VMCVM Faculty Spotlight: Michelle Theus
Michelle Theus
Professor of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology and Director of the Neurotrauma Research Program.
When did you join the veterinary college?
2012
The best part of being a faculty is?
The best part of being faculty is seeing students evolve from curious learners into confident thinkers. Scientific discovery is gratifying, but helping students grow through that process is what makes it truly meaningful. Each student and collaborator brings a new way of seeing a problem, and that exchange of ideas keeps me excited and motivated for lifelong learning. I value the collaborative nature across disciplines and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students, peers, and the many dedicated support staff who make our work possible.
Best advice I've gotten...
Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of it. (Experiment, Fail, Learn, Repeat)
How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
“Bridging Disciplines to Restore the Injured Brain.”
My hidden talent...
... is that I hide that I have talent.
A person who has inspired me...
A person who has inspired me is my Ph.D. mentor, Dr. Ling Wei. She taught me that great science requires both rigor and imagination, and that mentorship is one of the most powerful forms of legacy.
Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...
You will grow each time you experience failure and it is a normal part of your training. What will set you apart is your determination to get it right the next time. Find mentors who understand the process and believe in your abilities.
One misconception that all students seem to have is?
Work–life balance means keeping the two perfectly separate. In reality, it’s about finding harmony, not symmetry, learning when to lean into the work that excites you and when to step away so you can return with clarity and perspective.
If I had a superpower, it would be...
Talk to microglia, they seem to have a lot of opinions and I’d love to hear what they have to say.
This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
What excites me most about the future of neuroscience is how rapidly we’re closing the gap between basic discovery and clinical application. Technologies like spatial omics, focused ultrasound, and precision epigenetic editing are giving us tools to not just observe the brain — but to intervene and promote repair.
A cause I'm most passionate about...
I don’t have one specific cause, but I care deeply about doing small things that make a positive impact...mentoring students, supporting colleagues, or just showing kindness in everyday interactions.
Favorite way to end the day...
A walk around Duck Pond Drive.
Top of my bucket list...
See the pyramids in Egypt.
My favorite quote...
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time" -T.S. Eliot
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
2 female cats (Penny and Zippy), 3 coi fish, 6 chickens and 8 pigeons. Penny likes to drink fresh cold water from the sink morning, noon and night.
