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Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Ph.D.

Introduction

The Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology (METX) focuses on the human and environmental health impacts of chemicals and pathogens. A unifying disciplinary theme of research in METX is that both environmental chemicals and pathogens represent physiological effects that, in many cases, elicit specific molecular and inflammatory responses that increase the risk of adverse health outcomes in exposed individuals. The METX Ph.D. program provides in-depth training in the human and environmental health impacts of chemicals and pathogens. We accomplish this goal through comprehensive coursework, extensive scientific communication training, and in-depth research culminating in a Ph.D. dissertation. Our training prepares students to become leaders in various fields, following career paths in academia, teaching, industry, and government.

Advancement to Candidacy

The student advances to candidacy after completing all coursework, completing the literature review (beginning of fall quarter, second year), passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination (spring quarter, second year), and presenting a seminar (fall quarter, third year).

Course Requirements

Three required core courses:

METX 200Interdisciplinary Approaches in Environmental Toxicology

5

METX 200BGraduate Research Project Development

2

BIOL 289Practice of Science

5

One course from the following:

METX 202Cell and Molecular Toxicology

5

METX 206AAdvanced Microbiology

5

At least one additional graduate-level METX course or an approved course from another department:

METX 201Sources and Fates of Pollutants

5

METX 210Molecular and Cellular Basis of Bacterial Pathogenesis

5

METX 238Pathogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms of Disease

5

METX 250Environmental Microbiology

5

Students will also take one or more of the following science writing courses as advised

METX 205Scientific Grant Writing

5

METX 245AScientific Communication in Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology A

5

Any two additional courses as recommended by your first-year advising committee.

The following course each quarter:
METX 292Introductory Graduate Seminar

0

And one of the following as appropriate:
METX 297AIndependent Study

5

METX 297BIndependent Study

10

METX 297CIndependent Study

15

METX 299AThesis Research

5

METX 299BThesis Research

10

METX 299CThesis Research

15

Plus a topical seminar from the METX 281 series:
METX 281CTopics in Environmental Microbiology

2

METX 281JMechanisms of Virulence and Resistance to Infectious Disease

2

METX 281MTopics in Molecular Toxicology

2

METX 281OTopics in Bacterial Pathogenesis

2

METX 281POrigins and Applications of Human Gut Microbial Symbiosis

2

METX 281RTopics in Genome-Environment Interactions

2

METX 281SCellular and Organismal Responses to Toxicants

2

METX 281VTopics in Bacterial Pathogenesis and Innate Immunity

2

METX 281YBiofilms: Processes and Regulation

2

Teaching Requirement

Doctoral students are required to work as teaching assistants (TA) for at least one quarter. Priority for TA positions is given to first-year doctoral students, then to current doctoral students who have not yet worked as a teaching assistant. Fulfilling this requirement may happen pre- or post-candidacy.

Qualifying Examination

Students will complete a Ph.D. qualifying examination comprised of both oral and written components. Students present and defend their research proposal to their QE committee in the spring quarter of their second year.

Literature Review

Under direction of the student’s faculty advisor, write a literature review of the current state of the field of the proposed dissertation research. The written review will be handed in to the student’s advisor and the program graduate advisor by the first day of fall quarter of the second year.

Department Seminar

Students present a 10-20-minute departmental seminar each academic year, and one 50-minute departmental seminar in the fall quarter of the third year. Rotation students present their rotation talks in lieu of a departmental seminar.

Dissertation

Dissertation and Defense

The student must submit their doctoral dissertation to the dissertation committee for tentative approval at least one month before presenting a formal, public doctoral research seminar and defending their thesis.