Tina K. Machu, RPh, PhD
Senior Associate Dean, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Education & Experience:
Dr. Machu received a BS in Pharmacy and a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO. During the first half of her academic career, Dr. Machu focused on basic science research and teaching in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX and at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX. She received several NIH and foundation grants to support her work identifying 1) sites of alcohol action and 2) amino acid residues responsible for ligand recognition in the 5-Hydroxytryptamine3 receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel.
In the last 12 years, she has focused her efforts on administration and teaching, first as an Assistant Dean for Preclinical Education in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and then as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and later as the Senior Associate Dean in the UNT System College of Pharmacy. Dr. Machu is also a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Teaching Areas & Interests:
I have been involved in both professional and graduate education for approximately 20 years. My teaching efforts in medical, physician assistant, physical therapy, and graduate studies have focused mainly on pharmacology and neurosciences. Pharmacology will be my primary teaching area in the doctor of pharmacy program. While an Assistant Dean with TCOM, I worked collaboratively with members of the leadership team and additional faculty members to plan, coordinate, administer, and evaluate the first two years of the medical program. I was also heavily involved in the mentoring and guidance of students. I will perform similar duties in the College of Pharmacy. When I was active in biomedical research, I mentored summer students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.
Professional Activities & Awards:
I am a member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Research Society on Alcoholism, and the Texas Research Society on Alcoholism. I served on the NIAAA Neurotoxicology and Alcohol Study Section and American Heart Association Western Affiliate Review Panel. I received the Chancellor’s Council Award for Research at TTUHSC.
Scholarly Interests:
My current scholarly interests include educational psychology and innovative learning strategies for professional students. I am particularly interested in pre- and post-matriculation non-cognitive attributes that influence academic success. During my career in biomedical research, I studied the structure and function of ligand-gated ion channels, with an emphasis on 5-Hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptors. I investigated a putative alcohol-binding domain of the 5-HT3 receptor. A second project focused on the 5-HT ligand (5-HT) binding domain of the receptor, with an emphasis on amino residues that couple agonist binding to conformational changes in the N-termini that initiate channel opening. The NIH, American Heart Association, and Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation have funded my research in this area. I am the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
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