Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology

The Ph.D. program in Microbiology & Immunology is designed to prepare doctoral candidates for research careers in academia, industry, and government laboratories. The program has at its heart a close student-mentor relationship that allows for maximum flexibility in the development of independent and creative scientists. Students will have the opportunity to join faculty research programs across a spectrum of topics including pathogenic microbiology, virology, cancer cell and molecular biology, and cellular and molecular immunology. Specific research areas include microbial physiology, bacterial pathogenicity, cellular and molecular immunology, tumor immunology, lymphocyte differentiation, membrane biology, molecular virology, molecular genetics, and gene regulation. Students will utilize cutting-edge techniques, including genetic engineering, genomics, bioinformatics, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The program of study is tailored to the individual background and career goals of the student and stresses an interdisciplinary approach both in the selection of courses and in the pursuit of research. The most important aspect of the doctoral program is an independent research project under the direction of the student's mentor. Students are expected to develop their reading and writing skills, in part through their participation in graduate seminars, journal clubs, and research seminars, grant-writing, interactions with visiting scholars and attendance at local and national meetings to present their research. All Ph.D. students are supported by a Research Assistantship that provides a yearly stipend, tuition costs, and student health.

Students are first admitted to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences curriculum, an undifferentiated first-year core curriculum that serves as the entry point for six doctoral programs housed in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

CV
Indicating any academic honors, publications, research experience and relevant work experience (since graduation--for those who have previously graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree program).
Personal Statement
Indicate your research interest and goals for doctoral study and beyond.
GRE
Three letters of recommendation For the Graduate School, the minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based) 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based). The minimum IELTS score is 6.5

An overall grade point average of 2.75 on undergraduate work and 3.00 on all graduate work is required by the Graduate School.