Dr. Michael Griffin

Dr. Michael Griffin is an Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Genetics in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Sam Houston State University in Conroe, TX. He moved from Midwestern University (MWU) in Glendale, AZ, an Osteopathic Medical School, where he taught Biochemistry and performed independent scholarly research for several years. Dr. Griffin received his B.S. in Nutrition Science at Penn State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition at the University of California, Berkeley in 2006. Dr. Griffin then pursued postdoctoral studies in adipocyte biology in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.

Dr. Griffin builds his teaching philosophy on what he calls the ‘five C’s:’ Critical Thinking, Creative problem-solving, Commitment, Collaboration, and Cause-and-effect.  These metrics are consistently conveyed to students as Dr. Griffin delivers his materials in large-group discussion sessions as well as small-group/TBL format; the five metrics also represent the pillars of his ‘WITS?’ (Why Is This So?) teleological approach for biochemistry and molecular biology.

Students at SHSU who choose to work with Dr. Griffin will have excellent opportunities to engage in scholarly activity and to become involved in cutting-edge biomedical research. Some of the skills that students in Dr. Griffin’s lab would learn include molecular cloning, recombinant DNA techniques, and PCR; protein purification and western blotting; cell culture; chromatin immunoprecipitation; and animal care, genotyping, and husbandry. 

Dr. Griffin also contributes intramural and extramural scholarly service to the scientific community at large; in particular, by serving as an indefinite ad hoc reviewer for the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology & Metabolism and BBA: Molecular Biology of Lipids.

In summary, Dr. Griffin strives to be a ‘triple threat’ in an academic teaching environment, achieving equal excellence in all components of the academic triad: research, teaching, and service. His ultimate goal is to not only train students to perform well on their board exams; but more importantly, to help produce outstanding, independently-thinking physicians who can serve the health care needs of rural Texas.