Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology

Graduate programs in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology offer exciting opportunities to work with nationally and internationally recognized faculty on a wide range of research topics spanning host-pathogen interactions, geomicrobiology, aquatic microbiology, human microbiomes, and immunology. It is the goal of the faculty to prepare our students for successful careers in academic research, government, and/or the biotechnology industry. Successful applicants to the program will have already established a commitment to excellence through academic achievements and prior research experience.

We offer Ph.D. or M.S. degrees in Microbiology and Immunology or Biological Science to our graduate students. The Ph.D. programs are designed for students who are committed to a scientific research career and are willing to commit an average of 5 to 6 years in pursuit of the training that is necessary to qualify for these degrees. 

The M.S. degree is for students who wish to increase their knowledge base in basic research through an intensive 2- to 3-year training period. Prospective M.S. students should secure a faculty sponsor prior to applying for admission.

Admission

A Bachelor's degree in an area of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Math or Psychology is recommended. Students with Bachelor’s degrees outside these areas are also encouraged to apply; such students will generally be required to complete appropriate courses while enrolled at MSU to make up subject matter deficiencies prior to full acceptance into the Ph.D. and Masters programs. Factors that the department uses in its admissions process include TOEFL scores (for non-native English speakers), reference letters, GPA and previous coursework and research experience. GRE scores are optional, but will be considered if provided.

Entrance to these programs is also possible through MSU's Molecular Biosciences Program (http://mbprogram.montana.edu/index.asp). This is an interdisciplinary graduate training program that includes faculty from a wide range of departments specializing in aspects of biology on the MSU campus. 

Research Facilities

Graduate research will be performed primarily in the laboratory of the student’s thesis adviser. Additional facilities will be available from the department and in laboratories collaborating with the student’s adviser. 

Financial Assistance

A number of research and teaching assistantships are available for qualified graduate students. These appointments are normally for half-time assignments (19 hours per week) during the academic year. Some appointments may also be available during the summer. Assistantships will only be offered to formally admitted graduate students and are offered for all research-based (M.S. Plan A, PhD) programs.

The Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology (MCB) conducts one of the premier infectious disease research programs in the Northwest, as demonstrated by the success of our faculty in competing nationally for extramural grant funding and publishing high-impact papers. Research funding comes from a range of sources such as the National Institutes of Health, US Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation and the Montana Agricultural Experimental Station among others. MCB averages over $6 million for annual research expenditures. MCB is also home to an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Zoonotic and Emerging Infectious Diseases, which provides substantial core facilities and training opportunities for junior investigators. MCB is housed in a state-of-the-art facility with core laboratories for flow cytometry, cell biology, and molecular sciences, as well as pathogen containment facilities for small (BSL-3) and large animal research (ABSL-2). Instrumentation suites house equipment for DNA sequencing, genomic analysis, cell sorting, and confocal microscopy.

Graduate Programs

Note: An asterisk next to the degree title indicates that the program is WRGP Eligible. *