VIPBG News

By Lanie Mullins

Walker Rogers took the path less-traveled to becoming an academic. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Walker took his time figuring out where he wanted his career to take him. He completed his Bachelors of Science in Biology at the University of Columbus, where he spent time in biochemical ecology research with ornithologists. After graduation, Walker stepped away from academia and worked as a waiter at the 3 Michelin star restaurant The Inn At Little Washington, where he met people from all walks of life. Drawn back toward science, and seeking purpose away from the bustle of the restaurant world, Walker began work as a lab technician supporting vaccine research at Pharmaceutical Product Development. There, he connected with VCU Human Genetics alumni who encouraged him to apply to the PhD program at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Miles, Walker has focused his dissertation work on the relationship between alcohol use and pain – an understudied but critical area of research, as pain can be a motivator of alcohol use. Using mouse models and RNA-seq, he has sought to uncover the physiological and causal mechanisms underlying alcohol’s potent analgesic effects.

When asked why he chose this area of study, Walker referenced an old saying: “Researchers gravitate towards their own pathologies: research is me-search.” As a person in recovery from alcohol and substance use for the last 12 years, he was personally motivated to contribute to a deeper understanding of alcohol use disorder. “It feels good to be doing work that I find meaningful. I had a number of people acting as a support network for me … And I feel like it is my turn to give back.” And he has done just that. His recent first-author publication in Addiction Biology, “Identification of ethanol analgesia quantitative trait loci and candidate genes in BXD recombinant inbred mouse lines,” embodies that commitment by identifying ethanol analgesia candidate genes and providing a molecular foundation for future investigations.

Reflecting on his time at the VIPBG, Walker cited his first-author publication as his proudest accomplishment. “Having that first-author paper – seeing that show up on PubMed was so much more than just me being proud… AUD is a complex disease, and despite decades of research, hundreds of people die from it every day in the US. It can seem like this overwhelming, insurmountable obstacle… I am one grad student and I can only do so much… But scientific progress is incremental and contributing in some small way and seeing it there on PubMed was a ‘goosebumps’ moment. It felt nice to be a part of something bigger than just my research.”

Looking ahead, Walker plans to continue his phenotype-driven research studying alcohol use while pivoting from mouse work to human genetics in a postdoctoral role. “I want to work in a motivated and productive lab focused on alcohol use disorder and applying statistical genetics,” he said.

Outside of his work as a researcher, Walker spends his time partaking in a myriad of hobbies. Walker is a bird watcher, who has logged 200 species of birds so far, a rock climber, an avid reader with a penchant for horror novels, and a lover of punk music.

When asked for advice for incoming students at the VIPBG, Walker emphasized the importance of mentorship: “The best advice I have practically is to find a PI you love working with—someone you want to grow up to be like and who will help you mature academically, scientifically, and personally. Everything is harder when you don’t… and we are so spoiled here [at the VIPBG] with the caliber of faculty we have to rotate with. They are great mentors.”

Walker’s journey reminds us that there is no single path to becoming a scientist. His curiosity and personal commitment to meaningful research have not only shaped his own academic trajectory but also contributed to the broader understanding of alcohol use disorder. From identifying candidate genes in mouse models to envisioning new directions in human genetics, Walker has already left a mark on the field. As he takes the next step in his career, his work, and the passion behind it, he serves as an inspiring example of how deeply personal motivations can drive discoveries that matter to us all.