First Friday Speakers
Biomedical Research Around the State
The First Friday Biomedical Seminar Series brings an outstanding scientist to the OSU Center for Health Sciences on the first Friday of each month. The invited scientist will use the seminar to speak on a research topic of their choice. Besides giving a public seminar at noon on the first Friday, the invited scientist meets with faculty at the Faculty Forum, from 10:00 – 11:30 am before their seminar. The speaker also meets with graduate students after their seminar for a catered lunch. Additionally, the seminar speaker provides a recent publication that is used for the First Friday Journal Club on the Thursday before the talk from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.
The First Friday Biomedical Sciences is supported by the Graduate Office and organized by the First Friday Seminar Committee.
This year’s committee:
- Chair: Swarup Mitra, Ph.D.
- Vice-Chair: Malabika Maulik, Ph.D.
- Past Chair: Zachary Klukkert, Ph.D.
- Administrative Assistant: Kay Lynn Folmar
For further information and to register for Zoom attendance, please contact chsgradprograms@okstate.edu.
November 6, 2026 – NH 437
Obesity through the lenses of melanocortins
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa
October 2, 2026 – NH 437
Understanding opioid addiction: from brain circuit to epigenetic regulation
Associate Professor, The University of Kansas, School of Pharmacy
September 4, 2026 – NH 437
Food for Thought: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Taste and Feeding Behavior
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, OSU-CHS