James McGinnis, Ph.D.

My time in graduate school was challenging yet very rewarding. I have cultivated memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

On arrival at UT Southwestern, I was impressed by the quality of facilities, resources, and faculty. It is clear that the students are a priority, and we receive extensive support throughout our careers to ensure that we succeed. Additionally, I was drawn to the Graduate School’s umbrella programs that provide the flexibility to work across different disciplines.

I joined the Biological Chemistry Program in the lab of David McFadden, M.D., Ph.D. My research focused on identifying druggable vulnerabilities in Ewing sarcoma, a type of pediatric bone cancer. Specifically, I worked on completing a high-throughput chemical screen for small molecule inhibitors of EWS-FLI-1 function, the protein considered responsible for the condition.

Academically, highlights include receiving the McKnight Fellowship and representing the UTSW U54 Ewing sarcoma consortium at the annual National Institutes of Health meeting, where I was selected to give a talk on my research.

In addition to being a graduate student, I was also a U.S. Army Reserve officer. Upon completing my undergraduate degree, I was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Second Lieutenant. My obligations in that role include completing military training throughout the year as well as career-specific instruction.

The support of my mentor, Dr. McFadden, helped me successfully juggle both requirements. Although it was challenging, the leadership skills learned in the Army have taught me how to manage cross-department collaborations for my research projects and the critical thinking and problem-solving skills developed in graduate school have made me a well-rounded Army officer.