personal statement for phd in microbiology

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Microbiology personal statement example.

It was learning about the discovery of penicillin that first stimulated my interest in the behaviour and destruction of microbes by the action of drugs; for example antibiotics. Learning about this giant leap forward in medicine and the way it transformed the treatment of disease inspired me to pursue the study of Microbiology. I am also fascinated by the compounds that go into medicines; for example Aspirin which is produced from willow bark. For this reason, I would relish the opportunity to study Microbiology in greater detail and further my learning and enjoyment that I have experienced during my A levels; in areas such as genetics and cell biology. From carrying out experiments in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, it has allowed me to develop my scientific planning, analysis and evaluation skills whilst I have also learnt about the importance of using resources appropriately and testing hypotheses. In addition, I have developed the ability to work effectively as an individual when drawing conclusions during experiments such as for coursework; or in a group for example, when recording results. To develop a greater understanding of Microbiology, I visited University College London's Microbiology department where I shadowed members of the department and took part in numerous investigations. With use of samples of faeces, urine and wound swabs, I prepared and viewed agar plates and microscope slides which allowed me to acquire a greater knowledge about the variety of skills and methods required in a Microbiology laboratory. In July and August of 2008, I took great pleasure in completing a Nuffield Science Bursary at the Botany department of the Natural History Museum entitled "Georeferencing Alchemilla". For this, I was required to find co-ordinates for the locations of the specimens so that they may be revisited in the future to assess the numbers of Alchemilla present in Britain. I gained a great deal of knowledge about plant taxonomy and georeferencing. Furthermore, I submitted a report on my findings and I will be presenting my experience to prospective Nuffield students in the upcoming weeks. To prepare me for entry into university, I have also arranged a month's work experience at a hospital pharmacy in Jamaica next summer. This will enable me to gain work experience in a hospital environment and apply the skills that I have gained through my studies and work experience to date. Engaging in a range of extra curricular activities has enhanced my communication and interpersonal skills. In school, I participated in the athletics team and in various competitions against schools in the borough of Barnet. Whilst being Form Captain, my responsibilities included maintaining the discipline of the form and co-ordinating the differing strengths of individual form members. As services to my church, I am an Assistant Leader at the Brownies and active in the youth team. We plan activities on an ongoing basis for children in order to raise funds. For six months, I also worked in a Cancer Research store where I was responsible for pricing incoming donations and in April, I participated in The Great Daffodil Appeal for the Marie Curie Cancer Care in which I took part in fundraising activities, such as collecting donations. I was part of a national team that raised GBP 5.1million. These duties, have allowed me to hone my teamwork, leadership, organisational and communication skills. For relaxation, I thoroughly enjoy reading, in particular non-fiction. Currently, I am reading a book called “A Child Called 'It'” by David Pelzer. I take great pleasure in decorative sewing and listening to music. I have a keen interest in various sports including swimming, athletics and trampolining. Recently I have joined a trampolining club and attend coaching lessons. As an independent and committed individual, I look forward with confidence to the challenges that await me at University.

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• Applying to graduate school
• How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples

Published on February 12, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A personal statement is a short essay of around 500–1,000 words, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what drives you, and why you’re applying.

To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application , don’t just summarize your experience; instead, craft a focused narrative in your own voice. Aim to demonstrate three things:

• Your personality: what are your interests, values, and motivations?
• Your talents: what can you bring to the program?
• Your goals: what do you hope the program will do for you?

This article guides you through some winning strategies to build a strong, well-structured personal statement for a master’s or PhD application. You can download the full examples below.

Urban Planning Psychology History

Table of contents

Getting started with your personal statement, the introduction: start with an attention-grabbing opening, the main body: craft your narrative, the conclusion: look ahead, revising, editing, and proofreading your personal statement, frequently asked questions, other interesting articles.

Before you start writing, the first step is to understand exactly what’s expected of you. If the application gives you a question or prompt for your personal statement, the most important thing is to respond to it directly.

For example, you might be asked to focus on the development of your personal identity; challenges you have faced in your life; or your career motivations. This will shape your focus and emphasis—but you still need to find your own unique approach to answering it.

There’s no universal template for a personal statement; it’s your chance to be creative and let your own voice shine through. But there are strategies you can use to build a compelling, well-structured story.

The first paragraph of your personal statement should set the tone and lead smoothly into the story you want to tell.

Strategy 1: Open with a concrete scene

An effective way to catch the reader’s attention is to set up a scene that illustrates something about your character and interests. If you’re stuck, try thinking about:

• A personal experience that changed your perspective
• A story from your family’s history
• A memorable teacher or learning experience
• An unusual or unexpected encounter

To write an effective scene, try to go beyond straightforward description; start with an intriguing sentence that pulls the reader in, and give concrete details to create a convincing atmosphere.

Strategy 2: Open with your motivations

To emphasize your enthusiasm and commitment, you can start by explaining your interest in the subject you want to study or the career path you want to follow.

Just stating that it interests you isn’t enough: first, you need to figure out why you’re interested in this field:

• Is it a longstanding passion or a recent discovery?
• Does it come naturally or have you had to work hard at it?
• How does it fit into the rest of your life?
• What do you think it contributes to society?

Tips for the introduction

• Don’t start on a cliche: avoid phrases like “Ever since I was a child…” or “For as long as I can remember…”
• Do save the introduction for last. If you’re struggling to come up with a strong opening, leave it aside, and note down any interesting ideas that occur to you as you write the rest of the personal statement.

Once you’ve set up the main themes of your personal statement, you’ll delve into more detail about your experiences and motivations.

To structure the body of your personal statement, there are various strategies you can use.

Strategy 1: Describe your development over time

One of the simplest strategies is to give a chronological overview of key experiences that have led you to apply for graduate school.

• What first sparked your interest in the field?
• Which classes, assignments, classmates, internships, or other activities helped you develop your knowledge and skills?
• Where do you want to go next? How does this program fit into your future plans?

