Molecular Microbiology Ph.D. Program

Basic Biomedical Sciences Umbrella Program; First-year students complete a core curriculum with: Core Course, 2+ Laboratory Rotations; Responsible Conduct of Research Training in Integrity, Ethics, and Excellence. Second-year students take a qualifying exam to enter the Ph.D. program: Collaborative and Cross-Disciplinary

About the Molecular Microbiology Program

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The Graduate Program in Molecular Microbiology emphasizes an integrated approach to the study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The overall objective of the Molecular Microbiology Program is to provide a rich environment of multidisciplinary training in research strategies and technology that will prepare the graduate for a career as an independent investigator in both the basic and applied biomedical sciences.

Major Ph.D. Degree Program Areas

Microbial Pathogenesis

This program area covers:

Analysis of virulence factors, bacterial toxins, lipopolysaccharides, and outer membrane proteins
Interactions of pathogens and their products with eukaryotic host cells (cellular microbiology)
Antigenic variation
Contemporary vaccine strategies
Bacterial gene regulation (osmoregulation, quorum sensing)
Bacterial export and secretion
Genetic regulation of bacterial virulence expression

Virology

This program area covers:

Enteroviruses (e.g. poliovirus, coxsackievirus, norovirus)
Human immunodeficiency virus
Flaviviruses (Zika virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus)
Herpesviruses (KSHV, herpes simplex virus)
Poxviruses (vaccinia virus)
Respiratory viruses (influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, paramyxoviruses)
Viral entry
Viral replication and persistence
Innate immune control of viral replication
Virus and host evolution - genetics arms races
Viral vaccines
Viral and eukaryotic host gene regulation
Signal transduction pathways
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of human oncogenesis

Cellular and Molecular Immunology

This program area covers:

Functions of natural killer cells
Antigen processing and presentation
Functions of T cell subsets
Mechanisms of immune cell activation by microbial modulins
Immunotoxin
Immunoprivileged sites
Mechanisms of inflammation
Dendritic cells
Tumor immunology
Generation of antibody diversity

“Although it places a strong emphasis on host-pathogen interactions, the Molecular Microbiology program also explores other fields of research like biochemistry, immunology, biophysics, and more. Many of the faculty in the program are also part of other programs and bring that knowledge to the molecular microbiology program.”

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Nestor Ruiz

“As a Hispanic woman in the biomedical field, it was important for me to find an environment that not only provides training to become an independent scientist but one where I feel represented with the scientific community.”

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Valerie Rodriguez Irizarry

Going Beyond Lab Research

In addition to offering extensive training in laboratory research and technology, the Molecular Microbiology Graduate Program provides:

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Advanced Coursework
Faculty members in the Molecular Microbiology Program offer advanced courses in:
- Medical microbiology and infectious diseases (including immunology)
- Molecular basis of microbial pathogenesis
- Microbial genetics
- Virology
- Viruses in human cancer
- Cell and molecular immunology
- Genetic manipulation of the immune system
Seminars, Journal Clubs, Works-in-Progress Seminars

Participation in seminars, elective courses, journal clubs, and works-in-progress seminars contributes to each student’s success.

Meet the Program Director

“Overall, the research Program is dedicated to providing a superior level of training in biomedical research strategies and technologies related to the major principles of molecular microbiology.”