Department of Microbiology and Immunology

C. Jeffrey Smith, Chair, 5E-106 Brody Medical Sciences Building

The primary missions of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology are research and teaching revolving around the education of students in pursuit of the PhD and MD degrees. Our program is multi-disciplinary by nature and we offer students research opportunities in a broad range of disciplines, including bacterial and viral pathogenesis, cancer biology and cellular immunology. Students will find the program intellectually challenging yet comfortable with easy access to faculty and a favorable faculty to student ratio that fosters daily interactions. We provide a unique research environment for students where they learn the basic tools needed to succeed in biomedical research and which encourages the development of independent thought as they pursue more advanced training during the completion of their dissertation research projects.

The study of infectious diseases and our immune defenses is vital to society as we continue to fight new threats arising from emerging infectious diseases and cancer, resistance to antimicrobial agents, and bioterrorism. Our outstanding faculty and faculty affiliates use a wide array of molecular and genetic approaches to probe the underlying mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, antibiotic resistance, cancer cell signaling, autoimmunity and macrophage biology. These experienced researchers are housed in two locations, with eight faculty located in the Brody Medical Sciences building and six faculty in the adjacent Biotechnology Building. The faculty have a history of hosting nationally funded research programs which provide the students with relevant training in important problems in biomedical sciences.

Students entering our program will gain research experience in their first semester as they rotate through laboratories and begin to establish relationships with prospective mentors who will guide them through an independent research project. This research experience builds on the knowledge gained from advanced course work in genetics, medical microbiology, and immunology. Upon completion of their degree they will have the broad background necessary to evaluate complex research problems that are the center of today’s interdisciplinary research projects. The graduates from our program are well prepared to enter a job market that is rapidly expanding in its need for qualified research scientists.

Programs

Doctoral

Microbiology and Immunology, PhD

Courses

Microbiology and Immunology