Don’t try to include absolutely everything you’ve done—pick out highlights that are relevant to your application. Aim to craft a compelling narrative that shows how you’ve changed and actively developed yourself.

My interest in psychology was first sparked early in my high school career. Though somewhat scientifically inclined, I found that what interested me most was not the equations we learned about in physics and chemistry, but the motivations and perceptions of my fellow students, and the subtle social dynamics that I observed inside and outside the classroom. I wanted to learn how our identities, beliefs, and behaviours are shaped through our interactions with others, so I decided to major in Social Psychology. My undergraduate studies deepened my understanding of, and fascination with, the interplay between an individual mind and its social context.During my studies, I acquired a solid foundation of knowledge about concepts like social influence and group dynamics, but I also took classes on various topics not strictly related to my major. I was particularly interested in how other fields intersect with psychology—the classes I took on media studies, biology, and literature all enhanced my understanding of psychological concepts by providing different lenses through which to look at the issues involved.

Strategy 2: Own your challenges and obstacles

If your path to graduate school hasn’t been easy or straightforward, you can turn this into a strength, and structure your personal statement as a story of overcoming obstacles.

• Is your social, cultural or economic background underrepresented in the field? Show how your experiences will contribute a unique perspective.
• Do you have gaps in your resume or lower-than-ideal grades? Explain the challenges you faced and how you dealt with them.

Don’t focus too heavily on negatives, but use them to highlight your positive qualities. Resilience, resourcefulness and perseverance make you a promising graduate school candidate.

Growing up working class, urban decay becomes depressingly familiar. The sight of a row of abandoned houses does not surprise me, but it continues to bother me. Since high school, I have been determined to pursue a career in urban planning. While people of my background experience the consequences of urban planning decisions first-hand, we are underrepresented in the field itself. Ironically, given my motivation, my economic background has made my studies challenging. I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship for my undergraduate studies, but after graduation I took jobs in unrelated fields to help support my parents. In the three years since, I have not lost my ambition. Now I am keen to resume my studies, and I believe I can bring an invaluable perspective to the table: that of the people most impacted by the decisions of urban planners.

Strategy 3: Demonstrate your knowledge of the field

Especially if you’re applying for a PhD or another research-focused program, it’s a good idea to show your familiarity with the subject and the department. Your personal statement can focus on the area you want to specialize in and reflect on why it matters to you.

• Reflect on the topics or themes that you’ve focused on in your studies. What draws you to them?
• Discuss any academic achievements, influential teachers, or other highlights of your education.
• Talk about the questions you’d like to explore in your research and why you think they’re important.

The personal statement isn’t a research proposal , so don’t go overboard on detail—but it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the field and your capacity for original thinking.

In applying for this research program, my intention is to build on the multidisciplinary approach I have taken in my studies so far, combining knowledge from disparate fields of study to better understand psychological concepts and issues. The Media Psychology program stands out to me as the perfect environment for this kind of research, given its researchers’ openness to collaboration across diverse fields. I am impressed by the department’s innovative interdisciplinary projects that focus on the shifting landscape of media and technology, and I hope that my own work can follow a similarly trailblazing approach. More specifically, I want to develop my understanding of the intersection of psychology and media studies, and explore how media psychology theories and methods might be applied to neurodivergent minds. I am interested not only in media psychology but also in psychological disorders, and how the two interact. This is something I touched on during my undergraduate studies and that I’m excited to delve into further.

Strategy 4: Discuss your professional ambitions

Especially if you’re applying for a more professionally-oriented program (such as an MBA), it’s a good idea to focus on concrete goals and how the program will help you achieve them.

• If your career is just getting started, show how your character is suited to the field, and explain how graduate school will help you develop your talents.
• If you have already worked in the profession, show what you’ve achieved so far, and explain how the program will allow you to take the next step.
• If you are planning a career change, explain what has driven this decision and how your existing experience will help you succeed.

Don’t just state the position you want to achieve. You should demonstrate that you’ve put plenty of thought into your career plans and show why you’re well-suited to this profession.

One thing that fascinated me about the field during my undergraduate studies was the sheer number of different elements whose interactions constitute a person’s experience of an urban environment. Any number of factors could transform the scene I described at the beginning: What if there were no bus route? Better community outreach in the neighborhood? Worse law enforcement? More or fewer jobs available in the area? Some of these factors are out of the hands of an urban planner, but without taking them all into consideration, the planner has an incomplete picture of their task. Through further study I hope to develop my understanding of how these disparate elements combine and interact to create the urban environment. I am interested in the social, psychological and political effects our surroundings have on our lives. My studies will allow me to work on projects directly affecting the kinds of working-class urban communities I know well. I believe I can bring my own experiences, as well as my education, to bear upon the problem of improving infrastructure and quality of life in these communities.

Tips for the main body

• Don’t rehash your resume by trying to summarize everything you’ve done so far; the personal statement isn’t about listing your academic or professional experience, but about reflecting, evaluating, and relating it to broader themes.
• Do make your statements into stories: Instead of saying you’re hard-working and self-motivated, write about your internship where you took the initiative to start a new project. Instead of saying you’ve always loved reading, reflect on a novel or poem that changed your perspective.

Your conclusion should bring the focus back to the program and what you hope to get out of it, whether that’s developing practical skills, exploring intellectual questions, or both.

Emphasize the fit with your specific interests, showing why this program would be the best way to achieve your aims.

Strategy 1: What do you want to know?

If you’re applying for a more academic or research-focused program, end on a note of curiosity: what do you hope to learn, and why do you think this is the best place to learn it?

If there are specific classes or faculty members that you’re excited to learn from, this is the place to express your enthusiasm.

Strategy 2: What do you want to do?

If you’re applying for a program that focuses more on professional training, your conclusion can look to your career aspirations: what role do you want to play in society, and why is this program the best choice to help you get there?

