Biography

Douglas F. White, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he serves as the Biology 101/102 course coordinator. He earned his doctorate in microbiology from Howard University, a master's degree in biology from Hampton University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Longwood College. White has extensive experience in biological research and instruction, with expertise spanning microbiology, molecular biology, cancer research and disease-related research. Before serving as a faculty member, he served as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Microbiology at Howard University's College of Medicine, where he conducted research on cancer-related projects and developed expertise in gene expression analysis and molecular laboratory techniques. Prior to working at Howard University, White worked in the private sector as a Biomedical Life Scientist and was a member of a team that supported program management and research proposal funding processes for the Army. He also served as a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where he researched new innovative biological and microbiological inventions/abstracts submitted for evaluation and comparison of current methods and practices to determine if the new approach was uniquely allowed/granted.

White's research experience includes investigating gene expression in breast cancer and skin diseases, as well as evaluating potential treatments for prostate cancer. White also brings extensive experience in scientific research management, having served as a biomedical life scientist supporting Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs and as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where he evaluated biological and microbiological inventions and analyzed scientific and patent literature to assess their novelty and patentability.

In addition to his teaching and research, White has supported students through academic advising, career guidance and research training, and he has participated in professional and community service through organizations including the American Society for Microbiology and The Whole Heart Grief & Life Resource Center. His commitment to research and education has been recognized through honors including the American Association for Cancer Research Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award and the Alliance for Graduate Education and Professorate Fellowship. His goal as an educator is to intellectually stimulate, enlighten, and broaden the minds of the next generation of scholars, all while simplifying incredibly complex principles in Biology and stressing the relevance of the subject to my students’ daily lives and careers.