Graduate training in the Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology prepares students to solve important problems in the field of environmental health by providing stimulating coursework, extensive scientific presentation training, and in-depth research that culminates in a thesis. Our department is housed on one floor of a new building, allowing extensive interactions between all members of the department. There is no other program in the world that educates students to appreciate the interplay between microbes, chemical toxins and health, providing the training students require to work effectively in a complex world. Graduate training prepares students to become leaders in the field, following career paths in academia, teaching, industry and government. Master's students typically finish in two years and Ph.D. students in four to six years.

Key components of our graduate training include:

• Core courses utilizing case study formats and training grant writing skills.
• A personalized class plan for remaining courses to fit the student's background and research goals.
• Training in oral presentation skills, scientific writing, and literature review.
• Exposure to the breadth of microbiology and environmental toxicology through weekly seminars offered by department faculty and visiting national and international speakers.
• Extensive laboratory research training that starts immediately upon entering the program and culminates in the students' Masters thesis or Ph.D. dissertation.

The Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology also participates in the Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences & Engineering. Students interested in the broad areas of chemical biology or molecular biology should consider this interdisciplinary graduate program that brings together the expertise from the departments of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Biomolecular Engineering. Highlights of PBSE include research laboratory rotations, journal clubs, and targeted seminar series--all in a collaborative environment. Most participants from the Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department would follow either the Mechanistic, Structural and Chemical Biology track or the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology track.