Notes On The Curriculum

The Immunology/Microbiology Program (IMP) requires every student to complete Infection and Immune Response (BBS755) in the spring semester of the first year. A second Advanced Topics Course is also required in the spring and students can choose from any courses offered on campus. In the Fall of the second year students in IMP choose one of the following courses: Molecular & Cellular Immunology (BBS821), Advanced Virology (BBS822) and Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis (BBS823). Students also are expected to complete the  Professionalism and Research Conduct (PARC) (BBS 601) and Communicating Science (BBS 602) courses required by the graduate school.

Grad Student IMP Seminars (BBS833) are presentations by advanced level students. Beginning in their 3rd year, students present a seminar on their thesis research every year in the fall until graduation. First year students interested in IMP, advanced students, and faculty are encouraged to attend. Second year students are required to attend but do not present a seminar.

IMP Seminar & Discussion (BBS834): IMP students are required to take two semesters of the BBS834 Course, which includes a Tuesday discussion of the speaker's selected papers, and both the Thursday seminar and the one-hour post-seminar discussion with the speaker.

The school requires laboratory rotations (BBS 850) every semester until students have selected a research mentor, and prequalifying research or thesis research thereafter. Two of these rotations must be in different labs. Additional rotations are encouraged. The Immunology and Microbiology Program strongly recommends a rotation in the summer before the first year.

Students preparing for their qualifying exam should sign up for BBS 860.

Students who would like advice on any aspects of the IMP should consult with the IMP Graduate Student Advisors:
Trudy Morrison, AS8-1043, trudy.morrison@umassmed.edu, for students interested in the virology track.
Neal Silverman, LRB-325, neal.silverman@umassmed.edu, for students interested in the immunology track. 
Beth McCormick, AS8-2049, beth.mcmormick@umassmed.edu, for students interested in the bacteriology track.

Students who become interested in joining IMP after their first year should discuss this possibility with an IMP advisor (Drs N. Silverman, T. Morrison, or B. McCormick). Special arrangements can usually be made to accommodate such students.