Tips for the conclusion

• Don’t summarize what you’ve already said. You have limited space in a personal statement, so use it wisely!
• Do think bigger than yourself: try to express how your individual aspirations relate to your local community, your academic field, or society more broadly. It’s not just about what you’ll get out of graduate school, but about what you’ll be able to give back.

You’ll be expected to do a lot of writing in graduate school, so make a good first impression: leave yourself plenty of time to revise and polish the text.

Your style doesn’t have to be as formal as other kinds of academic writing, but it should be clear, direct and coherent. Make sure that each paragraph flows smoothly from the last, using topic sentences and transitions to create clear connections between each part.

Don’t be afraid to rewrite and restructure as much as necessary. Since you have a lot of freedom in the structure of a personal statement, you can experiment and move information around to see what works best.

Finally, it’s essential to carefully proofread your personal statement and fix any language errors. Before you submit your application, consider investing in professional personal statement editing . For $150, you have the peace of mind that your personal statement is grammatically correct, strong in term of your arguments, and free of awkward mistakes.

A statement of purpose is usually more formal, focusing on your academic or professional goals. It shouldn’t include anything that isn’t directly relevant to the application.

A personal statement can often be more creative. It might tell a story that isn’t directly related to the application, but that shows something about your personality, values, and motivations.

However, both types of document have the same overall goal: to demonstrate your potential as a graduate student and s how why you’re a great match for the program.

The typical length of a personal statement for graduate school applications is between 500 and 1,000 words.

Different programs have different requirements, so always check if there’s a minimum or maximum length and stick to the guidelines. If there is no recommended word count, aim for no more than 1-2 pages.

If you’re applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application.

Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

If there’s no prompt or guidelines, you can re-use the same idea for your personal statement – but change the details wherever relevant, making sure to emphasize why you’re applying to this specific program.

If the application also includes other essays, such as a statement of purpose , you might have to revise your personal statement to avoid repeating the same information.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a PhD Program Application

Personal statement guidelines, general guidelines to keep in mind:.

• One size does not fit all : Tailor your personal statement to each program and department you are applying to. Do your research to learn what is unique about each of your choices and highlight how this particular program stands out.
• Yes, it’s personal : Showcase your unique strengths and accomplishments. Explain what influenced your personal decisions to pursue the program. Ask yourself, could this be applied to your friend or neighbor? If so, you need to be more specific and provide examples. Saying that you are a “good scientist” isn’t enough. Provide examples of your previous research experience, projects you’ve completed, and what technical skills you learned. Explain how you overcame any challenges along the way.
• Set aside enough time :  Although personal statements are generally short in length (approx. 700 words; 1-2 pages), give yourself ample time to write a strong, well-written statement. It takes more time than you think to develop a final draft for submission.
• Focus on your spelling, grammar, and vocabulary :  It’s important to present a well-written statement with good grammar and vocabulary. Write concrete, succinct sentences that flow well. Avoid flowery language. Visit the  Writing Center  for additional review and feedback.
• Proofread one more time:  Check your grammar and spelling again before submitting your final draft. Ask a friend, professor, or advisor to proofread your final draft one more time before sending it in. 

YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SHOULD ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Why do you want to complete further research in this field?  Write down a list of reasons as to why you are interested in pursuing further study in the field. When did you become interested in the field and what knowledge have you gained so far? Describe how your previous work provided the foundation and for further study.
• Why  have you  chosen to apply to this particular university ? Does the institution have a particular curriculum, special research facilities/equipment, or interesting research that appeal to you?
• What are your strengths ? Demonstrate how you stand out from other candidates. Highlight relevant projects, dissertations thesis or essays that demonstrate your academic skills and creativity. Include IT skills, research techniques, awards, or relevant traveling/ study abroad experience.
• What are your transferable skills?  Be sure to emphasize transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management skills. Give examples of how you have demonstrated each of these with specific examples.
• How does this program align with your career goals?  It’s okay if you don’t know the exact career path you plan to take after completing your PhD. Provide an idea of the direction you would like to take. This demonstrates commitment and dedication to the program.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For examples of successful personal statements, visit the  Online Writing Lab (OWL) .

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Your Future Starts Here.

We are excited you are interested in our Microbiology Graduate Programs (MGP)! We seek to provide an inclusive environment and welcome all who meet our admission requirements to apply!

Before you begin the application process,  be sure to review the  application requirements  and  note the following important details about admissions :

• All applicants  must apply through  The Graduate School
• We only offer Fall admissions. If you are applying for the M.M., M.S., or Ph.D. programs, the application deadline is  December 1 .
• We do not require GRE scores.
• You are strongly encouraged to identify and contact prospective faculty mentors before you apply to our Ph.D. and M.S. programs. 
• All students that are admitted into the Ph.D. or M.S. programs are provided with a stipend, tuition coverage, and health insurance.  
• The Master of Microbial Biotechnology (MMB) program has a different application timeline. For more information on deadlines to apply please visit the MMB program  admissions page .

Application Requirements

The following items are required as part of your application:

Personal statement

Microbiology is a diverse discipline. In your personal statement, please describe the areas of research that most interest you (environmental, infectious disease, etc.). Indicating the research of two to four specific MGP faculty is encouraged. You may contact faculty directly through their email address. Clearly state your past or current research experience, and how it has prepared you for graduate level research and training.  Your personal statement should be no more than 1,000 words.

Official transcripts from a four-year bachelor’s program

Cumulative GPAs at the undergraduate or M.S. level are considered during the selection process, and are often 3.5 and higher for successful applicants. 

International applicants with a three-year degree must have their degree credentialed through an agency such as World Education Service or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services .

Official TOEFL/IELTS scores (International Students only)

International Students only. TOEFL scores totaling greater than 100 are required. The test date must be no more than  two years  old  ( 24 months )  prior  to the beginning of the requested entry term.

International English Language Testing System  (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of  at least 6.5 . Minimum test scores for each section are listed here .

