Joshua Drake, PhD
- Graduate Program Faculty

1037 Integrated Life Sciences Building
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Joshua Drake investigates how mitochondrial quality control in primarily post-mitotic tissues (e.g. skeletal muscle) mediates the capacity for healthy aging. Specifically, his research investigates novel mechanisms by which damaged and/or dysfunctional regions of the mitochondrial reticulum are targeted for degradation through mitophagy and how such mechanisms are negatively impacted by aging and their relationship to age-related disease. Additionally, he is interested in how regular exercise promotes healthy aging through maintenance of mitochondrial quality.
2019, UVA Junior Faculty Outstanding Investigator Award
2018, NIA Career Development Award (K99/R00)
2018, NIA-sponsored Summer Training Course in Experimental Aging Research
2016, National Institute on Aging (NIA) Butler-Williams Scholar
2016, American Diabetes Association Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award
2016, National Institute of Health Ruth L. Kirschtein Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award (F32), NIDDK
2014-2018, Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Molecular Physiology, Center for Skeletal Muscle Research at Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Virginia
2014, Ph.D., Human Bioenergetics, Colorado State University
2010, M.S., Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University
2007, B.S., Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University
Graduate Program Track:
- Molecular and Cellular Science