| Programs of Study |
Research Facilities |
Costs and Financial Aid |
Location | Application |
|
The Department of Immunology and Microbiology offers a diversified program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Master of Science degree is available only under special circumstances. Postdoctoral training is available and is strongly encouraged in the department. A combined M.D./Ph.D. program is also offered; applicants for this program should apply for admission to the School of Medicine as well as to the Department of Immunology and Microbiology. The department's full-time faculty are augmented by adjunct faculty affiliated with the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the hospitals of the Detroit Medical Center . Areas of specialization include mucosal immunity, autoimmunity, immunopathology, bacterial physiology, bacterial genetics, molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, molecular virology, genetic basis of viral pathogenesis, and cancer biology. During the first year, as part of the interdisciplinary biomedical sciences curriculum, most students enroll in basic courses in cellular and molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, and virology. Participation in the journal clubs and seminars and rotation through laboratories provide an opportunity to become familiar with the faculty and other students while earning additional credits. Dissertation research commonly begins during the first summer of graduate study and continues through the remaining years in the program. The research adviser and the Advisory Committee are usually selected near the end of the first year. The Advisory Committee meets regularly (at least once every 6 months) with the student to review research progress and course work related to the student's career objectives. The department is housed in the Gordon H. Scott Hall of Basic Medical Sciences, the site for both medical and graduate student instruction. Located in the 110-acre Detroit Medical Center, Scott Hall is near the Karmanos Cancer Institute, the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, the Shiffman Medical Library , and six hospitals, which are modern structures with up-to-date equipment. The research facilities include a three laser flow cytometer for sorting cell populations and a single laser instrument for analysis of cell populations housed in the adjacent Lande Medical Research Building. Among other facilities are cell-culture areas, environmental rooms, and animal rooms. Equipment includes confocal, fluorescence, and phase microscopes; preparative ultracentrifuges; liquid and crystal scintillation counters; gas and liquid chromatography systems; diverse electrophoretic systems; personal computers; and equipment for molecular cloning, DNA thermocyclers, digital video imaging systems, RNA and DNA sequencing, preparation of oligonucleotides, and peptide analysis. The facilities of the NIH-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics are available for instruction and research. Graduate assistantships for the 2006-2007 academic year provide an annual stipend of $19850, medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, and tuition costs. The stipend increases by $1000 upon completion of the doctoral qualifying examination. All applicants are automatically considered for the graduate assistantships. Training grants, which provide a stipend plus medical insurance and tuition, and graduate research assistantships, which provide a stipend and may include tuition and medical insurance, are administered by the individual investigators. Other sources of support include the University Fellowship, which provides a stipend, medical insurance, and tuition, and the Graduate-Professional Scholarship, which provides tuition support. Both are administered by the Graduate School. Tuition in 2006-2007 is approximately $8784 per year for residents of Michigan and $18279 for nonresidents, based on 10 credit hours in the Fall and Winter semesters and 2 credit hours in the Spring/Summer semester. Graduate assistants, trainees, and fellows do not pay tuition. Living and Housing Costs A wide variety of housing is available in the area. There are some apartments on campus, and outstanding students may qualify for a University housing subsidy. Privately operated housing is available off campus. Graduate enrollment in the department averages about 20 students; 4 to 8 are admitted yearly. The department's graduate students maintain an active organization that deals with new student orientation, discusses student research projects, serves as a student-faculty liaison, and participates in social activities. The total enrollment of graduate students in basic science departments of the School of Medicine is about 400. Student Outcomes Students receiving a Ph.D. degree from the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (Alumni) generally take postdoctoral training at such institutions as Stanford, the University of Alabama, Harvard, Northwestern and the National Institutes of Health. They eventually obtain employment as university faculty members, as directors of hospital laboratories, or as investigators at research institutes or in the pharmaceutical industry. Wayne State University is located about 2 miles from downtown Detroit and the tunnel to Windsor, Ontario. Detroit offers a rich variety of cultural, social, athletic, and recreational activities. Several theaters, a symphony concert hall, an opera house, and museums are located close to the University. Nearby lakes, rivers, and parks provide settings for recreational enjoyment. The extensive urban renewal of Detroit has greatly improved living conditions in the vicinity of the Medical Center. The University Wayne State University is nationally recognized as both a research institution and an urban university. It has fourteen schools and colleges, more than 300 majors and programs, and more than 600 degree designations. An enrollment of approximately 34,000 students makes Wayne State one of the nation's largest educational institutions. About 14,000 students are enrolled in graduate programs. The University campus is part of the University Cultural Center, which includes the Detroit Main Public Library , Detroit Institute of Arts , Detroit Science Center , Detroit Historical Museum , International Institute, and the Museum of African-American History. Applications to the Ph.D. programs of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology can be submitted online by completing the WSU Graduate Application Form. Information and instructions for completing the admissions process are available at the Graduate Admissions Office website. It is strongly recommended that applications be made online as paper applications significantly slow down the admissions process. All official documents should be sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. If available, unofficial copies of these documents can also be sent to the Graduate Director of the Department for faster review. When requesting official GRE test scores from ETS, you should use the Department Code 0608 for Immunology or 0212 for Microbiology. The Department Code for requesting official TOEFL test scores is 74. International applicants need to attain a minimum computer-based TOEFL score of 250 to be eligible for admissions consideration. Dr. Harley Tse |
