Immunology

Doctor of Philosophy

University requirements for the PhD are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of the current Stanford Bulletin.

The interdepartmental Immunology Program offers instruction and research opportunities leading to a PhD in Immunology. The goal of the program is to develop young investigators who have a solid foundation in immunology as well as related sciences and who can carry out innovative research. The program features a flexible selection of courses and seminars to enrich the students' backgrounds, combined with extensive research training in the laboratories of the participating immunology faculty.

Students applying to the program typically have an undergraduate major in biological sciences, but majors in other areas are acceptable if the applicants have had sufficient course work in biology and chemistry. Formal application should be made by December 15. Applications are evaluated by the Immunology Predoctoral Committee based on scores on the GRE exams (including the subject test in either biology, biochemistry, or chemistry), which should be taken by the October test date; grades; evidence of prior research experience; letters of recommendation, including letters from research sponsor(s); and commitment to a career in biomedical research. Interested Stanford medical students are welcome to apply to the program; they should contact the program director.

Students admitted to the program are offered financial support covering tuition, a living stipend, insurance coverage, and an allowance for books/travel. Applicants are urged to apply for independent fellowships such as from the National Science Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Fellowship applications are due in November of the year prior to matriculation in the graduate program. Because of the small number of department-funded slots, students who have been awarded an outside fellowship will have an improved chance of acceptance into the program.

On matriculation, each student is assisted in selecting courses and lab rotations in the first year and in choosing a lab for the dissertation research. Once a dissertation adviser has been selected, a dissertation committee including at least two Immunology faculty, and including the dissertation adviser, is constituted to guide the student during the dissertation research. The student must meet with the dissertation committee at least once a year.

Candidates for PhD degrees at Stanford must satisfactorily complete a three-year program of study that includes 72 units of graduate course work and research and nine full-tuition quarters of residency. At least 3 units must be taken with each of four different Stanford faculty members.

The requirements for the PhD degree in Immunology include the following:

1. Training in biology and cognate disciplines equivalent to that provided by the undergraduate Biology major at Stanford.



2. Completion of the following courses (or their equivalents from undergraduate work):
   
   
   1. Basic Immunology (BIOSCI 230 or MI 200)
   
   
   
   2. Advanced Immunology (IMMUNOL 201, 202)
   
   
   
   3. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIOC 200)
   
   
   
   4. Cell Biology of Physiological Processes (MCP 221)
   
   
   
   5. Statistics (BIOSCI 141)
   
   
   
   6. Principles of biological technologies (MI 215)
   
   
   
   7. Graduate level genetics (GENE 203)
   
   
   
   8. Responsible Conduct in Science (MED 255)
   
   
   
   9. Immunology Journal Club (IMMUNOL 305)


3. First-year students are required to take both the IMMUNOL 311, Seminar in Immunology and the companion course, IMMUNOL 311A, Seminar Discussion in Immunology, and participate in IMMUNOL 305, Immunology Journal Club. Students in their second year and above must participate in the IMMUNOL 311, Seminar in Immunology and may opt to take the companion course, IMMUNOL 311A. Students who have not yet achieved TGR status must register for 1 unit. Students attend the weekly Immunology Seminar Series (5-6 p.m. Tuesdays). Students read the papers of and have dinner with visiting seminar speakers two or three times each quarter, and meet with a faculty member to discuss the material.



4. Elective courses as agreed upon by the student, adviser, and advisory committee. Electives may be chosen from graduate courses and seminars in any of the biomedical science departments and programs.



5. Completion in the first year of three one quarter rotations. Two weeks after taking the written portion of the qualifying examination process in mid-July, students shall present their lab rotation research projects to the Predoctoral Committee and the Immunology community at large.



6. Teaching assistantship in two immunology courses. A teaching assistantship requirement may be fulfilled by proposing a graduate student-initiated course IMMUNOL 315, Topics in Immunology.



7. For admission to candidacy, completion of two requirements by the end of the Autumn Quarter of the second year: a rotation presentation on one of three lab rotations, and a comprehensive written examination in immunology and related biomedical sciences must be completed satisfactorily by the middle of Summer Quarter of the first year. Finally, students must prepare and defend a research proposal on their dissertation research by December 23, the end of Autumn Quarter of their second year. Administration and evaluation of these requirements is the responsibility of the student's dissertation committee.



8. Participation (through regular attendance and oral presentation) in the student-run immunology journal clubs for at least the first two years (IMMUNOL 305). Students are also expected to attend the graduate students' journal club, the Tuesday evening immunology seminars, and the annual Stanford Immunology Scientific Conference.



9. Passing of the University oral examination on the dissertation research, which is to be taken only after the student has substantially completed the research. The examination is preceded by a public seminar in which the candidate presents his/her research.



10. Completion of a PhD dissertation, resulting from independent investigation and constituting a contribution to knowledge in the area of immunology.