Immunology

​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.