The Microbiology and Immunology Program is a multidisciplinary,
interdepartmental program with the goal of providing state-of-the-art
training for careers in biomedical research. The PhD Program aims to
produce scientists capable of solving basic biological and
health-related problems who will be competitive for leadership positions
in universities, government laboratories and the private sector. The
program emphasizes innovative research and versatile approaches to
problem solving. Students are required to study a specialty area in
depth, while also acquiring a breadth of knowledge.
The time required to complete a doctorate in microbiology and
immunology will vary with the background of the student. In general, a
student entering with a Master's degree should plan for a 3- to 4-year
program; a student entering with a suitable Bachelor's degree should
anticipate a 5-year program. The average time to completion of the PhD
in the program is 5.5 years. This compares favorably with the national
average in the life sciences which is currently at 6.7 years. Students
should know that the course of study and requirements for graduation are
subject to approval and modification by the faculty at any time.
MD/PhD students should plan on approximately 3 years for completion
of PhD requirements. A satisfactory draft of the dissertation is
required prior to returning to the medical school curriculum.
Individualized research programs are available in several areas: