Assistant Dean for Physician Scientist Development
Dr. Herbert obtained her Bachelor’s and PhD degrees in Biological Sciences, with a focus on nutrition and cancer, from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Herbert then performed postdoctoral research on telomeres and telomerase under the tutelage of Dr. Jerry Shay and the late Dr. Woodring Wright, MD/PhD at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Cell Biology. While at IUSM, Dr. Herbert focused her independent research career on the biology of aging and cancer, including experimental therapeutics research on telomerase inhibitors and natural products. Among Dr. Herbert’s research honors are a NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship, a Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Postdoctoral Fellowship, a DOD Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship, and numerous grants awarded for research in aging and cancer. Dr. Herbert has also been the recipient of the IU Trustees Teaching Award for multiple years.
Because of her passion for mentoring others, including engaging medical students in research, Dr. Herbert was selected as the Assistant Dean for Physician Scientist Development in 2017. In this role, Dr. Herbert is responsible for overseeing the central office for all research enrichment and pipeline programs for physician scientist development at IUSM. Dr. Herbert has served on several school committees related to academic advising, graduate and medical education, curriculum development, mentoring, and diversity, including involvement in the SREB Compact for Faculty Diversity’s Institute of Teaching and Mentoring, the IUSM Women’s Advisory Council, and the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) program as a trained facilitator. As a co-Director of the largest summer research program for medical students (IMPRS) and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at IUSM, Dr. Herbert leads a team effort to increase the number of medical students doing research throughout their careers as physician scientist/engineers.