PhD

The PhD program in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology prepares students for competitive research and teaching careers in academia, government agencies, and private industry. Our PhD students complete coursework that emphasizes the fundamentals of pathogen biology, immunology, cell biology, and molecular biology, which provides the necessary educational basis to conduct independent research mentored by our faculty.

Requirements
  • 72 credits, about half coursework and half research
  • Coursework in microbiology, immunology, and molecular virology
  • Coursework in public health foundations and research ethics
  • Advanced coursework in pathogenesis
  • Advanced dissertation research and coursework in an area of specialization
Full Program Information
Student Handbook
Admissions
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Careers

Recent graduates hold the following positions:

  • Post-doctoral research fellow, NIH Critical Care Medicine Department
  • Assistant professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services
  • Research assistant professor, Center for Global Health, University of New Mexico
  • Associate service fellow, CDC
  • Post-doctoral visiting fellow, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh
  • Immunology sales specialist, Prolmmune, Inc.
  • Post-doctoral fellow, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
  • Director, NIH Academy Office of Intramural Training and Education

View PhD Alumni Employment by Industry (JPG) »

 

Contact

Simon Barratt-Boyes
Professor and Director of PhD program
2133 Public Health
412-383-0625
smbb@pitt.edu

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Competencies

Graduates will be able to:

  • Conduct bioinformatic analysis of pathogen genome data, explaining the relevance to infectious disease pathogenesis and host response
     
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the molecular biology of hosts and pathogens and how pathogenesis of infectious diseases evolves from the interactions of organisms on a molecular level
  • Explain all aspects of the lifecycle of a variety of infectious viruses and further evaluate current control and prevention measures
     
  • Communicate audience appropriate public health content in writing and through oral presentation
  • Conduct independent hypothesis driven research and publish peer-reviewed manuscript based on their research project

Recent Dissertation Titles

Browse titles in D-Scholarship, the institutional repository for research output at the University of Pittsburgh.

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