Immunology and Microbiology Program Courses

This course will help prospective scientists in the biological and medical sciences communicate their work effectively, in writing, graphics, and oral presentations. The course teaches how to prepare a research paper using words, statistics, and figures; how to present science to a lay audience; how to write a grant proposal; and how to present orally to scientific peers.

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): None

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: David Lambright, Jill Zitzewitz, Neal Silverman

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring 

Last Taught: Spring 2026

This problem-based course provides learning opportunities through exploration of multidisciplinary areas of contemporary biomedical research, and creates a forum for practice in the skills required for research.

Credits: 6

Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the PhD Program

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Jill Zitzewitz, Neal Silverman, Elizabeth Shank

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2026

BBS 708 – Biomedical Internship Placement is a doctoral-level, variable credit-bearing course that allows Biomedical PhD students at the Graduate School of Biomedical Science at UMass Chan Medical School to gain hands-on experience in diverse professional settings while maintaining active enrollment at the university. Designed as a companion to BBS 707: Professional Development for Internship, this course supports career exploration and skill development in an academic and non-academic, translational, or interdisciplinary environments such as biotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, government agencies, or scientific policy and communication roles.
Students remain formally registered at the University throughout the internship term, preserving access to University services, advising, and health benefits. The course ensures that doctoral training is integrated with experiential learning, providing a structured mechanism for applying research, analytical, and communication skills to real-world challenges.
Each internship is supported by a faculty mentor, the GSBS Office of Career  and Professional Development, and the host organization to ensure alignment with career goals and professional standards. Students will complete a set of required academic deliverables that facilitate reflection, integration of learning, and assessment of skill development.

Credits: 1-9

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Lisa Tison-Thomas

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Infectious disease is among the strongest agents of natural selection, and adaptations constituting the armament of pathogens and the defense of the host involve many of the most fascinating mechanisms in biology. This course presents a modern view of the fundamental biology of bacterial and viral disease in the context of molecular mechanisms of host defense. A detailed knowledge of cellular and molecular components of the immune system will be integrated with current understanding of microbial virulence strategies, to provide a working understanding of biological mechanisms important in health and disease. The course is organized as three integrated sections focusing on the fields of immunology, bacterial pathogenesis, and virology. Students will obtain a background for advanced course work in each of these disciplines. We will focus on three themes; (1) basic properties of microbes and the innate and adaptive immune defenses that have evolved to respond to them, (2) the interplay—in both dynamic and evolutionary sense—between host defenses and microbial virulence, and (3) the mechanisms of pathogenesis during infection. Comparative clinical and epidemiological pictures of selected diseases will be presented, and will serve as a framework for development of key molecular, cellular, and physiological concepts. 

Credits: 4

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Students may register for individual BBS755 modules (BBS 755a, BBS 755b, BBS 755c).  Completion of one or two individual modules does not fulfill an elective course requirement.

Course Director: Timothy Kowalik

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2026

This is the virology component of BBS 755 Infection and Immune Response.

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Timothy Kowalik, Trudy Morrison

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2026

This is the bacteriology component of BBS 755 Infection and Immune Response

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director:Timothy Kowalik, Javier Irazoqui

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2022

This is the immunology component of BBS 755 Infection and Immune Response

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Timothy Kowalik, Micheael Brehm

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2026

This highly flexible tutorial is designed to provide students with an in-depth exploration of a specified topic of interest while benefiting from structured feedback and mentorship. The mentor must provide a syllabus to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs that includes the essential elements of graduate course syllabi prior to the student enrolling in the tutorial.

Credits: 1-3

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Varies

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Spring 2026

Some of the most active areas of current immunology are investigated through the reading and discussion of research papers. Students further develop the ability to pose questions and design experiments to answer them through writing a research proposal. Topics to be covered include: regulation of lineage specification/commitment and antigen receptor gene recombination; mechanisms of immunological tolerance and lymphocyte activation, cellular transactions and their consequences (e.g., APC:T cell); and immune responses in infectious diseases.

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent and BBS755, Infection and Immune Response (or their equivalent)

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Directors: Andrea Reboldi and Joonsoo Kang

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2025

This is a paper reading-based course discussing in depth new findings in animal virology, including viral biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, oncogenesis, and pathogenesis. The course will be team-taught by UMass Chan faculty. The course will begin with introductory lectures to provide background for more advanced readings. Students will then cover different specific areas chosen by the professors in detail with paper readings. At the end of the course the students will write a research proposal and present it to the class and faculty.

