The PhD program is research-based and prepares students to become independent investigators. The program includes course work and written and oral exams, but the primary focus of this degree is completion of original research and preparation of a research thesis. Opportunities for PhD research in MMI are very diverse, including virology, bacteriology, parasitology, vaccine development, host innate and adaptive immunity, pathogenesis, autoimmunity, bioinformatics, ecology of infectious diseases, and medical entomology. Our PhD students learn mechanistic approaches to solving fundamental questions in microbiology and public health. All PhD students receive a stipend, a full tuition scholarship, and medical insurance. Required courses during the first year include: 260.611-260.612 Principles of Immunology I and II 260.801-260.802 Topics in Immunology 260.852 Molecular Biology Literature 260.623 Fundamental Virology 260.627 Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections 260.635 Biology of Parasitology 260.652 Principles of Public Health Ecology 260.624 Scientific Method Applied to Grant Writing
In addition, students complete two rigorous molecular biology courses and a course in statistics during their second year. Students also participate in laboratory research meetings, journal clubs, and seminars. Finally, students have an opportunity to take elective courses within and outside of MMI. Upon entering the MMI Department, each student is assigned to a faculty member who will serve as the academic advisor for the first year. The academic advisor will assist with the selection of appropriate courses for the first year and will serve as a source of information about departmental policies and procedures. During the first year, each student rotates through three different laboratories in the MMI Department, spending 11 weeks in each laboratory. Although the first rotation is assigned, the remaining two are selected by the student. These rotations serve as the basis for short oral presentations during the weekly Departmental Research Forum. Typically, after the third rotation, students select their PhD mentor. Students in the PhD program will take two comprehensive exams. The first comprehensive examination is intended to test competency in areas of study required in MMI during the first year. The written comprehensive exam takes the form of a grant proposal written by the student on a topic selected during the Scientific Method Applied to Grant Writing course. The student’s written proposal is evaluated by a committee of three MMI faculty members and is defended orally. The second comprehensive examination is the Preliminary Oral Examination and is generally taken after the student’s second year. The purpose of this examination is to determine whether the student has gained the ability and knowledge to undertake significant research in their general area of interest. The MMI Department provides state-of-the-art facilities for cutting-edge research in microbiology and immunology. All laboratories in the department are newly renovated and provide students with all necessary tools for conducting their dissertation research. Graduate research training is a top priority in the MMI Department and we are committed to ensuring that students receive the highest quality training available. To ensure that our training goals are met, each PhD student has a Thesis Advisory Committee to provide advice and constructive feedback about their dissertation research. For more detailed information about the PhD Programs in MMI, please consult the PhD's Program Handbook Prospective students should submit a School Application, which requires the following documents: - Official transcript
- Official GRE or MCAT scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
It is recommended that prospective students apply to the PhD Program by January 2 for study beginning the following September. Generally, admission decisions are made by early March. Ms. Gail O'Connor Sr. Academic Program Coordinator Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 North Wolfe Street Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Phone: (410) 614-4232 Fax: (410) 955-0105 Email: goconnor@jhsph.edu | 
