Microbiology
Directors of Graduate Studies: Peter Orlean, Joanna Shisler, and Richard Tapping
B103 Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory
601 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1736
E-mail: gradinfo@mcb.illinois.edu
Major: Microbiology
Degrees Offered: M.S., Ph.D.
Dual Degree Program: Medical Scholars Program
Degrees Offered: Ph.D. and M.D.
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Microbiology at Illinois offers unique opportunities for graduate students to become skilled and creative microbiologists. Our graduate program of study leads to the doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.). We have outstanding resources in our internationally recognized faculty, graduate students, and research facilities. This exposes our students to the latest research techniques and fosters their development as independent scientists. The program has particular strengths in the areas of microbial physiology, metabolism, genetics, evolution, and pathogenesis. For an application and departmental materials that provide greater detail on programs, offerings, admission, degree requirements, and financial aid, visit our website at http://www.mcb.illinois.edu/departments/microbiology/index.html.
Graduates from the Department of Microbiology are employed in colleges and universities, industry, and government. Scientific advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology provide many opportunities in pharmaceutical, chemical, and genetic engineering companies.
The Department of Microbiology is a part of the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), which also includes the Departments of Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Molecular and Integrative Physiology. The Department is part of an umbrella program in MCB that encompasses over 70 different research laboratories. Students admitted into any of these departmental graduate programs can select faculty thesis advisors from these active research laboratories in the School. Close ties are also maintained with the School of Integrative Biology, the School of Chemical Sciences, the College of Medicine, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Note: Our Department does not typically offer a formal Master of Science degree (M.S.) in Microbiology at this time. Please visit http://www.life.illinois.edu/programs/BMP/MS%20in%20Biology.htm for information about receiving a Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Illinois.
Admission
Students interested in this program must apply directly to the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (mcb.illinois.edu/graduate/gradprospect.html). During the first semester, students perform three laboratory rotations, choosing from any laboratory in the School. Students select a laboratory for their thesis research in December and formally join the appropriate graduate program/department at that time.
Students electing microbiology as a major for an advanced degree should have had a total of at least 15 credit hours of physical or biological sciences, including general biology or microbiology, chemistry through organic chemistry and biochemistry, and mathematics through calculus. Admission requirements include: a bachelor's degree with course work in biological sciences, chemistry, and physics; Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. In addition to the above requirements, international students must attain a minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 590 (243 on the computer-based test). A score of 96 on the internet-based test (iBT), with a score of 24 on the speaking section, is also accepted. The department does not admit students into the M.S. program.
Degree Requirements
The requirements for receiving a Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology include successful completion of course work, teaching, publication of 2 first-author manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, passing preliminary/qualifying examinations, and writing and depositing of a research thesis. For specific information, visit our Web site at www.mcb.illinois.edu/departments/microbiology/graduate.html and refer to the department's Graduate Student Handbook and the Graduate College Handbook. Students are not admitted to the M.S. program; these requirements are completed as part of the Ph.D. program.
Master of Science
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option- Required Hours |
Non-thesis Option- Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework (not including MICR 590) | 8 | 8 |
| Research/Project Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 4 min | 4 min |
| Thesis Hours Required – MICR 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 0 min | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
8 (500 level) | 8 (500 level) |
Minimum Number of 500-level Hours Required Overall in Program: |
12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Completion of one of the following and approval by the research advisor and head of the department: a research thesis; submission of a manuscript with the candidate as first author and to which the candidate has made the major contribution; the successful passing of the departmental preliminary exam. | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Master’s level requirements | 32 |
| MCB 501, 502, 580 and 581, 582, 583, 585 | 13 |
| Registration in MICR 595 every semester of enrollment | 9 min |
| 400- or 500-level discussion-based courses | 4 min |
| 400- or 500-level lecture-based courses | 12 min |
| Research/Project Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | before prelim |
| Thesis Hours Required– MICR 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | after prelim |
| Total Hours | 96 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| At least two first author publications in which the candidate has made the major scientific research contribution. At the time of graduation at least one of these manuscripts must be accepted to a peer-reviewed journal and a second paper must, at minimum, be ready for submission. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements must be met. |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Dual Degree Program
For the Ph.D.-M.D. dual degree program, the specific requirements of both the graduate and medical programs (overseen by the College of Medicine) must be met. Students enrolled in the Ph.D.-M.D. program take an average of eight years, including summers, to complete both degrees. The first year of the program is typically spent meeting requirements of the graduate degree. For specific information please visit the Medical Scholars Program website at www.med.illinois.edu/mdphd/.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered to be a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. degree candidates. For the Department of Microbiology, a minimum of two semesters of teaching experience is a degree requirement.
Faculty Research Interests
Major areas of research interest are gene expression and regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; viral function and development including virus host-cell interactions; membrane biogenesis, including protein insertion; fatty acid, phospholipid, and glycophospholipid synthesis in bacteria and yeast; cell wall biogenesis; bacterial pathogenesis and bacteria-host interactions; DNA replication, recombination, and repair; anaerobic microbiology; the biochemistry and physiology of methane formation; mechanisms of oxygen toxicity; prokaryote phylogeny, genomics, and evolution; and archae. For further details, please consult the Department of Microbiology's website (www.mcb.illinois.edu/departments/microbiology).
Facilities and Resources
The Microbiology Department is located in the modern Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory (CLSL). Central to main campus, the CLSL houses all of the major equipment and expertise necessary for research in microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry.
The University of Illinois has excellent core facilities to aid in scientific research, many of which are located in buildings adjacent to CLSL. Each core facility has full-time salaried support staff for training and support. The William Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics provides sequencing and oligonucleotide synthesis, DNA microarray facilities, and bioinformatics specialists. The Protein Sciences Facility aids researchers in protein sequence analysis, peptide synthesis, and 2D gel electrophoresis. Services offered by the Immunological Resources Center include the creation, purification, and immunochemical labeling of antibodies. In addition to a state-of-the-art cell sorter, the Flow Cytometry Facility maintains several satellite flow cytometry machines throughout campus. The Center for Microscopic Imaging is a campus-wide service center for electron, confocal, and light microscopy. The Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics uses microscopy and spectroscopy to study protein interactions and kinetics. The University of Illinois has the top academic NMR laboratory in the country for all modern methods of organic mass spectrometry. The Transgenic Animal Facility produces transgenic lines by microinjection technology. The X-ray diffraction laboratories allow for detailed X-ray analysis of materials.
Several services are available to graduate students for support outside of the classroom and laboratory. The University of Illinois library is the nation's third largest university library, allowing access to reference books and on-line scientific journals. The Writer's Workshop offers free, personal writing assistance for class assignments, scientific manuscripts, and theses. Graduate students also have access to laboratory computers, which are connected via the network maintained by the Office of Information Technology. Please visit the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology to learn about these and other resources available to graduate students.
Financial Aid
All students admitted into the Ph.D. program receive financial support throughout their graduate training. Incoming graduate students are supported by the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. Several University Fellowships are awarded to outstanding applicants on a competitive basis. Financial support is usually in the form of a research assistantship, teaching assistantship, and/or fellowship. This includes a stipend of at least $22,660 (2008 - 2009). In addition to the stipend, we offer a tuition and service fee waiver. The value of this waiver is currently about $30,000 (assuming 12-month, non-resident tuition), bringing the total value of an award to approximately $52,660. A health insurance fee and other miscellaneous fees, currently totaling about $2,730 per year, must be paid by the student.