Immunology & Microbial PathogenesisProgram Requirements
Admissions
Applicants should have a strong undergraduate background and record of achievement in the biological sciences, including biochemistry, molecular genetics, and microbiology, and are also expected to have undergraduate laboratory research experience.
An official transcript of the student's undergraduate record is necessary, with three letters from faculty members who can evaluate the academic potential of the student in a PhD program in immunology and microbial pathogenesis.
The application requires a personal statement describing the student's background and specific interest in the Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis program. Applicants must submit the results of the General Graduate Record Examination. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination.
Apply Online provides a full description of the application procedures.
Becoming A Doctoral Candidate
An individual program of study is developed for each student on the basis of the student's interest and prior experience, comprising both required and elective courses.
The IMP program places great emphasis on scholarship. Beginning in the first year with course work in fundamental immunology and complemented by electives in anything from cell biology to structural biology, the program offers continued education throughout the graduate studies in the form of an Advanced Immunology course with flexible topics, an Immunology Seminar Series highlighting the latest developments in the field presented by distinguished scientists, and a student-run “Research in Progress” forum for critical discussion of their thesis research and the exchange of ideas.
Each IMP student, with the help of the mentor, must participate regularly in journal clubs throughout the graduate training. He/she may choose elective courses among all courses offered by the other programs of the Graduate School.
A description of each course is provided at: Courses.
The IMP annual retreat is an integral part of the program. This off-site meeting includes formal presentations by faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. In addition, it requires graduate students (in year two and above) and postdoctoral fellows to contribute to poster sessions and workshops. Prizes are awarded for outstanding publications.
A major focus of IMP is laboratory research. Each student undertakes three rotation projects with different faculty members. The three rotations are carried out during the third and fourth quarters of the first year and the summer following the first year of study. During the second year, the student is expected to choose a major sponsor and to develop a research topic for the doctoral thesis.
The Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Examination (ACE) is ordinarily taken in the spring of the second year and requires both written and oral examination of the candidate's general understanding of immunology and related subjects. When a student passes the ACE, he/she is a candidate for the PhD degree.
PhD Research and Degree
A Special Committee, comprising the major sponsor and two additional faculty members knowledgeable in the field of study (minor sponsors) advises the student in his or her research, meeting periodically to monitor progress, and to oversee development of the thesis.
During this time the student continues to participate in the other educational programs offered by the graduate program but works full time in the laboratory.
The culmination of the student’s successful progression through the program is the final examination (the “defense”) and certification by the Special Committee that the thesis represents an official piece of research that satisfies the requirements of the Graduate School for the PhD degree.