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): BBS755, Infection and Immune Response, or their equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Director: James Munro

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2023

This course introduces students to cutting-edge topics in bacterial pathogenesis in a class format designed to encourage both critical analysis and concentration on experimental design, which will aid students in preparation for qualifying exams. The course meets once per week for 2.5-3 hours. Depending on class size and on a rotating basis, individual students, or groups of two or three students lead discussions of selected topics. Presenting students are required to prepare PowerPoint presentations to focus the discussion, and the following week to produce a Specific Aims page modeled after NIH R01 applications. The bulk of class time is devoted to open discussion, critical analysis of the literature, and constructive feedback of student reviews. In the end, each student develops and presents a research proposal on one of the topics discussed. Students taking the course for 2 credits will not be required to prepare the research proposal. Grading is based on quality of presentations, Specific Aims pages, and class participation (all students) and on the quality of the research outline (students taking the class for 3 credits).

Credits: 2-3

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent, BBS755, Infection and Immune Response, or permission from course coordinator

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Directors: Javier Irazoqui, Josue Flores-Kim

Course Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2023

Advanced Immunology & Microbiology Program graduate students present seminars on their thesis research.

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): BBS755, Infection and Immune Response

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Eric Huseby

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2025

Leading researchers present a weekly seminar on a basic or clinical immunology and virology topic. Prior to the seminar, students read papers suggested by the seminar speaker and discuss the papers in class. Following the seminar, graduate students meet with the speaker for a discussion of the formal seminar. This course surveys the most important areas of basic and clinical immunology and virology including, but not limited to, antigen presentation; gene rearrangements; and expression of the genes for antigen receptors, immune tolerance, cytokines, immune cell development, immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmune diseases, human immune system malignancies and immune response to infectious agents such as viruses, parasites and bacteria.

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): BBS755, Infection and Immune Response

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Neal Silverman, Javier Irazoqui, Vanni Bucci, Gowthaman Uthaman, Kiera Clayton, Lee Quinton

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2026

This course is designed to help first-year students prepare for the Immunology & Microbiology Program advanced topics courses in the fall, learn how to think critically about articles, and meet senior students in the program. Students in the class will read one primary and one review paper the week before each class. The topic, paper and review will be chosen by two student mentors and/or directors. In a brief presentation; the mentors will describe the current state of the field and summarize the review. The class will then discuss the chosen article and critically analyze the positives and negatives of techniques, systems, conclusions, etc.  

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Allison Keeler and Darren Lee

Semester Offered: Summer

Last Taught: Summer 2025

Gain introductory exposure to research methodologies and practices
Students will observe, practice, or assist with research methods, techniques, or analytical approaches used in the group in order to develop familiarity with the methodological frameworks that define the research group’s work.

Demonstrate professional engagement and readiness for doctoral research
Students will demonstrate responsible participation, intellectual curiosity, and scientific integrity through preparation, follow-through, and reflective communication, providing evidence of readiness for sustained dissertation research.

Build introductory familiarity with the scholarly literature relevant to the research group
Students will identify, read, and discuss selected primary literature to develop a basic understanding of the questions, approaches, and scholarly context of the research group.

Explore the research environment and scholarly culture of a research group
Students will engage in the intellectual life of the research group by participating in group meetings, seminars, and informal scientific discussions to understand how research questions are generated, refined, and pursued within that environment.

Reflect on alignment between the research group and the student’s interests and working style
Students will assess how the research focus, mentoring style, expectations, and collaborative norms of the group align with their own goals, strengths, and learning needs.

Credits: 2-5

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Varies

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every Fall, Spring, and Summer

Gain introductory exposure to research methodologies and practices
Students will observe, practice, or assist with research methods, techniques, or analytical approaches used in the group in order to develop familiarity with the methodological frameworks that define the research group’s work.

Demonstrate professional engagement and readiness for doctoral research
Students will demonstrate responsible participation, intellectual curiosity, and scientific integrity through preparation, follow-through, and reflective communication, providing evidence of readiness for sustained dissertation research.

Build introductory familiarity with the scholarly literature relevant to the research group
Students will identify, read, and discuss selected primary literature to develop a basic understanding of the questions, approaches, and scholarly context of the research group.

