Degree Program
Program of Study
The department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (MMI), in partnership with the faculty from the department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VPB), offers a comprehensive graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in “Microbiology (Medicine).” This program provides individualized training that is strongly oriented toward basic research in bacteriology, cellular and developmental biology, immunology and virology. Graduates completing this training are prepared to pursue challenging and rewarding professional careers that involve research and teaching at supervisory levels in both the academic and private sectors.
Application Process & Forms
Students are selected for admission into the MMI program based on their potential to conduct high-quality, independent research. Students whose application packets are complete by January 15th will automatically be considered for the Life Sciences Fellowship, for Graduate School fellowships, and for the Gus T. Ridgel Fellowship. For more information on admissions, visit the “Apply to MMI-VPB Graduate Program” page within this site.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. degree signifies that an individual has arrived at the frontiers of knowledge and has pushed back those frontiers. As such, all Ph.D. student must complete the required graduate-level coursework, pass a comprehensive exam, carry out significant original research, write up the work into a publication-quality thesis and pass an oral defense of the work. Details and additional degree requirements are given in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Laboratory Rotations
All new graduate students admitted into the MMI program are required to complete three laboratory rotations within their first six months. These experiences expose students to a variety of scientific questions, experimental approaches and laboratory environments within the department. They help students identify which labs are best suited to their interests, and they help faculty decide which students will be best able to contribute to the lab’s research mission. Prior to each rotation, students should talk with potential advisers and meet with the Director of Graduate Studies to determine the appropriate laboratory for that rotation.
All research in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology pertains to human and animal diseases. The MMI department is a central component of an interdisciplinary campus eminence program in molecular biology, which also involves molecular biologists in biochemistry and biological sciences as well as many other University departments. Program core facilities provide cell culture and immunology services, DNA sequence analysis, micro array analysis, protein structural analysis, transgenic animals, protein expression, proteomics, electron microscopy and molecular cytology.
Student Financial Support
All graduate students accepted into the MMI program are financially supported while they are making acceptable research progress. Graduate students who are not supported by fellowships receive stipends of $23,000 pre-comprehensive exam and $24,000 post-comprehensive exam. For exceptionally qualified applicants, fellowships are available from predoctoral fellowship programs that are supported by the Life Sciences Program and the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, minority fellowships are offered through the Gus T. Ridgel Fellowship Program.
Cost of Study
Tuition and health insurance fees for residential/nonresidential students are waived for all qualifying full-time graduate student in MMI. Students are responsible for paying incidental fees (recreation facility, student activity, student health fee, and information technology) which total on average of $424.04 per year.
Living and Housing
Columbia, Missouri is a growing college community of approximately 100,000 residents, offering a pleasant combination of urban and rural life. The city, situated half-way between St. Louis and Kansas City, provides a wide array of entertainment. In addition, the scenic Ozark Mountains are easily accessible for sports, camping and other recreational activities. Columbia’s three institutions of higher learning (MU, Stephens College and Columbia College) make it an important educational center, in addition to contributing to the social and cultural life of the city.
On-campus housing, at the University Heights, Terrace and Village Apartments are available for graduate students. A variety of off-campus apartments are also available within convenient walking distance from campus.