Program Description:
The program leading to the Master of Science degree in microbiology and immunology prepares students for careers as professional microbiologists/immunologists in industry, government, education, and research organizations, or for further professional training.
Areas of specialization in the Microbiology and Immunology program include indoor allergies, basic and clinical immunology, retrovirology (retroviral variation, HIV, endogenous retroviruses), immunotoxicology, viral pathologenicity, vaccine development, immunoparasitology of ectoparasites, microbial ecology, immune modulation, algal toxins, inflammatory and immune effector cell function, cytokine signaling and apoptosis.
The M.S. degree in microbiology and immunology requires the submission and oral defense of either a research-based or literature-based thesis. Candidates are required to obtain a major advisor and an advisory committee. For the research-based thesis, the advisory committee will help formulate a study program to include a minimum of 17 semester credits of graduate work, including two seminars with an M&I prefix and 13 semester credits of research (which could include journal clubs, seminars, or special topics). For the literature-based thesis, the student, with assistance of the advisory committee, will select the additional courses required to fulfill the 30 semester credit limit. The advisory committee will also provide counseling and evaluate student progress. If a student is uncertain of a major area of concentration, the program director will serve as a temporary advisor until the student selects an area and is accepted by an advisory professor
Admissions Requirements:
Applicants must fulfill the requirements for admission established by the Graduate School. Preference is given to students with a grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 grading scale. Letters of recommendation and GRE scores are also considered.
Faculty:
Professor Emeritus and Research Professor
Larry G. Arlian, immunoparasitology, allergies
Professors
Nancy J. Bigley, immunology
Julian G. Gomez-Cambronero, inflammation, cytokine signaling
Barbara E. Hull, skin, viral pathogen protection
Dan E. Krane, DNA, molecular evolution
Associate Professors
Scott E. Baird, evolution and development
Thomas L. Brown, apoptosis, cell signaling
Mill Miller, intracellular transport
Dawn P. Wooley, virology, HIV
Assistant Professor
Katherine Excoffon, virus/cell interactions
Oleg Paliy, Microbial physiology and genetics
Courtney Sulentic, cellular and molecular immunotoxicology
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