Virology, Immunology & Microbiology, Program in Biomedical Sciences

The graduate program in Virology, Immunology & Microbiology is a full-time program that provides training toward PhD and MD/PhD degrees. The training includes a literature-based curriculum, guest- and trainee-presented seminars, journal clubs, and extensive hands-on laboratory training. Small class size and extensive interaction between the various faculty in the basic and clinical sciences allow our students to become familiar with different research themes, and our collegial atmosphere and integrative approach to training provide a highly supportive environment for students.

Expertise within the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology program faculty includes viral molecular biology, viral-host cell interactions, host defense and immune responses to viral and bacterial pathogens, stem cell biology, immune exhaustion, systems immunology, and development of diagnostic tools, therapeutics, and vaccines. Our research benefits from state-of-the-art facilities and a strong network of collaborative links with faculty in other disciplines. In addition, the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University put us in the distinctive position of being able to study highly pathogenic organisms.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes for the program are as follows:

• Demonstrate academic mastery in virology, immunology, and/or microbiology.
• Demonstrate competencies in oral and written communication.
• Generate an original body of research in virology, immunology, and/or microbiology.
• Acquire skills needed to independently develop and perform a research project.

Our goal is to prepare our students to be exceptional scientists by providing rigorous training in leading-edge research in a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative environment.

Program Overview

Students spend time prior to joining the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology program either in the PhD program in Biomedical Sciences or the combined MD/PhD program. In those programs, students take foundational courses and research rotations that prepare them for the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology program.

Year 1 of the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology Program

June–December: Students take required and elective courses, attend seminars, perform dissertation research, and prepare for the practice qualifying exam.

January: Students take a practice qualifying exam and receive tailored feedback to help them prepare for their qualifying exam.

January–May: Students give a journal club presentation, take required and elective courses, attend seminars, perform dissertation research, and prepare for the qualifying exam.

June: Students take their qualifying exam.

July–August: Students work with their advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies to select their dissertation advisory committees and continue their dissertation research.

Year 2 and Beyond in the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology Program

Students complete any outstanding courses; continue their dissertation research, having regular meetings with their dissertation advisory committee; and give research-in-progress presentations to the department. When a student’s mentor and committee think that the student’s dissertation research meets the standard required for a PhD, the student defends their dissertation.

Courses

For PhD students in the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology program, a total of 24 graded units is currently required.

Required Units

• GMS FC 708 Professional Development Skills (2 units)
• GMS FC 711 FiBS I: Protein Structure, Catalysis, and Interactions (3 units)
• GMS FC 712 FiBS II: Structure and Function of the Genome (3 units)
• GMS FC 713 FiBS III: Architecture and Dynamics of the Cell (3 units)
• GMS FC 714 FiBS IV: Mechanisms of Cell Communication (3 units)
• GMS FC 721 Statistical Reasoning for the Basic Biomedical Sciences (4 units) or GMS MS 700 Elementary Biostatistics (2 units) or SPH BS 704 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 units)
• GMS FC 764 Professional Skills (2 units)

Plus at least 4 units from the following courses:

• GMS MI 701 Concepts in Virology (2 units)
• GMS MI 713 Comprehensive Immunology (4 units)
• GMS MI 823 Special Topics in Microbiology (Microbial Pathogenesis) (2 units)

Elective Units

• GMS BI 777 Techniques in Biomedical Research (2 units)
• GMS BY 776 Macromolecular Assemblies I (2 units)
• GMS BY 777 Macromolecular Assemblies II (2 units)
• GMS FC 705 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences: Translational Genetics and Genomics (2 units)
• GMS FC 706 Foundations in Biomedical Sciences: Molecular Metabolism (2 units)
• GMS GE 701 Principles of Genetics and Genomics (4 units)
• GMS MM 710 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (2 units)
• GMS MM 725 Biology of the Lung and Pulmonary Disease (2 units)

Ungraded Units to be Taken

• ENG EK 800 Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research (1 unit)
• GMS MI 811/812 Microbiology Seminar (2 units)
• GMS MI 911/912 Microbiology Research (var. units)

Seminars and journal clubs are important components of training at all stages of a scientific career and all students are encouraged to attend seminars in a variety of disciplines. In addition, all students in the Virology, Immunology & Microbiology program are expected to attend and participate in departmental seminars throughout their graduate career.

The department also hosts a weekly seminar series that includes invited speakers from other institutions. It is held on Wednesdays, 12–1 pm, in the X222 conference room. Following these guest speaker seminars, students may meet with the speakers over lunch to network and discuss research and career paths. Each student is expected to attend at least four lunches over the course of the academic year.

In addition, the department holds a Trainee Seminar Series and Journal Club on Mondays, 12–1 pm, in the X222 conference room. Research seminars are presented by more advanced graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research scientists. Journal clubs are presented by early-stage trainees and involve discussion of research papers chosen from the current scientific literature.

Qualifying Exam

Students take a practice qualifying exam in January of their first year in the program. The purpose is to help the student identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and to provide advice on how those weaknesses can be remedied (e.g., through coursework or directed study) so that the student can fully prepare themselves for the formal qualifying exam. It is also intended to give students experience in an oral exam so that they are better prepared for the qualifying exam. The practice qualifying exam has two parts: (1) an in-depth editorial on a paper related to their dissertation research, and (2) an oral presentation in a closed session before members of an ad hoc qualifying exam committee. Students are given verbal feedback at the end of the oral exam, and both the student and their advisor receive written feedback on the student’s strengths and areas for further development, along with suggestions about how to prepare for the qualifying exam.

The qualifying exam is taken at the end of the student’s first year in the program and has three parts:

• an F31-style grant application related to the student’s research topic;
• a 30–45-minute presentation of the student’s proposed research plan in an open session of students, other trainees, and faculty;
• a closed session of questioning by the ad hoc qualifying exam committee.

Laboratory Research

Research is the central part of the graduate student’s training, and therefore most of the time spent in graduate school is devoted to original laboratory research. This is carried out in the laboratory of a faculty member chosen by the student, who serves as the student’s mentor and scientific advisor. A dissertation advisory committee composed of faculty scientists provides additional expertise and guidance to the student. The committee meets regularly with the student to help direct the course of research. Students are expected to publish the results of their original research in refereed scientific journals.

Dissertation—PhD Program

As part of the PhD requirements, a written dissertation describing the student’s research accomplishments must be submitted and defended.