Note: These test scores are not required if you are a citizen of a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction in higher education, or have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year U.S. college or university.

Three (3) letters of recommendation from professional references

The most relevant and helpful letters are requested from former supervisors of laboratory research experiences, REUs, internships or other experiential learning opportunities. People who can attest to your commitment, motivation, work ethic, creativity and ability to work with others will help you the most. Recommendations must be submitted with application by the December 1 st deadline. Personal references will not be accepted.

Financial Support

There are many more applications than students who can be admitted. Our goal is to provide RA, TA or Fellowship support to those accepted into the research degree programs (Ph.D. and M.S.).  Priority for stipend support is given to Ph.D. applicants . Applicants can be admitted into our MGP without support, but we appreciate the time and burden graduate studies place on students as they try to accomplish meaningful research, demonstrate good academic success and achieve financial independence.  

Because NC State’s Graduate Student Support Plan has added tuition expense for international students who usually can not become residents of North Carolina during their graduate program, our ability to admit non-resident international students is limited.  International students are invited to apply and have made valuable contributions to the program.

Transferring Between Degree Programs

Students in our M.S. program may wish to bypass the Master’s degree and transfer directly into our Ph.D. program. To be eligible for transfer between degree programs, a student must provide their advisory committee with sufficient evidence of research ability, such as publications or presentations. Additionally, the student must present current research results and research objectives for the Ph.D. dissertation to their committee. Following this presentation, a letter signed by the advisor is forwarded to the Director of Graduate Programs (DGP) to recommend a transfer into our Ph.D. program. Upon approval the student follows the requirements of the Ph.D. program, including the Preliminary Examination .

Alternatively, Ph.D. students may consider transferring into our M.S. program after their first year in the program. In this instance, the student’s advisory committee must meet to specifically address the status of the student’s program, and a letter signed by thesis advisor must be submitted to the DGP with a specific recommendation. Graduates from our M.S. in Microbiology degree program who would like to pursue admission into our Ph.D. program would also follow these steps. A letter notifying a change in program or admission will then be sent to the student and their advisor.

Any other transfers between degree programs must receive approval from the student’s advisory committee and a recommendation submitted to the DGP.

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Ph.D. Microbiology

Degree overview & mission .

A major feature of our Ph.D. in Microbiology program is the production of a doctoral dissertation that is publishable and contributes new knowledge about microbial science. The Ph.D. degree typically takes five years to complete.

All our Ph.D. students are supported financially by research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. One semester of teaching is required for graduation and provides students with valuable experience as an instructor at the collegiate level. Our Ph.D. students develop organizational, speaking, and technical skills through teaching, coursework, and research conducted in laboratories.

Most of our Ph.D. graduates during the past ten years have been awarded postdoctoral fellowships at leading academic institutions or hold senior research management positions in industry. In recent years, our Ph.D. graduates have had multiple offers of postdoctoral fellowships prior to or shortly after graduation. 

Admission Requirements

The general requirements for our microbiology Ph.D. degree are those of the Graduate School:

• Bachelor’s degree A minimum of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university is required for consideration into graduate programs at UMass Amherst.   
• English Proficiency Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.  For more details consult the International Applicants page for more information.    
• GREs: Not Required  
• Online application
• Personal Statement
• Diversity Statement
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts

See if you're eligible to qualify for an application fee waiver through either the  Graduate School  or the Elizabeth Stuart Fund for Graduate Education .

Program Requirements

Credit Requirement: 18 dissertation credits

Students must demonstrate competency in Advanced Microbial Physiology, Advanced Microbial Genetics, and one other core graduate-level course in microbial science. Following the fourth semester of graduate study, a Comprehensive Preliminary Examination is administered to evaluate students’ working knowledge of the principles of microbiology. After passing, students enrolled in the Ph.D. program are considered doctoral candidates and become eligible to earn dissertation credits. A doctoral candidate must have 18 dissertation credits to receive the Ph.D. degree. 

The Graduate School requires no minimum number of credits for the doctoral program, with the exception of dissertation credits.  However, we recommend that all graduate students meet the credit requirements for the Master’s degree in case a student leaves the program with a Master’s degree. For more details, consult the Graduate Student Handbook. 

Additional Resources

For more information about our Microbiology Ph.D. program, please contact Graduate Program Director Dr. Yasu Morita at [email protected] . 

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• The Elizabeth Stuart Fund for Graduate Education

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Microbiology Personal Statements Samples For Students

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Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

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• Microbiology Ph.D.

Steps to become Microbiology student

Steps to becoming a microbiology graduate student.

The Microbiology Program in the Department of Biology at Indiana University is a diverse, dynamic, and collegial environment in which students can learn about basic microbiology, host-microbe interactions, virology, metabolism, and more. We are excited you are interested in joining us!

Our “ How to apply ” page provides useful information common to all three Ph.D. programs in our department—including a link to the online application, a list of required documents, key dates common to all programs, and information on application fee waivers.

The goal of this page is to provide you with information about the admissions process that may be unique to the Microbiology program.

Admissions process

In early December, all applicants are assessed by an admissions committee made up of faculty members representing the Microbiology program. The committee’s primary job is to identify students to be invited for an interview. Other graduate program faculty members can also provide feedback during this stage—especially if you have mentioned them in your application.

Next, invitations for Graduate Recruitment Weekend (GRW) are typically sent out before January 1. This event occurs across a long weekend in early to mid February. The department pays for all travel and lodging for GRW for students currently in the U.S. (students who are overseas will have a video interview scheduled separately).

GRW is a great time for applicants to visit IU, to meet prospective advisors, and to meet the current graduate students. Applicants’ first full day is usually filled with short (30- to 60-minute) meetings with faculty followed by a department-wide dinner, usually at the local science museum. On the second day there are multiple social events; optional tours of campus, scientific facilities, and Bloomington; and a smaller dinner with Microbiology faculty to provide an opportunity to directly speak with faculty of interest to students.

