Since 1969, the Department of Microbiology has trained and educated graduate students, medical students and postdoctoral fellows. Alumni from our program have gone on to very distinguished careers in a variety of disciplines, including academic research, teaching, and biotechnology.

Undergraduate Education and Training

The UAB Undergraduate Immunology Program was developed to provide an intensive, immunology-focused course of study and research opportunities for students interested pursuing careers in immunology and health-related professions, including medicine, biomedical research, science education, policy, and writing. The immunology major gives students the opportunity to learn about and contribute to research in the field of immunology earlier than other general degrees (such as biology and microbiology). Undergraduates in any major interested in conducting in-person research are required to complete the registration form after being accepted by a mentor.

Graduate Education and Training

Currently, graduate students trained in our department enter through the UAB Graduate Biomedical Science Program (GBS Program) or the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). These students can participate in multiple interdisciplinary thematic programs that integrate more than 25 departments and 20 research centers across the Heersink School of Medicine at UAB. Department of Microbiology faculty members direct two of the theme-based graduate programs, Immunology and Microbiology. Although many of the students in the department enter through one of these two themes, both faculty and students participate in many of the other GBS thematic programs. In 2017, the AMC21 Scholar Program was implemented to attract the top graduate student applicants to UAB and provides up to 8 awards per year to recruit the top candidates to the GBS.

Students who chose a primary or secondary Microbiology faculty member as a mentor become part of the Department of Microbiology family. One notable perk of being in the department is participation in the annual Microbiology Research Retreat.

Postdoctoral Training

Postdoctoral fellows are hired by individual investigators. UAB has a very active Office of Postdoctoral Education that maintains a listing of current openings and organizes many career development programs for postdoctoral fellows. UAB consistently ranks highly in The Scientist poll of “Best Places to Work for Postdocs.”