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The Department of Immunology and Microbiology offers a diversified program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The department focuses on research in the fields of Immunology, Microbiology and Virology. Areas of specialization include mucosal immunity, autoimmunity, immunopathology, bacterial physiology, bacterial genetics, molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, molecular virology, viral pathogenesis, and cancer biology. The department's full-time faculty are augmented by joint and associate faculty from other medical school departments and adjunct faculty affiliated with the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the hospitals of the Detroit Medical Center and the Henry Ford Health System. At the present time, the Master of Science degree is available only under special circumstances. During the first year, students take courses in cellular and molecular biology as part of the interdisciplinary biomedical sciences curriculum, as well as courses in immunology, microbiology, and virology. Participation in the journal clubs and seminars and research rotations in faculty laboratories provide opportunites to become familiar with the faculty and other students while earning additional credits. Dissertation research typically 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. Additional department faculty are located in the adjacent Lande Medical Research Building. 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 the hospitals of the Detroit Medical Center. The department’s research facilities include cell-culture areas, environmental rooms, and animal rooms. Equipment includes laser flow cytometers, confocal, fluorescence, and phase microscopes; preparative ultracentrifuges, liquid and crystal scintillation counters, gas and liquid chromatography systems, diverse electrophoretic systems, personal computers, equipment for molecular cloning, DNA thermocyclers, and digital video imaging systems. In addition, there is access to university core research facilities for DNA sequencing, microarray analysis, and bioinformatics. The facilities of the NIH-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics are also available for instruction and research. Financial Aid and Cost of Study Graduate assistantships for the 2010-2011 academic year provide an annual stipend of $20787, medical and dental insurance coverage, and tuition. The stipend increases by $1000 upon completion of the doctoral qualifying examination. All applicants are automatically considered for School of Medicine graduate assistantships. Other sources of support include the University Fellowship and the Dean’s Diversity Fellowship, which also provide a stipend, medical insurance, and tuition, and the Graduate-Professional Scholarship, which provides tuition support. These fellowships are administered by the Graduate School. Housing 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. Student Body Graduate enrollment in the department averages about 20 students; approximately 4 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 graduate programs of the School of Medicine is about 400. Student Outcomes Students receiving a Ph.D. degree from the Department of Immunology and Microbiology 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. 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 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 Detroit Cultural Center, which includes the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Main Public Library, Detroit Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, the International Institute, and the Museum of African-American History. Applications to the Immunology and Microbiology Ph.D. and M.S. programs must be submitted online by completing the WSU Graduate Application. Graduate Admissions Web Site: http://gradadmissions.wayne.edu Start an application: http://gradadmissions.wayne.edu/apply.php Once an online application is started, select "Immunology and Microbiology - Ph.D." or "Immunology and Microbiology - M.S.", as appropriate and then proceed as directed. Note that applications are accepted for admission to the Fall semester only. Most required documents can also be submitted online. Documents that must be mailed should be submitted directly to the Graduate Admissions Office. 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 07. International applicants need to attain a minimum TOEFL score of 100 on the internet-based test (or 250 on the computer-based test or 600 on the paper test) to be eligible for admissions consideration. Applications to the Ph.D. programs are automatically considered for graduate research assistantships. No separate application for such financial assistance is required. There are only a limited number of graduate research assistantships available and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early to increase the probability of obtaining financial aids. Late applications are reviewed as they arrive, but support may not be available. Financial aid is generaly not available for students in the M.S. program. If there are any questions, you can contact the Graduate Director of the Department via email or by regular mail at the following address: Dr. Thomas Holland Email: thomas.holland@wayne.edu |
