Remember Dexter From “The Offspring?” He Just Earned In Molecular Biology PhD

The Offspring‘s Dexter Holland has earned a PhD after completing a program in molecular biology. The musician had put his doctorate on hold years ago to focus on his music career.

Amidst years of touring and recording, the singer-guitarist chipped away at his degree, conducting research and eventually publishing a 175-page dissertation on the molecular dynamics of HIV and general virus/host interactions. Holland graduated from the University of Southern California Thursday – and will return to the stage with the Offspring May 13th.

Holland’s dissertation boasts the interminably scientific title Discovery of Mature MicroRNA Sequences within the Protein-Coding Regions of Global HIV-1 Genomes: Predictions of Novel Mechanisms for Viral Infection and Pathogenicity. It’s available to read in full via USC.

“My research focused on the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the virus which causes AIDS,” Holland said in a statement. “I am interested in virology and wanted to contribute in some small way to the knowledge which has been learned about HIV and AIDS. This terrible disease remains a worldwide epidemic – over 35 million people worldwide are currently infected and living with the HIV virus. Over 1 million people a year die from this disease.”

Holland was working on his Ph.D during the Offspring’s early years, but stepped away from the program when the band’s touring schedule increased following the release of their seminal 1994 album, Smash, which became the best-selling independent record ever.

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