Sydney Murphy, PhD

Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences

Sydney Murphy was appointed dean of the School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences on July 1, 2023. In addition to this role, Murphy is director of the SGSHS Office of Post-doctoral Studies and associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, with a secondary appointment as associate professor of population health science.

A lifelong resident of Madison, Murphy graduated from Mississippi State University with a BS in biochemistry and molecular biology before earning an MS in biomedical sciences and PhD in physiology and biophysics, both from UMMC. She also completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Murphy transitioned from fellow to instructor of pharmacology and toxicology in 2012. Soon after, she was promoted to assistant professor and assistant dean of academic affairs, a role she held while also serving as associate dean of academic and faculty affairs in the John D. Bower School of Population Health.

In addition to several journal articles that focus mainly on hypertension and preeclampsia, Murphy has been awarded more than $1 million in funding from grantors including the American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health.

Her UMMC honors include a bronze Excellence in Research medal in 2018 and recognition as a Diversity and Inclusion Champion in 2021. In 2019, the Mississippi Business Journal named her to its Top 40 Under 40 ranking. 

In her free time, Murphy enjoys playing outdoors with her two children and dog, traveling and sewing.