Walter Esselman, Ph.D.

Board Member

Associate Vice President, MSU Health Sciences Research

Walter J. Esselman, Ph.D., is the associate vice president of Research in MSU Health Sciences. He steers the research efforts in the departments and divisions in the MSU College of Human Medicine. He also oversaw the creation of the Health Colleges Research Services Office. Before joining the MSU College of Human Medicine, Esselman served as chair of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics for ten years.

His responsibilities include enhancing synergy among health sciences researchers, connecting existing areas of research excellence and creating new opportunities. He serves as a key leader in aligning Henry Ford + MSU partnership research, including supporting the integration of the Henry Ford Health faculty.

Esselman earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at the Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.) and his doctorate in biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University. After post-doctoral work at Michigan State University, he joined the faculty of the departments of Surgery and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in the College of Human Medicine.