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The Molecular Immunology & Microbiology (MIM) discipline of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) Graduate Program provides graduate students with a comprehensive interdisciplinary foundation in biomedical studies that is to excel in our 21st century world of translational science, and to advance into future careers in biomedical research and education.

Although the primary research focus of the IBMS MIM discipline is in areas of fundamental molecular, cellular, and systems studies of the host’s immune system, the great breadth and diversity of basic science and clinical research opportunities at ����ý is unique to an integrated health science campus such as ours. Thus, this rich research environment is perfectly suited for the Ph.D. student who seeks unique training experiences in research areas involving both health and disease, and that bridge the basic sciences with clinical science. 

More specifically, the MIM discipline considers aspects of immunology related to host defense against microbial infections and to the development of vaccines that enhance those defenses, and to the developmental and genetic processes that lead to effective healthy immunity, and to a better understanding of instances when the immune system fails us, such as in autoimmune diseases, allergy and cancer. Research to explore these biomedical problems is performed in spacious, newly renovated labs with state-of-the-art equipment, complemented by numerous departmental facilities designed for studies requiring confocal microscopy, nucleic acid sequencing and analysis, flow cytometry and infectious tissue culture. 

We are a dynamic, seasoned, well-funded group of faculty scholars. Although the MIM discipline research faculty, dissertation mentors of our Ph.D. students, is composed of members of multiple basic science and clinical departments, the majority of the MIM discipline faculty are also members of the  (MIMG). Importantly, 8 new tenure-track faculty have recently been added to our roster of nearly 60 primary and adjunct faculty giving us the necessary expertise to create a program of study and research projects tailored to the interests of each individual student in the MIM discipline. Together with our research faculty, the halls of our department are bursting with the energy of our Ph.D and M.S. students, as well as undergraduate trainees and post-doctoral fellows. Go to “Academics” to review how we prepare students for their research endeavors.