Explore the research environment and scholarly culture of a research group
Students will engage in the intellectual life of the research group by participating in group meetings, seminars, and informal scientific discussions to understand how research questions are generated, refined, and pursued within that environment.

Reflect on alignment between the research group and the student’s interests and working style
Students will assess how the research focus, mentoring style, expectations, and collaborative norms of the group align with their own goals, strengths, and learning needs.

Secure a PhD research placement, if not already accomplished.

Credits: 6

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Varies

Semester Offered: Summer

Last Taught: Taught every Summer

Students are required to register for this course in the fall semester of the academic year in which they are to pass their Qualifying Examination.

Credits: 1

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Mary Ellen Lane

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Taught every year 

All graduate students are required to have at least one Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meeting each academic year. After passing their Qualifying Examination and selection of their TRAC, students are required to register for this course each fall semester until their Dissertation Advisory Committee is formed.

MD/PhD Goals: 1) To periodically review progress along thesis research project advised by content experts 2) To provide guidance for establishing a thesis research project consistent with the MD/PhD Program goals

MD/PhD Curricular Expectations: Two Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meeting each academic year as define by the Professionalism Benchmark Checklist

Credits: 1

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Mary Ellen Lane

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Taught every year

Develop foundational research competencies
Students will demonstrate the ability to formulate a research question, identify relevant literature, and articulate how their emerging project fits within the field.

Apply core research methodologies with and without supervision
Students will execute foundational experimental or analytical techniques and document their procedures and outcomes with increasing independence.

Critically evaluate research findings
Students will analyze preliminary data, identify limitations or alternative interpretations, and propose next steps grounded in scientific reasoning.

Develop a foundational knowledge base in the relevant scholarly literature
Students will critically engage with primary literature to support their developing research question and preparation for the qualifying examination.

Prepare a research proposal
Students will synthesize their knowledge base into a coherent proposal and engage in structured feedback with mentors to refine their rationale, aims, and research approach.

Credits: 9

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester

Advance an independent line of scientific inquiry
Students will design and implement research strategies that build directly toward dissertation aims, demonstrating increasing autonomy in decision-making.

Generate and interpret substantive research findings
Students will produce, analyze, and contextualize research results in relation to existing scholarship.

Maintain and apply current scholarly knowledge relevant to dissertation research
Students will evaluate and integrate current and foundational literature to guide research design, data interpretation, and refinement of dissertation aims.

Integrate feedback to refine the research trajectory
Students will incorporate mentor and committee guidance to adjust experimental plans, troubleshoot challenges, and prioritize high-impact next steps.

Communicate research effectively within the scientific community
Students will prepare and deliver clear written and oral presentations (e.g., manuscripts, TRAC updates, conference talks) that accurately convey the methods, results, conclusions, and significance of their dissertation research.

Credits: 12

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester

Synthesize and contextualize dissertation research
Students will integrate multiple results, data sets, and analyses into a coherent scholarly narrative that advances knowledge in their field.

Synthesize and situate dissertation research within the scholarly literature
Students will synthesize primary literature to contextualize their findings, articulate contributions to the field, and support dissertation writing and defense.

Prepare the dissertation and associated publications
Students will draft, revise, and finalize dissertation chapters and manuscripts that meet programmatic and disciplinary standards for scholarly communication.

Demonstrate readiness for the dissertation defense
Students will construct a clear and rigorous defense presentation, anticipate committee questions, and justify methodological and interpretive choices.

Articulate future research directions and professional goals
Students will identify and articulate logical extensions of their dissertation work and prepare materials (research statements, letters of intent, postdoctoral applications, job applications etc.) that reflect their emerging scholarly identity.

Demonstrate skills acquired in scientific communication through a professional oral presentation
Students will effectively communicate the importance of the problem that was studied, the central hypothesis of the work,the outcomes of the project, and how these outcomes test the central hypothesis for audience of peers, faculty, and community partners, in a manner that demonstrates clarity, engagement, and audience awareness.

Credits: 0

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester

This course provides students opportunities to recognize and solve ethical problems in the responsible conduct of research. Major NIH required topics include those relevant for graduate students at this stage of training.

Credits: 0.5

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: David Weaver

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2025

This course provides students opportunities to recognize and solve ethical problems in the responsible conduct of research. Major NIH required topics include those relevant for graduate students at this stage of training.

Credits: 1

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: David Weaver

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2025