Pathobiology is a synthesis of various disciplines of the basic health sciences, addressing in particular the host:parasite relationship. The Pathobiology Graduate Program is a good match for students seeking graduate training in microbiology (bacteriology, virology, parasitology), immunology, and/or pathology. Students will develop a broad academic foundation and a sharp focus in at least one health science discipline, with a general focus on the biology of disease and specific emphasis on infectious disease and host responses.

The Pathobiology Graduate Program is administered by the Graduate Program Committee and faculty of the Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona. Our research programs are supported by various national research funding agencies and foundations, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Study leading to the MS or PhD degrees emphasizes basic research consisting of the application of molecular, genetic, and biochemical approaches to problems of fundamental biological interest such as the study of bacterial pathogenesis, including virulence mechanisms and interaction of bacteria with the host; viral protein structure and assembly, ecology and pathogenesis of viral diseases; the pathogenesis of host cell recognition, attachment, and invasion by protozoan parasites; and novel diagnostic methods for diseases of animal importance. Graduates have been highly successful in obtaining competitive postdoctoral positions and establishing careers as independent investigators.

Financial assistance and cost-of-living in Tucson, AZ

How to apply to the Pathobiology Graduate Program