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The primary goal of this program is to provide students with unique opportunities to learn experimental designs and fundamental research techniques, and objectively synthesize information from scientific literature. These tools enable the students to focus on major research topics offered by the Department: molecular microbiology, mycology, microbial physiology, virology, genetics, immunology, drug design, and aspects of host-parasite relationships. Each M.Sc. student chooses their preferred major research area and research supervisor. Following an interview, the student is presented with a research topic and offered a studentship (amounts vary). Each student must register for our graduate courses (two seminars, two reading and conference courses, and three current topics). If pertinent to the student’s research program, the research adviser may advise the student to take additional courses.

Most of our students, after one year, are proficient researchers, and some first authors of a research publication. M.Sc. students may fast-track to the Ph.D. program after three terms of residency. The remaining students advance their microbiology background by opting to enter into medicine, epidemiology, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical disciplines.

The primary goal of the Ph.D. program is to create a self-propelled researcher, proficient in experimental designs and advanced methodologies applicable to the varied and rapidly changing disciplines in microbiology and immunology. Close research supervision and bi-weekly laboratory sessions impart the requisite research discipline and objective assessment of acquired or published research data.

A Ph.D. student, if promoted from our M.Sc. program, without submitting the thesis, is required to register for one additional graduate seminar and one additional reading and conference course, but the bulk of his/her time is devoted to research. Other requirements include a yearly presentation of the accumulated research data to the Ph.D. supervisory committee, successfully clearing the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, two years after registration into the Ph.D. program, and finally submission of a thesis. The research theme must be original, and the acquired data and hypothesis must be defended orally by the student. Each student receives a stipend for the entire duration and a minimum six-semester residency is required for the completion of the program.