Graduation Requirements for Ph.D.
To help students navigate the program, the department has created the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology Graduate Student Handbook that provides the policies of the department. The following individuals fulfill the named roles in the handbook.
Graduate Director: Indranil Biswas, Ph.D.
Associate Graduate Director: Jeffrey Bose, Ph.D.
Graduate Program Administrator: Kathy Mackay
Recommended Timeline* for a Ph.D. in Microbiology
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | IGPBS | Two Fall Fundamentals Courses (MICR 810, MICR 811, MICR 812) Advanced Course from MICR 808, MICR 809, MICR 820, MICR 825, MICR 826, MICR 855 |
Advanced Course from MICR 808, MICR 809, MICR 820, MICR 825, MICR 826, MICR 855 | ||
| Seminars & Presentations | IGPBS | Presentation of 2 SLS (1 per semester; MICR 830), Participation in MBS and WIP Series | Presentation of 2 SLS (1 per semester; MICR 830), Participation in MBS and WIP Series | Participation in MBS and WIP Series | Participation in MBS and WIP Series |
| Lab Work | Rotations in 3 laboratories (≥6 weeks or per IGPBS schedule)** | Research in Microbiology (MICR 835) | Research for Ph.D. in Microbiology (MICR 990), after Comprehensive Exam | Research for Ph.D. in Microbiology (MICR 990) | Research for Ph.D. in Microbiology (MICR 990) Dissertation for Ph.D. in Microbiology (MICR 999) |
| Committee Meetings | Research Committee Meeting | Research Committee Meeting | Dissertation Committee Meeting | ||
| Exams | Module Exams | Course Exams | Course Exams (if needed) Comprehensive Exam (Preproposal deadline: July 31) |
Dissertation Defense |
*Timelines for transfer students will be designed on a case-by-case basis.
**Students recruited by and admitted directly into a specific laboratory are not required to rotate.
1 SLS: Student Literature Series, MBS: Microbiology Seminar Series, WIP: Work in Progress Series
Course Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Microbiology
Students must demonstrate competence in the content of the IGPBS curriculum and two of the following three areas:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Bacteriology
Students must also take two advanced courses, present literature seminars, and participate in the Work in Progress series.
All students in doctoral programs must meet the research skills and responsible scholarship requirement of the university. Microbiology Ph.D. students meet these requirements during their IGPBS year of study by taking GSMC 857 Biographics, GSMC 852/GSMC 855 Introduction to Biomedical Research I and II, and GSMC 856 Introduction to Research Ethics.
The student takes a comprehensive examination based in part on defense of an original written research proposal. This examination evaluates the student's ability to write and defend an original research proposal, design experiments, and interpret results in a sound and critical manner.
Doctoral candidates are expected to conduct original research, prepare a written dissertation detailing the results, and defend the dissertation in a final oral examination. It is expected that the research will be published in reputable scientific journals.
Required courses:
- MICR 830: Seminar in Microbiology
- Two of the following courses:
- MICR 810: Fundamentals of Immunology
- MICR 811: Molecular Genetics of Bacteria & Phages
- MICR 812: Molecular Virology & Pathogenesis
- Two of the following advanced courses:
- MICR 808: Immunology
- MICR 809: Tumor Immunology
- MICR 820: Bacterial Genetics & Pathogenesis
- MICR 825: Virology
- MICR 826: Oncogenesis Associated with Viral Infections
- MICR 855: Host-Pathogen Interactions
Research courses:
- MICR 835: Research in Microbiology
- MICR 990: Research for Ph.D. in Microbiology
Dissertation course:
- MICR 999: Dissertation for Ph.D. in Microbiology
Requirements for the M.D./Ph.D. Degree in Microbiology
The department offers a combined degree program for students who wish to pursue the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees concurrently. Admission through the M.D.-Ph.D. Physician Scientist Training Program at the University of Kansas Medical Center is highly competitive, and selection is based on academic achievement and potential for a career in research. Requirements for completion of the Ph.D. portion of the combined degree are the same as for the traditional Ph.D. and include a comprehensive exam and defense of a written dissertation based on original research. Certain Ph.D. course requirements can be fulfilled by academic credit earned in the M.D.