Microbiology and Immunology (PhD)
The PhD Program in Microbiology and Immunology provides mentor-based training to prepare students for careers in academia, industry, or government laboratories. Degree requirements are flexible to allow for programs of study that are tailored to the needs of individual students. Foundational concepts are established in classroom environments, but development of independent research skills is the primary goal of the program. This is achieved through mentored dissertation research under the guidance of faculty with active research programs in microbiology and immunology.
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology
Unit: School of Medicine (GM)
Department: Microbiology & Immunology
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): MBIOPHD
Program Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, in the School of Medicine, offers a program of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The PhD program includes training in a broad range of research areas using state-of-the-art immunological, microbiological, and molecular technologies. A competitive stipend, health care benefits, a full waiver of tuition and fees are provided to all applicants accepted into the PhD Program.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the PhD program, the applicant must have attained a BS or BA degree with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale). In addition, the following should be submitted online directly to the Graduate School, Graduate Admissions.
- A completed application form and application fee
- The TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo (when applicable)
- Three letters of recommendation
- A brief statement of purpose describing interests and career goals
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework (submitted to the Graduate School, Graduate Admissions; international transcripts require NACES accredited verification)
The applicant must meet the other general requirements of the Graduate School as outlined in the General Information section of this catalog. The application deadline is March 1 each year. Submission prior to March 1 is strongly encouraged in order to ensure that all required materials (especially letters of reference) are received by the deadline.
The applicant is expected to have completed the following undergraduate courses prior to admission to the PhD program (one semester of each):
- Introductory biology
- Organic chemistry
- Introductory calculus
- Biochemistry
Prospective students may be invited for a personal interview with members of the admissions committee and departmental faculty as part of the application process.
Student Financial Support
Students accepted into the PhD program will be considered for an IPIBS graduate student fellowship. The fellowship pays an annual stipend in addition to payment of student tuition and health insurance.
Program Requirements
Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (minimum grade of B-is required for all) | ||
| MBIO 600 | Lab Rotations (Fall & Spring) | 1 |
| MBIO 601 | Molecular Microbiology (Fall) | 2 |
| MBIO 602 | Immunology (Fall) | 3 |
| MBIO 604 | General Virology (Fall) | 1 |
| MBIO 606 | Seminar (Fall & Spring) | 1 |
| MBIO 610 | Methods and Analysis in the Biomedical Sciences (Fall) | 2 |
| MBIO 619 | Research (Fall, Spring & Summer) | 1-12 |
| MBIO 623 | Scientific Writing and Hypothesis Testing (Spring) | 1 |
| ASNB 622 | Analytics in Biomedical Science (Fall) | 3 |
| BIOC 630 | Responsible Conduct of Research: Survival Skills and Research Ethics (Spring) | 1 |
| BIOC 667 | Cell Biology (Spring) | 3 |
| BIOC 668 | Molecular Biology (Spring) | 3 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| A minimum of three elective courses is required and must be a scientific course from the list below (at least two must be MBIO): | ||
| MBIO 611 | Learning Theories & Instructional Strategies in Science Education | 2 |
| MBIO 621 | Advanced Immunology: Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Spring) | 2 |
| MBIO 622 | Advanced Immunology of Disease (Fall) | 2 |
| MBIO 687 | Microbial Pathogenesis (Spring) | 2 |
| BIOC 663 | High-Throughput Sequencing Data Analysis | 3 |
| BIOC 670 | Biomedical Genetics and Genomics (Fall) | 3-5 |
| BIOC 675 | Cancer Biology (Spring) | 4 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 36-38 | |
Note: Students enrolled in the MD/PhD Joint Degree Program, who have completed step I of NBME, will have satisfied all of the required course requirements except MBIO 606, BIOC 630, MBIO 610, MBIO 623, MBIO 619, and three scientific electives. They will be required to satisfactorily complete the Qualifying Exam and successfully defend a dissertation research project, in addition to attending all journal club sessions and seminars.
Qualifying Examination
Upon successful completion of the required course work, maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, and upon the recommendation of the advisor or chair, the student may take the PhD Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Examination will consist of a written research proposal related to the area of primary research and an oral defense of the project, both prepared independently without help from their mentor. Three to five faculty with expertise in the area of the proposal will be selected by the Curriculum Committee to serve as the Examining Committee. The student may enter degree candidacy upon receipt of satisfactory judgment from the Examining Committee and successful completion of the final semester of coursework.
Selection of a Research Advisor, Dissertation Committee, and Research Proposal
Students must select a Research Advisor for their dissertation research by the end of their first year. Selection of the Research Advisor is a joint decision by the student and faculty member. Selection of the Research Advisor and formation of the Dissertation Committee must be approved by the Department Chair and the Dean of the School of Medicine (or their designees). The potential advisor must agree, in writing, to provide stipend and candidacy fee support from his/her research funds upon entering PhD candidacy. Upon approval of the Research Advisor, the student will formally decide upon a dissertation research project. The student and Research Advisor will form a Dissertation Committee with five graduate faculty members. The committee will be composed of the advisor, three faculty members of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and one additional graduate faculty member from another department. If the advisor does not have a primary appointment in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, one of the three other departmental members with a primary appointment in the department must serve as Co-Advisor.