Dr. Silvan Urfer

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Dr. Silvan R. Urfer is currently an Acting Assistant Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has a veterinary background with specific expertise in population genetics and survival analysis. Dr. Urfer is actively involved in the Dog Aging Project, focusing on clinical veterinary data and the effects of treatments such as rapamycin on healthspan and specific diseases like Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, which shares similarities with human Alzheimer’s Disease. He earned his veterinary degree from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and completed his doctoral thesis at the Institute of Veterinary Genetics in Bern. After obtaining his doctorate in 2007, he joined the Ostrander Lab at the NIH/NHGRI as a postdoctoral fellow, where he explored the inbreeding effects in large dog populations. He further advanced his research at the Wolf Lab at UW Medicine, focusing on biomarker studies related to cataracts in aging dogs. Dr. Urfer’s academic career includes multiple roles at UW Medicine, where he has transitioned from postdoctoral fellow to faculty, reflecting his commitment to advancing veterinary medicine through research and teaching.

Research Interests

Lifespan Survival Analysis Comparative Medicine Epidemiology Aging Geroscience Rapamycin Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Alzheimer’s Disease

Experience

Acting Assistant Professor

— Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Teaching and conducting research in veterinary medicine.

Acting Instructor

— Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Instructing students and engaging in research activities.

Acting Instructor

— Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Providing instruction in the Department of Pathology.

Senior Fellow

— Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Conducting advanced research in veterinary pathology.

Postdoctoral Fellow

— Present

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

Engaging in postdoctoral research in pathology.

Postdoctoral Fellow

— Present

National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH • Bethesda, MD

Conducting research in population genetics.

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.