Join Our Team
We invite applications from candidates with outstanding teaching credentials to contribute to medical and graduate instruction in pharmacology, physiology, and neuroscience-based courses.
New faculty members will join a highly successful, collegial, and collaborative neuroscience-focused department at a Carnegie R1 research university that has achieved national prominence in research, education, and community engagement.
Qualified applicants should apply at USCJobs through this link.
Our Department
We have an active research focus in the neuroscience research and take full advantage of the University of South Carolina's status as a Tier 1 research university. Using cutting edge technology to aid in the understanding of neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders, we provide insight into new treatment strategies and targets for these devastating diseases.
The faculty work across disciplines in numerous collaborative projects, and we have a strong neuroscience research portfolio with over $10 million dollars in extramurally funded research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), the Veterans Administration and numerous foundations and endowment funds, including the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and the American Heart Association.
Our Core Facilities
Viral Vector Core
Our full-service viral vector core produces virus-based platforms for gene delivery. It is directed by Sujit Pujhari.
Machine Shop
Our machine shop fabricates and repairs custom lab equipment and renovates laboratory space. It is supervised by Mike Gore.
PPN Faculty News
- PPN’s Bridge to Faculty Scholar Dr. Raoni dos Santos received a Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) entitled “The Role of NTS-NE Neurons in the Pathophysiology of Depression and Social Deficits” .
- Dan Foster VA Merit Award entitled “Targeting CB2 receptors as a novel therapeutic strategy in schizophrenia” was selected for 2025 funding.
- Norma Frizzell was awarded a 2025 UMDF/Mito Foundation Grant entitled “Anaplerotic odd-chain fatty acid therapy for the treatment of Leigh Syndrome”. She also received a presentation award at the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) annual meeting.
- Joe McQuail receives ASPIRE-AI Funding from USC entitled: “Decoding Alzheimer’s Disease and Advancing AI in Biomedical Research".
- Sujit Pujhari receives an NIH funded ROAR SCORE Pilot project award entitled “Sex-Specific Epigenetic Reprogramming of Microglia in Zika Virus Infection".
- Aaron Jasnow receives a new NIH R01 award as PI with his collaborator at Indiana University, Gregory Demas. The five year grant is entitled A Seasonal Switch: Alternative Neuroendocrine Mechanisms Regulating Aggression.
- Sujit Pujhari and Norma Frizzell received a Pilot Project from the COBRE Center on Targeted Therapeutics (CTT) entitled: "Sex-Specific Epigenomic Reprogramming in ZIKV-Infected Microglia and Its Impact on Brain Development”.
- Ana Pocivavsek, Alessandra Porcu and Chase Francis received a Pilot Project from the COBRE Center on Targeted Therapeutics entitled “Role of Astrocytic EAAT in Aging-Induced Sleep and Circadian Disruptions”.
- Fiona Hollis and Susan Wood receive a new NIH R01 award as mPIs entitled “Psychosocial stress-induced neurometabolic dysfunction as a mediator of postpartum cardiovascular disease”.
- Britt Wilson received the M1 Teacher of the year award from the first year Medical Students!
- Larry Reagan received the Pearls of Wisdom Award from the M2 Class of Medical Students!
- Britt Wilson received the 2025 SOM O’Neill Barrett Teaching Excellence Award in Basic Sciences.
- Claudia Grillo was selected as first SOM member on the University Committee on Professional-Track Faculty.
- Mike Gore received his 40 Year USC Service award for >40 years of dedicated service to PPN as the machine shop director!
- Sujit Pujhari promoted Research Associate Professor on the Professional Track in August of 2025.
- Janel Hagar has been selected for the 2025 NBME Invitational Conference for Educators (NICE) Virtual Workshop.
- Joe McQuail was selected as an NIH R25 Big Data Health Science Fellow (R25 Fellow) for 2025-2026.
- Janel Hagar became a Harvard Macy Scholar and was selected to participate in the "Transforming Your Teaching Using Technology" course at the Harvard Medical School Harvard Macy Institute.
Biomedical Sciences: Neuroscience Concentration
The Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience also supports a neuroscience concentration for Biomedical Science Ph.D. students.