The last decade has witnessed unprecedented advances in our understanding of fundamental biological processes. At the same time, the mysteries of the cell and the dilemmas of old and new diseases continue to challenge our best scientists and physicians.
The faculty of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Virginia conduct research on many of the most important problems in biomedical science. How do disease-causing organisms interact with their hosts (bacterial and viral pathogenesis)? How does the host respond to infections and invasion by cancer (immunology)? What are the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate growth and differentiation (the molecular biology of cells)? How is cell growth regulation perturbed in tumor cells (the molecular basis of cancer)?
Our goal in the Department of Microbiology is not only to make inroads into understanding these complex problems, but also to train the next generation of young scientists, providing each with the knowledge and research skills to continue to solve important biomedical problems and to cure disease in the 21st century.
As you look through this internet site, I hope that you will sense the excitement of our faculty and students for their research, their dedication to excellence, and their enthusiasm for teaching and learning. Graduate study is not easy. Indeed, there are many long hours of studying, many days and evenings in the laboratory. However, the rewards are significant -- the joy and excitement of discovery, the satisfaction of understanding how complex organisms function, and the knowledge that what you are doing is meaningful to the health of mankind.
We believe that graduate and postgraduate training in Microbiology at the University of Virginia is the best in the United States. We invite you to join us.
