Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology, Microbiology and Virology - Immune Regulation and Immunologic Mechanisms

The Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology (IMV) Program is designed for students interested in obtaining a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology. We offer in-depth coursework and diverse research opportunities that focus on immunology, microbiology and virology. The flexibility of our training program allows students to train in a number of exciting research areas including: cancer, autoimmune disease, respiratory pathogens and often allows students to develop highly effective interdisciplinary collaborations, resulting in cutting edge thesis projects. Housed in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, the Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology PhD Program (IMV) houses a diverse group of faculty with expertise in bacteriology, virology, fungi, and immunology.The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is focused on research and educational programs which relate to microbial pathogens (viruses and prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes) and the host immune defenses which protect against these organisms. Current research emphasizes cutting-edge molecular techniques and includes, but is not limited to, studies on: autoimmunity, biodefense, bioinformatics, biofilms, cancer biology, gene therapy, genetics and genomics, HIVAIDS, immunologic mechanisms, respiratory pathogens (including influenza) and vaccine development.Research into immunological mechanisms includes studies in diverse research areas in immunology, including: antigen presentation and processing; B cell subsets and regulation of B cell responses; T cell activation and differentiation; T cell memory and homing; immune responses to pathogenic organisms; comparative immunology using the frog Xenopus as a model system; mechanisms of autoimmunity; and the identification and analysis of gene expression signatures associated with immune responses to infection and immunization. These varied research programs seek to dissect key regulatory events that control protective and pathogenic immune responses.

Applicants must have earned a U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor's degrees are awarded before they matriculate. Evidence of the earned degree is required prior to matriculation in the form of an official transcript noting degree conferral.The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admissions applications to the IMV PhD program.It is expected that all application materials (with the exception of official score reports) be scanned and uploaded to your online application. Please note that the University of Rochester reserves the right to verify the accuracy of all transcripts and test scores, and to require submission of official documentation at any point in the admissions review process.Statement of Purpose Uploaded copy of transcript(s) to online application.Please do not mail a hard copy at this time.3 Letters of RecommendationGRE Scores will not be used by the admissions committee even if submitted. Note, because we share our admissions system with other programs, currently we are unable to remove the field to collect GRE information. Applicants can disregard this field. If GRE scores are submitted, the committee will not look at it or take it into account when making admissions decisions