The "Microbes in Health and Disease" training program is unique at UW-Madison, and it is distinct from each of the entities listed below. Its development and operation is tied closely to the basic science departments of MMI, and Bacteriology, and the clinical departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, as well as the MDTP, the Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Responses Group, the Wisconsin Center for Infectious Diseases, and the UW-Madison Symbiosis Cluster. These departments and disciplines knit together a cohesive training and learning environment in microbiology and infectious disease that is embedded into the physical and intellectual space of the Microbial Sciences Building.
There are five other training programs on campus with which some of our trainers are affiliated. Each has a mission and training objectives clearly distinct from ours. Our program is focused broadly on the role of microbes in health and disease. Our trainers have been chosen carefully to avoid overlap, with 22 of the 28 trainers unique to our program. Nevertheless, cases of overlap could arise when a student is awarded a traineeship on more than one program, such as with the Molecular Biosciences Training Grant or Biotechnology Training Program for a trainee studying pathogenesis, or the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) for an MD/PhD student. Such students will be offered the choice of program for affiliation or could receive sequential funding, particularly in the case of MSTP trainees.
Overall, our program offers exceptional depth and breadth in microbe-host interactions. It provides contemporary training for the next generation of pre- and post-doctoral basic and clinical scientists in the areas of:
- Microbial pathogenesis and mutualism
- Host response to microbes
- Translational research in infectious disease
Other Training Programs
- Biotechnology: “The objective of this program is to educate a new cadre of scientists and engineers whose training and experience cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. Trainees receive Ph.D. degrees in their chosen field, such as bacteriology, chemistry, pharmacy, molecular biology or computer science. Students minor in a cross discipline, for instance a chemical engineer would take classes in biology, and vice versa.”
- Cellular & Molecular Parasitology: “This program offers a variety of course and seminar offerings in advanced parasitology, and exciting opportunities for research training in immunoparasitology, molecular parasitology, vector biology, parasite biochemistry neurobiology and physiology.”
- Environmental Toxicology: “The Center has an Environmental Toxicology Training Grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) which provides support for some predoctoral students whose career goals are directed toward health-related toxicology. Trainees choose the biochemical and genetic toxicology, immunotoxicology, or neurotoxicology focal area and have as a major professor one of the faculty trainers named in the grant.”
- Medical Scientist Training Program: “Our goal is to combine high quality medical training with a rigorous PhD thesis in a departmentally based or cross-campus graduate program. We are uniquely positioned to do this. Our Medical School is an integral part of a world-class research university that is strongly oriented towards graduate education.”
- Molecular Biosciences: “The goal of the MBTG program is to enhance the training opportunities available to graduate students in our strong Ph.D. programs in the cellular, biochemical and molecular sciences at UW-Madison.”
