Program Overview

Overview of the Medical Microbiology and Immunology Program

The Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Toledo is a vibrant and dynamic place for graduate students to explore their research interests. The department is growing, thanks to the efforts of its nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Faculty members conduct research on infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, and organ transplant rejection, with the goal of developing new vaccines and treatments to protect human health.

Top Reasons to Study Medical Microbiology and Immunology

• Full financial support: Doctoral students in Medical Microbiology and Immunology are fully supported by a graduate research stipend, allowing them to focus exclusively on their research projects. Students also receive full-tuition scholarships.
• Teaching opportunities: Available for students interested in careers in education.
• Collaborative research: Faculty and students work with infectious disease and immunology experts on regional, state, national, and international research projects.
• Communication skills: Students learn to communicate about their research in terms the public can understand through a partnership with a local newspaper, presenting their research at conferences, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
• Active student groups: Networking and learning opportunities are available through participation in The University of Toledo Graduate Student Association and the Council of Biomedical Graduate Students.
• State-of-the-art facilities: The program is located on The University of Toledo Health Science Campus, with access to modern, well-equipped labs and cutting-edge technologies.

Facilities and Equipment

The department boasts an array of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including:

• Tissue culture core facility
• Roche LightCycler 96 for quantitative, real-time PCR
• Fluorescent and bioluminescent live-cell or whole-animal imaging
• Luminex multiplex cytokine detection
• BD FACSCalibur, FACSAria, and FACSCanto for flow cytometry (FACS) and cell sorting
• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• Leica multiphoton laser scanning confocal microscope
• Histology core facility
• Genetic analysis instrumentation center
• Blood clinical chemistry analyzer

Faculty and Research Interests

Faculty members are internationally recognized in their fields, with strong records of graduate student and post-doctoral Fellow mentoring. They serve on national and international scientific committees, publish extensively, and are awarded national research funding. Research interests include:

• How microbes cause disease
• Immune responses to infection
• Autoimmune diseases
• The development, differentiation, and activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems
• New vaccines against infectious microbes
• The mechanisms of organ transplant rejection

Career Opportunities

A degree in Medical Microbiology and Immunology opens doors to a wide range of career options, including:

• Academic research
• Clinical trials administration
• Government research
• High school or higher education teaching
• Industry research
• Policy work/consulting Graduates have been offered post-doctoral fellowships and research positions at prestigious institutions, such as Duke University, Harvard University, and the National Institutes of Health.

Application to Graduate School

For those interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, the application process involves several steps. Prospective students should find their next steps whether they are new students, readmit students, or guest students.