Soon after GRW, core Microbiology faculty meet to discuss offers of admission. Overall, our criteria for admission generally favor applicants who have:

• Evidence of interest in microbiology research
• Sufficient background in prerequisite courses to be successful in graduate courses and research, regardless of undergraduate major
• Interests that match those of current faculty who are seeking students
• Prior experience in research through thesis work, lab work, internships, summer research experiences, or related activities
• Evidence of solid written and oral English and scientific communication skills

Your personal statement, interviews, letters from mentors, resume, transcripts, and responses to the application questions will provide the material for making admissions decisions. No one aspect of your application is favored over another; instead, a holistic approach is taken.

Offers of admission are usually sent out at the beginning of March. Typically, we accept 10 to 12 students a year. All admitted students are promised five full years of funding through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. This funding is accompanied by other benefits, including health insurance and free tuition.

Finding an advisor

Importantly, most students admitted to the Microbiology graduate program rotate for their first semester—spending 5 weeks in each of three labs before finding a permanent home. We do have a direct-admit option, but it is reserved for students with strong prior experience in a system or with a faculty member. We believe strongly in the intellectual freedom of our students to choose their research path. Many admitted students, however, reach out before the application deadline to the faculty members with whom they are most interested in working, often after they have seen or read about their work. Such communication can make it clear which faculty are looking for students in the coming year and possibly the faculty who may not be. We recommend students reach out before December directly to faculty with whom they’d like to work; it is a good idea to make sure you’d find a home here at IU before applying. You may also want to reach out to graduate students in the program to ask what it’s like here and to get a better sense of the community and to follow up on any questions you haven’t had answered during GRW.

Microbiology faculty directory Graduate student directory

Writing your personal statement

In your personal statement, we would like to learn more about you as a scientist. What are your interests and what do you see as the most important research questions that need to be addressed? How did your interests evolve and what have you done to pursue them? What are the next steps in your development as a professional scientist and why do you think that our program is the place to accomplish them? Your statement can describe how you explored a field through classes, independent reading, or research projects. We will also ask you to explain your career goals and motivation for obtaining a Ph.D., ask you to flesh out your research experiences to date, and to clarify specific biological phenomena that interest you.

As you consider how you might fit with our program, it is a good idea to include the names of several faculty members with whom you could imagine yourself working.

We look forward to reading your vision for our partnership in your graduate education!

Interested in learning more about the Microbiology program?

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Phd application information.

The application deadline for Fall 2024 has passed. We will accept applications for Fall 2025 October 1 st through December 1 st , 2024.

We allow applicants to apply to only one group within Biomedical Graduate Studies. However, you may ask that your application be transferred from one group to another at any point in the admissions season.

Please note that all application materials become property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application.

Our evaluation process considers all components of the application. A complete application consists of:

• Personal Statement  - The personal statement should be used to share your motivations to pursue a PhD in your chosen field or discipline. We encourage you to share your journey from your personal history to formative experiences that have led you to pursue a PhD.  Be as specific as you can about the area in which you plan to study and your reasons for wishing to study at the University of Pennsylvania.  The personal statement should be around 500 words in length. If you are applying to certificate program, your personal statement should include a paragraph (~200 words) reflecting your interest in those programs in addition to the doctoral discipline.
• Research Statement  - The research statement should describe your meaningful research experiences, highlighting your findings. Please describe the goals of each project, approaches used, results obtained, and implications of the findings for the project and the field at large. You may choose to describe a single research experience or several experiences, but please limit your statement to around 1000 words in length.
• Community Statement - The community statement should describe how your personal perspectives will shape and be shaped by engagement with the Penn community. The community statement should not exceed 200 words. 
• Resume/CV  (Please do not include GPA or Latin honors)
• Transcripts  - All BGS applicants are required to upload up-to-date unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended. These transcripts must include your Spring 2023 semester grades and indicate the courses you are enrolled in for the Fall 2023 semester. Transcripts from completed programs should show proof of degree conferral. A final, official transcript showing conferral of degree will be required of all accepted students prior to matriculation.
• Letters of Recommendation  - You will also be prompted to send requests to three (3) people who are able to provide letters of recommendation. They will be sent an email notification with a link to the online recommendation form, which will allow them to upload a PDF of the letter. You can resend this link if necessary through the application portal.
• Standardized Test Scores , if applicable –BGS does not require or accept GRE scores (general or subject tests).  Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take an English proficiency exam (either the TOEFL or the IELTS); this requirement is waived for applicants who have or will have obtained a degree from a US or other approved English-instructed institution. There are no minimum score requirements. In order for your application to be considered complete, official TOEFL or IELTS score reports must be received by the BGS office by the application deadline.

Please refer to our  FAQ page and the Instructions section of the online application for the answers to the most common application questions.

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About the PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program

Through a departmental core curriculum as well as research area-specific courses, laboratory rotations, qualifying examinations, mentored research, and professional development, all MMI PhD students are prepared to engage in cutting edge research and scholarship that advances knowledge. MMI PhD students hone their scholarship, research and professional skills. Course and laboratory work can address problems in microbial pathogenesis, immunology, disease transmission, and diseases related to malaria, mosquito and arboviral biology.

Students can choose to complete the traditional MMI PhD program or the MMI PhD program concentration in Rigorous, Reproducible, and Responsible Research Investigation in Immunology & Microbiology (R 3 IM). The concentration in Rigorous, Reproducible, and Responsible Research Investigation in Immunology & Microbiology (R 3 IM) conveys a broad background in immunology and infectious diseases research, with a special emphasis on critical thinking, logic, ethics, and written and oral skills to help graduates become communicators of complex scientific concepts and agents of change in their workplaces and communities.

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Molecular Microbiology And Immunology?

Sample careers.

