IMMUN-PHD - Immunology (PhD)

The Immunology doctoral program offers instruction and research opportunities leading to a PhD in Immunology. Two tracks are offered:

1. Track 1: Molecular, Cellular, and Translational Immunology

2. Track 2: Computational and Systems Immunology

Molecular, Cellular, and Translational Immunology

The MCTI track comprises interdisciplinary research that emphasizes the application of molecular approaches to open questions in cellular and clinical immunology.  Graduate students in this track gain an advanced understanding of basic molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and cellular signaling concepts and experimental techniques and apply this knowledge to immunology problems.  MCTI faculty interests include both bench-to-bedside approaches and basic science research. 

Computational & Systems Immunology

The past decade has seen an explosion in the availability of high-throughput datasets spanning information on everything from DNA sequences to RNA transcript abundances, single-cell protein profiles, protein variants and metabolite profiles. These multi-dimensional omics datasets are complex to integrate, visualize and analyze for those not well versed in systems biology and bioinformatics. A new generation of scientists is needed to take advantage of these resources to ask and answer novel important questions in immunology.  The CSI track will generate a class of hybrid scientists to identify important problems in immunology and to devise appropriate integrated computational/experimental plans for tackling them.

Admissions

Students seeking admission to the Immunology PhD program typically have an undergraduate major in biological sciences. Majors from other areas are acceptable if the applicant has sufficient coursework in biology, chemistry, general physics, and mathematics (through calculus). The Immunology Graduate Program committee evaluates applications based on: grades; evidence of research experience; letters of recommendation, including letters from research sponsor(s); and commitment to a career in biomedical research.

The GRE Subject test is optional. Applicants who choose to submit a GRE score should plan on taking the GRE at least one month before the application deadline to ensure that official scores are available when applications are evaluated.

Candidates who are selected to visit Stanford and interview are notified in January. The selected applicants are invited to a Biosciences interview session.

Interested Stanford medical students are welcome to apply to the program and should also submit a formal application by the December deadline.

Prospective graduate students must apply via Stanford’s online graduate application.

Financial Aid

Students admitted to the program are offered financial support for tuition, a living stipend, and health insurance coverage, and for first-year graduate students, a small allowance (tech funds). Applicants are urged to apply for independent fellowships from such entities as the National Science Foundation or the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships. NSF Fellowship applications are due in October of the year before enrollment in the graduate program, and only one more NSF application is permitted in the first or second year. Immunology graduate students may continue to apply for outside fellowships after matriculation. Admitted students are typically offered financial support through Stanford Graduate Fellowships, NIH traineeships, or research assistantships.