Overview
The Department of Molecular Microbiology
and Immunology and Immunology (MMI) offers a graduate program in molecular
microbiology and immunology leading to a Ph.D. degree. Our goal is to graduate
exceptionally well-trained professionals who possess the necessary background
and experience for a career in a research institution, academe or biotechnology.
The Department reflects the strength and diversity of its faculty through
a unifying focus of the study of host-pathogen interactions with areas of
interest including: viral pathogenesis, immunology, molecular chaperones,
gene regulation at the transcription and RNA processing levels and gene therapy.
Molecular and cellular biology along with genetics and animal models form
the intellectual and technical basis for the research.
Although each Ph.D. candidate will have a least one major mentor, the responsibility
for the education of each Ph.D. student ultimately lies with faculty of the
Department as a whole. Each graduate student participates with the Faculty
in designing a program that meets the academic needs of the student. Each
student receives a firm grounding in cellular and molecular biology, immunology,
molecular genetics, and biochemistry.
All individuals interested in the MMI graduate program must enroll through
the Core Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, a one year program where
the student receives a strong foundation in Molecular and Cellular Biology
and exposure to the diverse programs of scientific investigation carried out
in the Saint Louis University's Health Sciences Center. As part of the first
year Core Program, students undertake ~4 six week rotations in laboratories
among the basic science departments of the Health Sciences Center in order
to select a mentor and department for study towards a Ph.D. degree.
Prerequisites
A Bachelor of Science or Masters degree is required
and course work that includes: college physics, calculus, organic chemistry
and the biological sciences.
Full description of Ph.D. program requirements
and course offerings can be found in the PDF file: SLU_MMI_phdprogram.pdf