THE MICROBIOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Microbiology Graduate Program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center is a Ph.D. program that prepares students for careers in research and teaching in molecular microbiology and virology and the molecular pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Based primarily within the Department of Microbiology, the program faculty also includes members of the departments of Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics, and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. Faculty research interests include the molecular mechanisms of bacterial and viral pathogenesis, the molecular biology of bacterial, viral and cellular gene expression and host-parasite interactions in infectious disease. The Program is a participant in a prestigious training grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health to support pre-doctoral training in the pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases. The research programs of the Program faculty are well funded by extramural sources such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Microbiology Graduate Program is located in the Health Sciences Center of the University of Colorado in Denver. The Microbiology Department has newly renovated laboratory and office space and is making exciting changes and expanding its research and teaching programs.

The Microbiology Graduate Program has 18 faculty members, and there are currently 21 Ph.D. students enrolled in the Program. Close individual attention is given by the faculty to the needs and training of each graduate student. Approximately 200 students are enrolled in a variety of Ph.D. programs at the Health Sciences Center. Students in these programs share many educational and scientific activities, as well as social and intramural sporting activities. First year students in most of the basic science Ph.D. programs take a common core course during the fall and winter quarters, and part of the winter quarter and the spring quarter are used for elective courses. All graduate students are encouraged to participate in the Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, where students share their research accomplishments with other students and faculty.