Overview
The Ph.D. program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis (IMP) offers cutting-edge training for the next generation of immunologists and microbiologists. Our nearly sixty IMP faculty at Weill Cornell Graduate School and its partner institutions—Weill Cornell Medical College, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery—have conducted pioneering work in a broad range of areas, from anti-microbial immunity to the commensal microbiome, molecular to cellular immunology, and autoimmunity to tumor immunology. Students have opportunities to pursue their basic, translational, and clinical research interests in an environment in which the lab and the clinic continually inform one another.
The collective expertise of IMP faculty enables us to build a broad curriculum covering the complexity of immunology and microbial pathogenesis. In the first year, laboratory rotations allow for immersion in research areas of interest. This is complemented by formal classroom learning in immunology, microbiology, and cell biology. Students choose a thesis lab by summer of their first year. Courses in the second year and above are specialized according to student interest and include course work in computational biology or advanced discussion-based classes that delve more deeply into select topics. Additional courses emphasize grant writing to prepare students for their qualifying exam and competing for external fellowships. A large majority of IMP students receive extramural funding support.
Our seminar series hosts world-class scientists each week to discuss the latest ground-breaking research in immunology and microbial pathogenesis. Students present their thesis work in weekly research-in-progress seminars. The annual off-site IMP retreat, attended by fellow students, postdocs, and faculty, provides ample opportunities for poster and oral presentations and networking with IMP faculty. Our diverse scientific interests, rigorous training, and collaborative spirit ensures students are well prepared to tackle important scientific questions, become successful scientists, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in immunology and microbiology.
Major Areas of Research
| Autoimmunity | Lymphocyte Biology |
| B cell biology | Microbial Pathogensis |
| Inflammation | Molecular Immunology |
| Infectious Disease | T Cell Biology |
| Innate Immunity | Tissue Biology |
| Immune Development | Tissue Immunity |
Program Requirements
Admissions
Applicants should have a strong undergraduate background and record of achievement in the biological sciences, including biochemistry, molecular genetics, and microbiology. Applicants are also expected to have undergraduate laboratory research experience.
An official transcript of the student's undergraduate record is necessary, with three letters from faculty members who can evaluate the academic potential of the student in a Ph.D. program in immunology and microbial pathogenesis.
The application requires a personal statement describing the student's background and specific interest in the Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis program. Applicants are not required to take the General Graduate Record Examination. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination.
Apply Online provides a full description of the application procedures.
Message from the IMP community
Weill Cornell Medicine is a community that strongly values and appreciates diversity among its students, trainees, faculty, and staff. Since the founding of our institution, we have been committed to supporting individuals of varied and wide-ranging backgrounds to succeed in medicine and science. Diversity continues to be a major priority at Weill Cornell Medicine because we recognize that patient care, biomedical discovery, and learning are enriched by the contributions of people with different perspectives, skills, and life experiences. The Immunology Microbial and Pathogenesis program has a diverse student body which includes, over 66 students that come from various international and national backgrounds. Our faculty of outstanding scientists consist of multiple ethnicities, immigrants, and 1st generation members that are committed to training our students. Our students and faculty work on a number of platforms which include: The Diversity Program in Leadership Alliance, NIH Graduate Recruitment Fairs, IMSD Early Start Program, and the Social Justice and Anti-Racism Task Force. Our goal is to further strengthen our culture of diversity and inclusion through the use of dialogue and collaboration.
Becoming A Doctoral Candidate
An individual program of study is developed for each student on the basis of the student's interest and prior experience, comprising both required and elective courses.
The IMP program places great emphasis on scholarship. Beginning in the first year with course work in fundamental immunology and complemented by electives in anything from cell biology to structural biology, the program offers continued education throughout the graduate studies in the form of an Advanced Immunology course with flexible topics, an Immunology Seminar Series highlighting the latest developments in the field presented by distinguished scientists, and a student-run “Research in Progress” forum for a critical discussion of their thesis research and the exchange of ideas.
Each IMP student, with the help of the mentor, must participate regularly in journal clubs throughout the graduate training. He/she may choose elective courses among all courses offered by the other programs of the Graduate School.
A description of each course is provided at Courses.
The IMP annual retreat is an integral part of the program. This off-site meeting includes formal presentations by faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. In addition, it requires graduate students (in year two and above) and postdoctoral fellows to contribute to poster sessions and workshops. Prizes are awarded for outstanding publications.
A major focus of IMP is laboratory research. Each student undertakes three rotation projects with different faculty members. The three rotations are carried out during the first year and the summer following the first year of study. During the second year, the student is expected to choose a major sponsor and to develop a research topic for the doctoral thesis.
The Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Examination (ACE) is ordinarily taken in the spring of the second year and requires both written and oral examination of the candidate's general understanding of immunology and related subjects. When a student passes the ACE, he/she is a candidate for the PhD degree.
Ph.D. Research and Degree
A Special Committee, comprising the major sponsor and two additional faculty members knowledgeable in the field of study (minor sponsors) advises the student in his or her research, meeting periodically to monitor progress, and to oversee the development of the thesis.
During this time the student continues to participate in the other educational programs offered by the graduate program but works full time in the laboratory.
The culmination of the student’s successful progression through the program is the final examination (the “defense”) and certification by the Special Committee that the thesis represents an official piece of research satisfying the requirements of the Graduate School for the Ph.D. degree.