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate
• Science Communicator or Writer
• Scientist (academia, industry)
• Specialist in Science Regulatory Affairs
• Faculty, Professor
• Science Advocate (nonprofit agencies)
• Public Health Service (NIH, CDC, FDA)
• Science Policy Fellow

Curriculum for the PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Current students can view the MMI student handbook on the MMI portal site.

Topic Areas

MMI faculty are recognized experts in a wide variety of infectious diseases research areas, allowing our PhD students to study the biology of disease based on their research interests and career goals. Our PhD students gain a comprehensive understanding of infectious diseases that provides a foundation to launch careers that directly tackle critical public health challenges.  

Topic Areas include: 

• Bacterial pathogenesis
• Cell biology 
• Fungal pathogenesis 
• Medical entomology/Disease ecology
• Parasite pathogenesis 
• Rigor, Reproducibility, and Responsibility in Scientific Practice
• Tick-borne diseases
• Vaccine development 
• Vector biology
• Viral pathogenesis

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores (GRE) are  optional  for this program. The admissions committee will make no assumptions if a standardized test score is omitted from an application, but will require evidence of quantitative/analytical ability through other application components such as academic transcripts and/or supplemental questions.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all application components.

Vivien Thomas PhD Scholars

The  Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI)  is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically Black college and university (HBCU) or other minority serving institution (MSI) for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, you will need to submit a SOPHAS application, VTSI supplementary materials, and all supporting documents (letters, transcripts, and test scores) by December 1, 2023. VTSI applicants are eligible for an  application fee waiver , but the fee waiver must be requested by November 15, 2023 and prior to submission of the SOPHAS application.

All full-time PhD students will receive the following support for all years of the program: stipend, full tuition, individual health insurance, University Health Services clinic fee, vision insurance, and dental insurance.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU  starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a $1500 need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Alex Kim , Senior Academic Program Coordinator  Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E5014 Baltimore, Maryland 21205 Fax: (410) 955-0105

Cell and molecular biology Ph.D personal statement

• Reading time: 3 minutes
• Price: Free download
• Published: 11th October 2021
• Word count: 755 words
• File format: Text

Biology has always been a fascination and more of a miracle to me from my childhood. It is the science of life because it concerns about the microscopic structures of the living organism and how they interact with each other to give raise its properties.  At the school level, I exposed to major concepts of biology such as cell, genes, deoxyribonucleic acid, and protein. I used to read about their important roles in an organism and I never understood how these smallest components affect the most significant components in our body. Moreover, I questioned myself as well how these molecules could control our health & illness and how they could help us in curing numerous diseases. In addition to that, being in the biology lab preparing the tools and the substances for an experiment was the most enjoyable activities during my high school.  All these thoughts and feelings lead me to decide that I should pursue my education in clinical laboratory science.

I successfully got admission into King Saud University where I graduated from the college of applied medical science, clinical laboratory science with first class honor; overall grade 4.98 out of 5. In college, I have been exposed to many fields of study that expounded to me the myths and mysteries of life such as biochemistry, microbiology, environmental microbiology, genetics, immunology, and enzymology. However, these courses introduced me to new questions that made me more curious about the inner life of cells. My insatiable thirst for delving deep into these subjects has inspired me to pursue a graduate career in cell and molecular biology because it will give me the opportunity to study the basic processes that run life’s playbook.

My graduation project was a literature review about “The Correlation between Human Papillomaviruses Infection and Infertility in Male”; manly discusses the significant role of human papillomaviruses in male fertility since it alters the sperms parameters. During this project; I learned the international standards of writing a literature review and referencing. In addition to that, I learned how to work on Endnote program and discussing my thesis in front of my Professors. As a result of perfect academic record, I won the dean’s list award which I considered it as a sign that means I am on the right path. After my graduation, I started my Internship at King Khalid University Hospital where I spent one year in routine and special laboratories. This program gave me a great opportunity to develop my technical and mechanical skills. Simultaneously, I volunteer with CLS club to give sessions through their snapchat account. Subsequently, I participated with a team to write a booklet about medical laboratory tests which is known as “Way to Medical Lab Test World”. This booklet will be published in cooperation with Saudi Ministry of Health.

Apart from my curriculum, I have good leadership skill and good teamwork abilities. I also have the enthusiasm to learn about life and its ambiguities. Life taught me to be a hardworking person to reach my goals and achieve my dreams.

After receiving my Bachelor’s degree, I know I want to be in a research center to help humanity in solving many lethal issues, especially the genetic problems. I also want to publish lots of landmark research in different scientific journals. Also, I would like to work in the academic field after completing my degree because the joy of teaching other is indescribable. My long-term goals are to work for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

My search for the best match of objective, passions, and dreams has ended at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) with the best of fundamental research in all avenues of bioscience.  When I visited the university website, I was fascinated with the research works that are carried out by KAUST which match my interest in the same line. Moreover, having a prestigious university like KAUST in the Middle East that allows us to conduct researches that suitable to our area made more excited to apply. KAUST gives me hope and makes me more confident in realizing my goal which trains myself thoroughly through the M.S program and proceeds further to a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology. I am sure that the M.S/ Ph.D. in KAUST will definitely widen the horizons of my knowledge and help me obtain a milestone in my career.

In conclusion, I request you to consider my application favorably and provide me an opportunity to pursue my higher studies at your esteemed university.

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• Microbiology, Ph.D.

The Department of Bacteriology in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Medicine and Public Health (see separate course listings) administer the interdepartmental microbiology doctoral training program (MDTP). Incoming students have the opportunity to do laboratory rotations with any of the primary faculty, affiliate faculty, and trainers from multiple departments. This group includes more than 90 faculty members in numerous departments and programs involved in microbiology research and graduate training. In addition to this breadth of opportunities in microbiology research training, the program also encompasses graduate courses offered by both departments. Please refer to the separate Microbiology listing in this catalog for more detailed information, or visit the program website.

