Pathogenesis PhD
 Interested in a
Pathogenesis PhD?
The Immunology & Molecular
Pathogenesis (IMP) program provides
students with a unique opportunity to study all aspects of pathogenesis
using a spectrum of cutting edge molecular and cellular techniques.
Participating
faculty have a broad range of research interests, from basic immunology
to the molecular biology of viral and bacterial pathogens. The program
provides an opportunity to tailor course work and research activities
to fit the career goals of individual students. Faculty members are affiliated
with basic science and clinical departments in the School
of Medicine, the Emory
Vaccine Center, the Yerkes
National Primate Research Center, as well as the adjacent U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the first year, students
take courses in immunology, biochemistry, and cell biology, take three
10-week laboratory rotations and then select an advisor and laboratory
for dissertation research. In the second year, students will spend the
majority of time on their thesis research, but a wide range of elective
courses is available, and teaching experience is also gained during this
time. The third year and beyond are devoted almost entirely to completion
of the thesis research project. Students typically complete this Ph.D.
program in approximately five years.
Emory Resources
The highly supportive and collaborative environment within the IMP program
provides many opportunities for innovative dissertation research. Today,
the answers to important immunological questions can only come with the application
of techniques derived from numerous disciplines. It is therefore critical
that the over 280 faculty within the GDBBS give IMP students access to expertise
in many areas of research, and the people in these many labs are Emory's
greatest resource.
In addition,
the Emory community has numerous facilities that provide reagents and expertise
for immunological projects. Within the School
of Medicine are numerous core
facilities to support research projects. These include Flow Cytometry,
Transgenic Mice, Microchemical and Proteomics, and Bioinformatics core
facilities. State of the art animal facilities at several locations on
campus house numerous species, including a large population of non-human
primates at the Yerkes
National Primate Research Center. The IMP program also has a close
relationship with the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control, headquartered adjacent to the Emory campus.
In addition to these research
resources, Emory also offers numerous student life resources. The campus
life web page lists numerous programs, services, facilities, and activities
designed to enhance the student experience and get everyone involved in
the Emory community.
Financial Aid
All students admitted to the program receive health insurance, a tuition
scholarship and stipend support. Stipend levels are highly competitive. For
the academic year 2004-05 graduate student stipends are $21,500,
and graduate tuition awards are $27,770.
Stipends
and tuition scholarships, awarded to students on the basis of academic merit,
are intended to cover basic living expenses and tuition. With the exception
of special awards, such as the Woodruff Fellowship, stipend levels are set
by the GDBBS based upon the availability of funds from Graduate School and
university sources. The faculty also encourage and assist students in obtaining
individual stipend support from extramural sources, such as federal agencies
and private foundations. Financial support is provided to all full-time students
working toward the Ph.D. degree. |
