Graduate Program

Susan Kaech, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Admissions

The Immunobiology Graduate Program is designed to prepare students for independent careers in research and teaching in Immunology or related disciplines. The educational program emphasizes interdisciplinary training and collaborative and interactive research, an approach based on the idea that solving difficult problems requires the integration of individuals with common goals but differing expertise. Research focuses on the molecular, cellular and genetic underpinnings of immune system function and development, on host-pathogen interactions, and on the development of new treatments for human disease, particularly those related to immune dysfunction (see Section of Human and Translational Immunology). Specific areas of interest include: B and T cell development, activation and effector functions; the innate immune system; the role of cytokines in immunoregulation; intracellular signaling and the control of transcription in lymphocytes; antigen processing and presentation; immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene diversification; B and T cell memory; the immunobiology of vascular endothelial cells; mucosal immunology; and B and T cell tolerance. Mechanisms of autoimmunity and immunodeficiency are a major interest, and a number of important human diseases are under study, including diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and a variety of other infectious diseases. For more information, see the listing of Faculty Research Interests.

Alfred Bothwell, Ph.D., Director of Graduate Studies

Most students entering the Immunobiology Graduate Program enter through the Immunology Track of the Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS). Students entering the BBS program can take courses, participate in laboratory rotations, and perform thesis research with any of more than 250 faculty members in the biological sciences at Yale, located at the closely situated School of Medicine and University main campus. The faculty and students of the BBS program are organized into interest-based Tracks to ensure individualized attention and maximize scientific interactions. Prospective students apply to the Track that best matches their interests, although there is complete freedom to work with faculty members in any Track and to take courses offered by any department or program. Further information on the BBS program is available. Students also enter the program from the Medical Scientist Training Program that leads to both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

Immunobiology graduate students

First-Year Graduate Student Journal Club

Established and run by first-year Immunobiology graduate students, the Immunobiology journal club provides an additional opportunity for first-year students to critically read and discuss important papers in the field of immunology. The journal club consists only of the 4-6 students of the Immunobiology first-year class, and meets once a week during the academic year. Immunobiology faculty are asked to suggest papers for the journal club that they believe represent an exciting new discovery in immunology or a classic demonstration of a central immunological theory. Because of the small size of the journal club, proceedings are less a presentation of results and more an informal discussion of the subtler points of the article, reliability of the techniques used, appropriateness of the conclusions reached by the authors, and broader immunological impacts of the article. The strength and variety of backgrounds of the participating students allows for group collaboration in understanding the finer points of the articles being read. In this way, the journal club not only enhances scientific and intellectual growth, but also fosters a sense of community amongst the first-year immunobiology students.

The First Year

The first year is spent taking courses (two to three each semester) and performing three laboratory rotations. Students are encouraged to supplement the core courses in molecular and cellular immunology with additional courses selected from the wide range available in cell and developmental biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and molecular medicine. In conjunction with other BBS Tracks, the Immunology Track maintains an active and well attended weekly seminar series for which students regularly participate in the selection of outside speakers. Informal interactions with other graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty also form an important part of graduate education. By the end of the first year, the student chooses a Ph.D. thesis supervisor and begins thesis research. In most cases, this choice also determines from which department the student will receive the Ph.D. degree. For example, many students entering the Immunology Track will perform thesis research with a faculty member in the Department of Immunobiology and hence receive their Ph.D. degree from this department. However, students are free to work with any faculty member in any department.

The Second Year

In the second year, students take one or two courses each semester and focus considerable time on developing their thesis research project. In addition, they prepare for and take the qualifying exam, which consists of a written proposal concerning their thesis project and an oral examination. Students typically serve as a teaching assistant in one course during the second year, and one course during the third year. This fulfills the teaching requirement, although additional teaching opportunities are available for interested students.

The Third Year and Beyond

By the end of the third year most students can expect to have completed all departmental and university requirements required for being Advanced to Candidacy. The student will now focus entirely on thesis research and the writing of manuscripts for publication and the Ph.D. thesis. The student works closely with his/her thesis supervisor and in consultation with a Thesis Committee, consisting of the faculty supervisor and several other pertinent and knowledgeable faculty, who are chosen by the student and her/his advisor. Students can take advantage of a myriad of resources to help in making progress toward completion of the degree (see Activities, Interactions and Additional Training).