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DNAThe research faculty and students in Microbiology & Immunology at VCU routinely apply the tools of Molecular Biology and Genetics to basic biomedical research problems. Courses and research projects in Microbiology & Immunology emphasize molecular approaches. However, some students may prefer a program that emphasizes a more rigorous study of the fundamental molecular processes of living organisms, and so a separate Curriculum in Molecular Biology & Genetics (MBG) was established. The MBG Curriculum promotes interdisciplinary interactions between departments, including Microbiology & Immunology. Students may be admitted through the Microbiology & Immunology Department, or the MBG Curriculum Program.

Research Areas

  • Gene Structure and Regulation 
  • DNA Modification and Repair 
  • RNA Modification and Processing 
  • Nucleic Acid: Protein Interactions 
  • Structural Biology 
  • Signal Transduction 
  • Molecular Oncogenesis 
  • Molecular Microbiology
  • Molecular Immunology 
  • Molecular Virology 
  • Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology 

Participating Microbiology & Immunology faculty in MBG include:

Gordon L. Archer

Professor of Medicine, M.D. University of Virginia

Gregory A. Buck

Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Washington

Guy Cabral

Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Connecticut

Jason Carlyon

Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University

Gail E. Christie

Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. Yale University

Cynthia N. Cornelissen

Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D University of Illinois

Swati Palit Deb

Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Ph.D. Calcutta University

Gordon D. Ginder

Professor of Medicine - Hematology and Oncology, Human Genetics, and Microbiology & Immunology and Directory, Massey Cancer Center, M.D. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Walter Holmes

Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Tennessee

Phillip Hylemon

Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Kimberly Jefferson

Assistant Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Virginia

Todd Kitten

Assistant Professor, Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Texas Health Science Center

Geoffrey Krystal

Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology, Ph.D. State University of New York, M.D. University of Miami School of Medicine

Deborah Lebman

Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Janina Lewis

Assistant Professor, Philips Institute of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology; Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University

Francis Macrina

Director Intitue of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Ph.D.

Richard Marconi

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D., University of Montana

Michael McVoy

Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University

Anthony Nicola

Associate Professor of  Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Dennis Ohman

Professor and Chair of  Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. Oregon Health Sciences University

Lawrence Povirk

Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ph.D. University of California - Berkeley

John Ryan

Associate Professor of Biology, Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University

David Straus

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin

Shirley Taylor

Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. University of Southern California

Kristoffer Valerie

Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Ph.D. Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

Fang-Sheng Wu

Associate Professor of Biology, Ph.D. Michigan State University

Courses

A typical schedule for a Ph.D. student in Microbiology & Immunology is shown under graduate programs. Courses of special interest to MBG students include:

  • MIC 607 Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetics.
  • MIC 605 Molecular Biology and Genetics.
  • MIC 653 Advanced Molecular Genetics
  • MBG Journal Club
  • MBG Seminars

Application Information

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate or equivalent degree prior to admission. The typical successful applicant will have taken introductory level courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics; advanced level course work in these disciplines is also strongly recommended.

You can obtain an online application form at: http://www.vcu.edu/graduate/ps/apply_options.html

For requests of printed application materials for the graduate programs in Microbiology & Immunology , please contact or e-mail the address below. For consideration for financial support, applications should be received by January 7 in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The deadline for application is May 1 for a student to matriculate the following semester.

Mrs. Martha L. VanMeter
Enrollment Services Assistant
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, Box 980678
1101 East Marshall St., 5-051A Sanger Hall
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0678

(804) 828-9728
(804) 828-9946 - fax
eMail: mlvanmeter@vcu.edu

For more information on the Interdisciplinary MBG Curriculum, contact Dr. Gail Christie, Director of the MBG Curriculum or see http://www.vcu.edu/mbg/ .

Dr. Gail Christie
Director of the MBG Curriculum P.O. Box 980678 Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, Box 980678
1101 East Marshall St., 5-047 Sanger Hall
Richmond, Virginia 23298
(804) 828-9728
eMail: christie@vcu.edu