Brandt Pence, PhD

September 1st, 2025: Pence appointed Vice Provost Fellow.

Dr. Pence was appointed as Vice Provost Fellow in the Graduate School at the University of Memphis. He will work on curriculum approvals, new academic programs, and a variety of other areas in graduate school operations.

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April 24, 2025: Paper published in JCI Insight

Dr. Pence was an author on a paper published in JCI Insight. The paper describes interactions between changes in the microbiome and immunotherapy treatments for cancer after bariatric surgery and was supported by funding from a U01 grant on which he is a co-investigator.

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May 4th, 2024: Pence receives M.S. in Data Science

Dr. Pence received an M.S. degree in Data Science from the University of Memphis.

 

February 22nd, 2024: Pence named PI Millionaire.

Dr. Pence was recognized at the 2024 Research Celebration ceremony as the University of Memphis' 145th PI Millionaire. This status is conferred for faculty who have received at least $1 million in external funding during their employment at the University.

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January 7th, 2024: Pence receives campus excellence award.

Dr. Pence received the Tigers Ascending to Excellence award from the University of Memphis. As part of the award, he served as Honorary Coach for the men's basketball team in their game against Southern Methodist University. During the first half, he received a game ball at center court.

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September 27th, 2023: Pence named Director of Research.

Dr. Pence has been named Director of Research in the College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis. In this administrative position, he will work with the College Dean to administer and promote research activities in the College and will work on strategic planning, faculty research support, and other areas related to research activity. 

 

August 21st, 2023: NSF instrumentation grant awarded.

The Department of Biology and the College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis, have been awarded a Major Instrumentation Grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant, worth over $400,000, will allow the university to purchase a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Dr. Jennifer Mandel (UofM Biology) is PI of the grant, with Drs. Brandt Pence, Marie van der Merwe, and Judith Cole as Co-PIs. Also involved in the proposal were the Memphis Zoo and several other area institutions. More details can be found in the University's press release.

 

August 11th, 2023: Pence assumes nutrition coordinator role.

Dr. Pence was elected Nutrition Unit coordinator in the College of Health Sciences, University of Memphis.

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May 10th, 2023: Pence appointed Fellow of ACSM.

Dr. Pence was appointed a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (FACSM). FACSM is an elite status for long-term members who have provided significant service to the ACSM and who have made significant contributions to their academic discipline in the broad area of sports medicine.

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September 1st, 2022: U01 grant funded from National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Pence is co-investigator on a 5-year grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. The $5.2 million grant will allow a multi-institutional team of investigators to microbiome-mediated factors associated with obesity and breast cancer risk. Dr. Pence and Dr. Marie van der Merwe at the University of Memphis will lead human studies research projects. Drs. Liza Makowski (University of Tennessee Health Science Center), Jeffrey Rathmell (Vanderbilt), and Joe Pierre (Wisconsin) are principal investigators of the overall project. A press release on the UTHSC website provides more information.

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August 16th, 2022: R15 grant funded from National Institute on Aging.

The Pence laboratory has received an award of a 3-year Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15) from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. The grant will help us study the links between mitochondrial dysfunction and immune dysfunction during aging.

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