The Ph.D. program prepares graduates for research and teaching positions in universities and colleges, for industry or government, and for clinical microbiology. Research emphasis includes, but is not limited to, prokaryotic (bacteria and archaea), viral and lower eukaryotic systems (fungi, oomycetes, and parasites); antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, bioflim formation; bioinformatics and computational biology; biotechnology and industrial microbiology, including biofuels; cell–cell signaling; cell motility and chemotaxis; DNA, including nucleic acid synthesis, DNA replication and recombination; food microbiology; fungal development, pathogensis, and metablolism; gene expression and its regulation; immunology; microbial physiology and metabolism; macrophage activation and other cell immune systems; mechanisms of microbial persistence; mechanisms of pathogenesis; microbial cell division; microbial ecology; microbial microbiota and metagenomics; nitrogen fixation; quorum sensing; RNA, including molecular structure–function relationships of transfer RNA, small RNAs, RNA polymerase, and other components of transcription and translation; secondary metabolism; structural microbiology; symbioses, including host–microbe symbioses, plant–microbial interactions, animal–microbial interactions, microbe–microbe interactions; and virology, including host–virus interactions. Dissertation research emphasizes creative and innovative problem-solving using basic knowledge acquired through scientific interactions and collaborations in addition to a thorough understanding of the scientific literature.

In order to better train MDTP students for microbiology-related professions, students need a chance to gain knowledge and experience not just in academic research, but also in other fields where their microbiology education may be put to good use.

The professional development options encompass many professional development opportunities for MDTP students beyond academic research and teaching. Opportunities for professional development can consist of course work, an internship, a summer workshop, outreach experiences, or a second teaching-practicum experience.

Double Degree

Students may complete a double Ph.D. degree in MDTP and another program on campus under the following conditions. The student must apply for admission to MDTP by the program's yearly deadline and be admitted using the same criteria applied to other applicants. The student must complete all requirements of the MDTP in addition to the requirements for the other program sponsoring the double degree. The student must pass a different preliminary examination in each program. The student's dissertation committee and preliminary examination must adhere to MDTP guidelines. The Ph.D. advisor must be a trainer in the MDTP. A significant portion of the student's dissertation research must be completed in the laboratory of the Ph.D. advisor. The student's program, including any deviations, must be approved by the steering committee.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

Program APPLICATION MATERIALS

Note that all application materials are submitted through the UW Graduate School Admissions Office. See the Microbiology program website for more information and guidance for the application components.

• Personal statement, also known as “Statement of Purpose”.
• A statement of applicant’s experiences and ambitions that will contribute to the program's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• An official or unofficial copy of transcripts from each college or university attended.
• Three or more letters of reference from individuals (faculty, staff, supervisor, mentor) who can comment on the applicant’s qualifications.  This should include scholarly and academic qualifications, and can also include experiences in teaching, outreach, and community service.  Directions for submission will be provided once you have initiated your application.
• A brief resume/CV listing academic awards, scholarships, location and length of research experiences, co-authorship on any publications or presentations at scientific conferences.
• Any student whose undergraduate instruction was not in English should also submit results of the TOEFL examination. The code for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is 1846.

This program is a research-intensive program. Therefore, strong letters of recommendation, a well-crafted personal statement, and extensive research experience often aid students with below-average grades.

Course Prerequisites

We have recommended courses based on material that previous students have found valuable for success in the program, both in the lab and in required graduate level coursework. However, we recognize that the backgrounds of many students — and future student career goals — are varied and diverse, and that this diversity is a strength of our program. In the online application process, you will be asked if you have completed the following prerequisites:

• Biology: Two semesters. Such as the following UW-Madison course equivalents: ( BIOLOGY/​BOTANY/​ZOOLOGY  151 and  BIOLOGY/​BOTANY/​ZOOLOGY  152 ) or ( BIOLOGY/​ZOOLOGY  101 , BIOLOGY/​ZOOLOGY  102 , and BIOLOGY/​BOTANY  130 )
• Genetics: One semester. Such as: MICROBIO 470 ,  GENETICS 466 , or ( GENETICS 467 and GENETICS 468 )
• Chemistry: Four semesters, including two semesters organic chemistry with one semester organic chemistry lab component. Such as: ( CHEM 103 and CHEM 104 ), CHEM 109 , or ( CHEM 115 and CHEM 116 ), and ( CHEM 343 , CHEM 344 , and CHEM 345 )
• Biochemistry: One semester. Such as: BIOCHEM 501 , ( BIOCHEM 507 and BIOCHEM 508 )
• Physics: One semester. Such as: ( PHYSICS 104 , PHYSICS 202 , or PHYSICS 208 )
• Mathematics: Two semesters of calculus or one semester each of calculus and statistics. Such as: MATH 171 , MATH 217 ,  MATH 221 , STAT 301 , or STAT 371
• Second semester of physics OR other quantitative reasoning course such as physical chemistry, differential equations, or upper-level course in computer programming, bioinformatics or statistics. Such as: PHYSICS 104 , PHYSICS 202 , PHYSICS 208 ,  CHEM 561 , ( CHEM 563   and CHEM 565 ), MICROBIO 657 ,  COMP SCI 319 , COMP SCI/​B M I  576 , STAT 303 , MATH 319 , or MATH 320

For each prerequisite, please be prepared to enter the course name and number.  If you do not have all the recommended coursework, please use the text box in the application system to explain any deficiencies.  We ask that you fill in the course list as appropriate, but more broadly that you include a dedicated section within your personal statement to note how your academic preparation has prepared you for Ph.D. training in microbiology. 

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Research assistantships are available for most students from department and college-level funding sources or from competitive fellowship and traineeship awards, with continued support contingent upon adequate progress in classes and research. Applicants with outstanding records will be nominated for special fellowships or for traineeships on one of several NIH training grants awarded to UW–Madison.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses.

Students must enroll for the program's seminar ( MICROBIO 731 or M M & I 901 ) during their first three years. Students are expected to present during their third year when enrolled in the seminar as well as in their fourth year of the program, although they may not be enrolled.

