Degrees Offered
PhD, PhD/MD, PhD/DDS
Program Description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in molecular microbiology and immunology provides training opportunities in a variety of subdisciplines, including tracks in immunology, cancer immunology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, fungal pathogenesis, microbial genomics, and cell biology. The program emphasizes molecular aspects of host defense and host-pathogen relationships. A rigorous curriculum and advanced research training prepare students for careers in biomedical research. Students accepted into the program receive graduate fellowships or assistantships that consist of an annual stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance.
Program Admission
In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s minimum admission requirements, applicants generally have strong undergraduate training in the biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and general physics. Applicants should have A or B grades in undergraduate science courses. Strong preference goes to applicants with combined verbal and quantitative Graduate Record Examinations scores of 310 or above. The program encourages the application of women and candidates from racial and ethnic minorities under-represented in the sciences. Applications are due by Jan. 15 for the fall semester. The program only admits students for the fall semester.
International applicants must score at least 100 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or a comparable score on the International English Language Testing System exam assessment to be considered for admission.
Degree Requirements
First-year students participate in an innovative core course, Mechanisms in Biomedical Sciences: From Genes to Disease (GPLS 601), in the first semester. Students then take required, program-specific courses that include: immunology; microbial pathogenesis; virology; an elective advanced course (several options available); and research ethics. Additional elective courses may be added. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing. Averages below this will lead to academic probation during which the student must raise their GPA or be dismissed. As a complement to the coursework, all students participate in program or schoolwide seminars, career development workshops, discipline-specific journal clubs, and a research-in-progress student presentation series throughout their time in the program.
During the first semester, students are introduced to potential thesis mentors through faculty presentations and each student conducts three laboratory rotations to familiarize themselves with prospective research labs. By the end of the first year, students should select a dissertation mentor. Students take an oral qualifying exam in the spring semester of their second year. They must also pass a thesis proposal defense by the end of their third year, then continue with full-time thesis research. PhD candidates must successfully complete 12 credits of doctoral dissertation research in order to graduate.
Required Courses
(In addition to GPLS 601)
One elective from the courses below or others (listed in GPILS Program Description):
part of this catalog.