Immunology

Immunology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis-based program

Program overview

​This doctoral program provides state-of-the-art training in immunological research. Students gain in-depth understanding of the functions and interactions of all components of the immune system, including infections such as cryptococcus neoformans, pseudomonas aeruginosa, lyme disease and malaria, and diseases such as diabetes. Students participate in the Immunology Research Group (IRF). This group reflects the diversity and interdisciplinarity of the field, connecting students in the program with members from science and clinical departments throughout the Cumming School of Medicine and other University of Calgary departments. The IRG's core themes are development and physiology of cells of the immune system, and immunological mechanisms in disease and the inflammatory process.

Completing this program

  • Courses: Topics include cellular immunology and inflammation, and one or more other courses relevant to the student's research proposal.
  • Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
  • Sex & Gender Module: Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
  • Candidacy: Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
  • Seminar: Students will regularly attend the Snyder Graduate Program Seminar Series.
  • Research proposal: Students must defend a written research proposal to their supervisory committee.
  • Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Outcomes

Pharmaceutical industry – researcher, project manager; academia, including post-doctoral research; government, clinical microbiology, consulting, public health.

A PhD in immunology is usually considered a final degree; many graduates pursue post-doctoral research.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Four years full-time; six years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before the student applies for admission

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

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Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.


  1. Eduardo Cobo

    Eduardo Cobo

    Accepting Inquiries
    Innate immunity in the gut
  2. Antoine Dufour

    Antoine Dufour

    Unavailable
    Proteomics, proteases, systems biology, inflammation, immunity
  3. Markus Geuking

    Markus Geuking

    Unavailable
    Microbiota Immune Crosstalk
  4. Mark Gillrie, Assistant Professor, University of Calgary

    Mark Gillrie

    Accepting Inquiries
    Infectious Diseases, Tissue Engineering, Innate Immunology
  5. Nicolas Jacquelot

    Nicolas Jacquelot

    Accepting Inquiries
    Tumor immunology, immunotherapy
  6. Craig Jenne

    Craig Jenne

    Accepting Inquiries
    Infectious Disease
  7. NK

    Nargis Khan

    Accepting Inquiries
    Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Innate Immunity, Trained Immunity
  8. Jongbok Lee

    Jongbok Lee

    Accepting Inquiries
    Immunotherapy, Cancer immunology
  9. Douglas Mahoney

    Douglas Mahoney

    Unavailable
    Cancer Immunotherapy
  10. Dr Braedon McDonald

    Braedon McDonald

    Unavailable
    Host-microbe interactions, Microbiome in Critical Illness, Critical Care Translational Research

Admission requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

An MSc or equivalent, and at least one undergraduate course in immunology, from a recognized institution.

Work samples

None

Documents

C.V. and Confirmation of Funding from the proposed supervisor

Reference letters

Two

Test scores

None


English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Deadlines

For admission on May 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Mar. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Dec. 1 application deadline

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Jun. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Apr. 1 application deadline

For admission on January 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Oct. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Aug. 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

HSC G345A, Health Sciences Centre
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Cumming School of Medicine

Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1

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