The Department of Microbiology and Immunology has a vibrant research program led by faculty with expertise spanning immunology, virology, and bacteriology with a strong commitment to graduate student training.
Graduate Student Training
Departmental faculty lead a T32 Training Grant in Immunology and Pathogenesis that has been continuously funded since 1991. This grant supports four predoctoral students annually.Research Focus Areas
Multiple research efforts center on how immune responses are regulated following infection, with an emphasis on B cell and T cell responses and how these can be harnessed for more effective immunity.
- The department also leads efforts in developing advanced vaccines and adjuvants, particularly targeting age-specific immune responses, anchored by the Center for Vaccines at the Extremes of Aging. This center serves as a hub for research into vaccine efficacy and design across the lifespan.
- Additional areas of research include programs in cancer immunology and immunotherapies, and emerging studies leveraging machine learning to predict patient treatment outcomes.
- Research in the area of virus infection is providing insights into the molecular mechanisms by which viruses persist and drive development of cancer.
- Faculty are also exploring how the microbiome influences immune modulation and disease outcomes.
- Investigators in bacterial pathogenesis study mechanisms by which pathogens cause disease, with a particular focus on mucosal immunity, host defense, and bacterial virulence.
Together, our faculty integrate expertise across immunology, virology, microbiome science, and bacterial pathogenesis to collectively advance a shared mission: understanding host–microbe interactions and leveraging this knowledge to improve human health through collaborative, interdisciplinary research.
