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PhD Degree in Microbiology and Immunology

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology at IU School of Medicine offers a PhD program that is typically completed in about five years. The curriculum is designed to move students into the laboratory and their prospective dissertation project as quickly as possible. Following the first year of course work, through the IBMG program, students usually take four credits of course work in their second year and begin to focus on their research. After passing the qualifying examination at the end of their second year, students advance to PhD candidacy and devote their time primarily to their dissertation research projects.  The program prepares students for productive careers as research scientists, as faculty, or in other leadership positions in their chosen fields. Opportunities to gain teaching experience with introduction to modern teaching theory are available for students interested in academic careers.

Begin PhD Application

Incoming PhD students enter through the Indiana Biomedical Gateway (IBMG) program, which provides a shared first-year experience for all biomedical-science PhD students.

Options for Specialty Focus

As the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at IU School of Medicine has grown to encompass many specialty areas, PhD students can specialize within the disciplines of pathogenesis, immunology, cancer, hematopoiesis and gene transfer therapy.

Curriculum

To earn a PhD degree in Microbiology and Immunology through IU School of Medicine, a student must complete a total of 90 credits; 40 credits must in research. At least 26 credits should be completed in course work, of which 14 credits are within a student’s major and the remaining 12 credits are in the student’s chosen minor. Participation in weekly departmental seminars and journal club forums and attending and presenting at the department’s student seminar series at least once each year are also required. Attendance is reported to mentor and committee for consideration in assigning research grades. This PhD curriculum trains excellent biomedical researchers who become independent, creative investigators.

Students entering through the IBMG Program complete a total of 22 credits their first year. Learn more about the IBMG Program course requirements.

Upon entry into the Microbiology and Immunology PhD program, each student forms an Advisory Committee consisting of three departmental faculty and one external faculty who represents the student’s minor. The committee composition is developed in consultation with the mentor and the department’s graduate advisor. The committee advises the student and assigns grades for research credits at twice-yearly meetings.