Brian Peters, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science
Q: Why did you decide to become a Pharmacist?
A: “So I am actually not a Pharmacist. I have a PhD and am trained in infectious disease and microbiology. I had some really excellent teachers that taught biology in high school and found the whole concept of microbes fascinating.”
Q: What appealed to you about UTHSC College of Pharmacy?
A: “There is an excellent group here in the College of Pharmacy that focuses on fungal pathogenesis. That was a real draw for me as my research has always focused on fungal pathogenesis. Having that expertise around me was a big deal and also being able to tap into the therapeutic angle through the College of Pharmacy was enticing.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about working with students?
A: “This is a great job, it’s a lot of fun. There are new challenges every day. The fact that I get to work with trainees is exciting for me as well. I like watching people get excited about the work that they are doing and being a part of that. It is really a collaboration between the people in my lab and myself.”
Q: What sort of things do you enjoy doing with your free time?
A: “I wish I had more free time, that would be nice. I really enjoy going out and trying new food. There are some great restaurants here in Memphis. My favorite restaurant here is Andrew Michael’s Italian Kitchen. They have this thing called No Menu Monday on the last Monday of every month. You go and they don’t tell you what you are eating, they bring the dishes out to you then at the end they give you the menu of what you just ate. I also play a little acoustic guitar and I run a bit. I try to do a few 5Ks every year.”
Q: Who has influenced you most in your life?
A: “My graduate mentor at the University of Maryland, Mark Shirtliff, was a huge influence. He not only taught me how to be a scientist but also intangible things like how to form good collaborations with people and how to be a good colleague.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere where would you go?
A: “I would love to go to a lot of places but I have never been to the UK and I think that is where I want to go next. There is a lot of history there and I think it would be a lot of fun to go and explore.”