Rotation Requirement

Incoming students are required to rotate in a minimum of three research labs. Students who are directly admitted into a lab are exempt from this rotation requirement.

Professional Development Requirement

Professional Development is a required part of the program's curriculum. Students are required to perform a second semester of teaching practicum, carry out an internship for as long as one semester, take at least 2 credits of coursework from the list of approved classes or through the Delta Program, or perform other professional development activities equivalent to 2 semester hours of coursework as judged by the thesis committee. The thesis committee must give approval for the student to participate in the chosen professional development activity. Thesis committees will also determine if each student has met the requirement. Students should complete the professional development requirement by the end of the fourth year.

Options for completing Professional Development requirement:

Courses . The Graduate School has agreed to allow dissertator students to enroll in courses from a limited list of classes appropriate for professional development of the program's students.  Students would take one or two courses in an area of interest after they become dissertators. Additional courses may be added to this list if they are appropriate for the program's students and are approved for this purpose by the Graduate School.

Teaching practicum . A second semester of teaching practicum may be the most appropriate training for students that seek a career in academic research and teaching. If students do not arrange for other professional development activities, the default professional development training would be a second semester of teaching in a teaching practicum.

The Delta Program . Students interested in teaching as a career can participate in the Delta Program, allowing students to take classes and gain experience in teaching. Successful students are granted a certificate from the Delta Program, and this achievement and experience likely make the students more attractive for teaching positions.

Summer courses or workshops . For students most interested in continuing in academic research, one or more summer courses or workshops may be the most appropriate training. Examples of such courses are those that cover research areas or methods or scientific writing or grant preparation.

Internship . As an alternative to class work or a second semester of teaching practicum, students could participate in an internship with a business or other organization. Students doing internships would have to arrange to be paid through the organization, and they would not be paid by their advisors while away from their research.

Teaching Practicum Requirement

All students in the program are required to complete a Teaching Practicum.  This Teaching Practicum is usually completed during the second year.  Students choose from a list of courses and work with faculty delivering instruction in a lecture or lab setting.

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

With program approval, up to 9 credits of coursework may be accepted from other graduate institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

For well-prepared advanced students, the program may decide to accept up to 6 credits numbered 300 or above completed at UW–Madison toward fulfillment of minimum degree and minor credit requirements. This work would not be allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless taken at the 700 level or above. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison University Special

The program may decide to accept up to 9 University Special student credits as fulfillment of the minimum graduate residence, graduate degree, or minor credit requirements on occasion as an exception (on a case-by-case basis). UW–Madison coursework taken as a University Special student would not be allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless taken at the 700 level or above. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

This program follows the Graduate School’s Advisor policy and the Graduate School’s Committees policy , except that:

To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, students are required to meet with their advisor annually.

The committee is required to have five faculty members, two of which must hold appointments in either Bacteriology or Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

This program follows the Graduate School's Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

The program will follow the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Grievance Policy.  For clarity, the program director, vice-director and/or the program coordinator shall serve as grievance advisors.  The grievance advisor will refer complaints to the program's Steering Committee. 

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy  

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

• The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
• If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
• If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
• If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
• The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
• If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
• If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
• If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

We offer funding to all students in the program through fellowships, trainees and research assistantships.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

In order to better train MDTP students for microbiology-related professions, students need a chance to gain knowledge and experience not just in academic research, but also in other fields where their microbiology education may be put to good use. Opportunities for professional development can consist of coursework, an internship, a summer workshop, outreach experiences, or a second teaching practicum experience. Professional Development plans must be approved by a student’s thesis committee. Please see requirements for more information.

• Gain a broad understanding of the microbiology principles that underlie all biological processes.
• Articulate, discuss and define limits to the theory and knowledge in microbiology.
• Think critically to address research challenges using a broad range of the theories, research methods, and approaches to scientific inquiry.
• Communicates complex ideas in a clear and understandable matter.
• Collaborate with investigators within the program, university, and beyond to advance the science of microbiology.
• Foster professional and ethical conduct in the sciences.
• Ethical design of experimental protocols.
• Reproducibility of experimental results.
• Professional behavior in industrial, government and academic settings.
• Develop communication skills that enable the articulation of research to fellow scientists and non-scientists.
• Develop teaching and mentoring skills in both lecture and laboratory settings.
• Explore career development opportunities in industry, government, academia and private industry to realize professional goals.

Faculty: Professors JD Sauer (program director, Medical Microbiology and Immunology), and Trina McMahon (vice-director, Bacteriology) lead the current MDTP Steering Committee. For a list of more than 90 participating faculty, see the  program website  or contact the program office.

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Microbiology College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health microbiology.wisc.edu

Terra Theim, Program Coordinator [email protected] 608-265-0689 1326 Microbial Sciences, 1550 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706

JD Sauer, Program Director [email protected]

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Graduate Program

The Microbiology Graduate PhD Program is an MIT-wide program that is designed to provide students with broad exposure to modern areas of microbiology and depth in the chosen area of thesis work.

There are more than 50 faculty in 10 different departments and divisions that study microbes. Graduate students admitted to the program will join a vibrant, thriving microbiology community on the MIT campus and will receive training in a broad range of areas in microbiology.

The major components of the training program are described in in this section, along with information on life as a graduate student at MIT.

“Is the MIT Microbiology Graduate Program the right program for me?”

This is a question we often hear, especially if applicants are considering or applying to other departments within MIT.  As you can see from our website, we have over 60 faculty from over 10 different departments participating in the Microbiology Graduate Program.

One way to help you decide where best to apply is for you to determine whether all, or almost all, of the faculty in whose research you are interested are in one department.  If that is the case, applying to that individual department would be more appropriate.  If you are equally interested in faculty and labs from different departments, then a program like MIT Microbiology can provide you the flexibility to bridge different departments and disciplines, both in your coursework and your research.