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Matthew J. Merrins is a Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at Yale School of Medicine. His research is focused on understanding nutrient sensing and coupled hormone secretion in pancreatic islet cells. A major focus of his laboratory is the use of fluorescence microscopy to study cellular metabolism in real time. The lab has expertise in various imaging modalities including spinning disk confocal, TIRF, STED, multi-photon, and light-sheet microscopy. Dr. Merrins is known for his work on β-cell glucose sensing and has contributed to the discovery of glycolytic metabolons, which are crucial for insulin secretion. His translational research targets the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Additionally, Dr. Merrins is involved in multiple graduate programs and has mentored trainees who have gone on to successful careers in research and STEM education. He also teaches endocrinology and metabolism to undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. As an academic contributor, he is a co-founder of State 4 Therapeutics, an emerging Yale-based company focused on obesity pharmacotherapeutics.
GRE is optional for PhD applicants. TOEFL speaking scores below 26 or IELTS speaking below 7.5 may require summer English training.