials; implant materials
Yan Xu, PhD	Clinical and preclinical pharmacokinetics; analytical method development for drugs and metabolites; lipidomic profiling and quantitation of biomarkers of human diseases; metabolic flux analysis of biochemical pathways; metabolomics of multicomponent formulations; mass spectrometry; liquid and gas chromatography
Aimin Zhou, PhD	RNAse L biochemistry in infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammatory conditions, non-alcohol fatty liver disease, acute kidney injury; apoptosis; cell signaling; disease marker discovery

Cleveland Clinic	Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute
Edmund Z. Reineks, MD/PhD, DABCC	Point-of-Care Testing; Quality; Lab Directorship; Special Topics
Jessica Colon-Franco, PhD, DABCC	Endocrinology; Special Chemistry; Leadership
Kamran Kadkhoda, PhD, DABMLI	Immunopathology; Serology; Allergy; Cellular Immunology
Grace Kroner, PhD, DABCC	Special Chemistry; Diabetes Testing; Laboratory Test Utilization; Data Analytics
Adam McShane, PhD, DABCC	Automated Chemistry; Cardiovascular Disease; Blood Gases
Marvin Natowicz, MD, PhD	Biochemical Genetics; Metabolic Diseases

MetroHealth Medical Center	Pathology Department
Mahesheema Ali PhD	Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology, Point-of-Care Testing, Rapid Response Labs

Cleveland HeartLab
Deborah Sun, PhD	Clinical Laboratory Operations and Management