Science Policy Faculty
The emergence and reemergence of human diseases such as West Nile virus, anthrax, tuberculosis and smallpox point to the fact that Microbiology & Immunology are critical to health care in the global arena. Science policy and advocacy will contribute importantly to new initiatives that are needed to control these and other diseases. In addition, the impact of genomic data is certain to require individuals who can formulate science policy and advocate reasonable approaches to use these data in ways that serve the health of the world.
The Department of Microbiology & Immunology has more than 20 full-time and adjunct faculty, whose research emphasis is in Virology, Mycology, Bacteriology, Immunology, Biodefense, and Science Policy. The themes of the research programs in the department are state-of-the-art and include a major emphasis in bioinformatics and translational research that focuses on several of the major human pathogens, including hepatitis and herpes viruses, opportunistic fungal pathogens, and emerging viral diseases. The faculty is supported by numerous research grants from the National Institutes of Health and industry.
Graduate education is also part of a strong commitment by the faculty. We offer a variety of graduate level courses in all areas of Microbiology and Immunology. Students are also able to take courses in other basic science departments in the medical school as well as at the main campus. The STIA Program in the School of Foreign Service is uniquely designed to prepare students who develop a science background for careers in advocacy and policy either in industry, special interest groups, or government. Faculty from other basic science departments and the Biology department offer didactic courses to achieve the same objective of training students to meet the needs of today's health issues.
