Colorado State University
Program
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University
In partnership with the NIH Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program (CBSTP), the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University offers post-DVM graduate training positions in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, comparative medicine, and microbiology. With a focus on understanding internationally important infectious disease, the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology is home to world-renowned scientists and leaders in laboratory research. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working alongside faculty with specialties in bacteriology, mycobacterial disease, prion biology, vector-borne infectious disease, virology, and computational biology. An emphasis is placed on a multi-disciplinary approach to research problems. This is facilitated by collaborations with major research groups within the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Interpretive diagnostic expertise training is also provided in conjunction with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
The program is designed to culminate in specialty board certification and granting a PhD degree. Residency training is facilitated by a diverse faculty, approximately 22 of whom are ACVP, ACVM or ACLAM board certified. Applicants must have a DVM or equivalent degree from an AVMA accredited College of Veterinary Medicine/equivalent.
For additional information, visit: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/mip/.
Please contact Dr. Amy MacNeill; tel. (970) 297-5112 or email amy.macneill@colostate.edu if you have any questions about the MIP residencies at CSU.
Facilities
Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vdl/
Colorado State University, Center for Metabolism of Infectious Diseases: https://www.research.colostate.edu/c4mind/
Colorado State University, Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/cvid/
Colorado State University, Mycobacteria Research Laboratories: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/mrl/
Colorado State University, Prion Research Center: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/prc/
Curriculum/Degree Requirements
Goals
The Ph.D. in pathology provides opportunities for graduate training in fundamentals of modern pathobiology, immunology, and investigative microbiology, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach to research problems. Study naturally occurring animal disease and host response in a variety of species, including cancer, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. The program will not only provide a strong foundation in a selected discipline, but also involves research in progressive areas such as emerging diseases, comparative oncology, interdisciplinary/systems biology, and translational medicine.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
University and Department Course Requirements and Program of Study
The student and the student’s graduate committee share responsibility for formulating the coursework in the students' program of study. The program of study for students is based on the student’s academic background, area of specialization, and recommendations of the graduate committee. Students must fulfill the core area requirements for their degree program. The core departmental areas are defined as bacteriology, virology, molecular genetics (molecular biology), immunology, vector biology and pathobiology (includes prion biology, toxicology, and cancer biology).
- Credit Requirements
Each Ph.D. student shall acquire in-depth knowledge in the selected area of research specialization(s) and breadth of knowledge by completing formal coursework in three of the core areas defined above. Adequate knowledge in general biological and physical sciences is also required. To be recommended for candidacy, in addition to completing the required coursework, students must demonstrate to the satisfaction of their graduate committee that they possess the knowledge, abilities and skills essential for the specialization chosen.
For the Ph.D. degree a minimum of 72 credits in courses (numbered 300 or above) and research is required. An appropriate master's degree or DVM/VMD or equivalent from an accredited college or university may be recommended for approval for a maximum of 30 credits. At least 21 credits beyond the M.S./DVM degree are to be earned in courses numbered 500 and above and 16 credits should be in regular courses (excludes MIP798 research, MIP799 dissertation, MIP700 topics, MIP784 supervised teaching, and MIP792 seminars). The department requires that 13 of the 16 credits be earned in MIP courses.
Ph.D. Graduate Program minimum course requirements Required courses:
- MIP700- Topics in Microbiology, 1 credit each year (PhD- at least 4 semesters)
- MIP792A- Seminar- Research/Graduate, 1 credit each semester
- MIP654- Research Policies and Regulations, 1 credit
- or GRAD544- Ethical Conduct in Research
- or CM666- Science and Ethics
Highly recommended:
- MIP540- Biosafety in Research Laboratories, 2 credits
- MIP643- Grant Writing for Microbiology/Pathology, 1 credit
- MIP666- Writing Scientific Manuscripts, 3 credits Ph.D.
Graduate Program average time to completion is 4.5-5 years.
Please refer to this link for more details on coursework requirements: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/mip-combined-residency-curriculum.pdf
Preliminary Examination for Admission to Candidacy for the Ph.D.
The Doctor of Philosophy student gains admission to candidacy by passing a comprehensive preliminary examination. The preliminary examination consists of preparation of a written research proposal and an oral exam, which covers the candidate’s entire program of study. The preliminary examination is to be administered by the end of the 5th semester in the graduate program (Fall semester of the third year). D. Graduate Seminars and Presentations All graduate students are required to register for graduate seminar (MIP792A) and regularly attend weekly seminars during the fall and spring semesters. Graduate students are required to present a seminar every other academic year during their graduate studies, beginning in the second year. Final defense seminars may be presented as part of the weekly graduate seminar series or separately.
MIP Graduate Curriculum - PhD Credit Requirements
- 72 credits total
- 24 credits at CSU (30 credits can be applied from MS or DVM degree)
- 21 credits must be 500+ (beyond MS/DVM if applicable)
- 16 credits must be regular courses*
- 13 credits must be regular courses* with MIP prefix
*Regular course work is defined as courses other than seminars, topics, independent or group studies, research credits, thesis/dissertation credits, and supervised college teaching.
- Research Teams
In order to facilitate research conducted by our faculty, development of mentoring skills of our graduate students and research experience for our undergraduate students, MIP has formally implemented a strategy to foster research teams. Research teams are composed of faculty principal investigators (PIs), their students working toward a PhD or MS degree or postdoctoral fellows acting as research mentors (RMs), and students seeking research experience as research trainees (RTs). While we believe that these research teams will greatly advance and enhance our research, mentoring and training opportunities and strongly encourage participation, research team development is completely voluntary.
The research team will be led by a faculty mentor who is acting as a PI on a research project in their laboratory. Research mentors will coordinate with their PIs to identify interested and motivated undergraduate students to join their research team. With consent from their faculty mentor, graduate student RMs can enroll to receive transcripted credit towards their graduate degree for mentoring RTs. Graduate student RMs can also apply these credits toward fulfilling the requirements for the TILT Graduate Teaching Certificate Program.
Research mentors are expected to enroll in a mentoring class for formal instruction on how to mentor a RT. MIP offers MIP780A3- Research Teams Mentoring, a course that teaches graduate students techniques to effectively mentor in a research laboratory setting. It is also expected that research mentors will mentor their RT(s) at least 9 hours per week, including mentor them to present their work to the broader community, such as Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity, Multicultural Undergraduate Research, Leadership and Art Symposium, Science on Tap, or some similar opportunity.
- Teaching
Students admitted into the MIP graduate program may be assigned teaching duties in the undergraduate courses offered by MIP. These students are required to attend the GTA Workshop presented by the Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) and the Graduate School, which is held the week before Fall semester classes begin. Colorado State University offers a Graduate Teaching Certificate Program, which you can work towards during your teaching assistantship in the first year of your M.S. or Ph.D. This is a great opportunity to get credit for your teaching hours and to put together a teaching portfolio with help from experienced faculty.
- Laboratory Rotations
Students admitted into the MIP graduate program contact faculty members to arrange two laboratory rotations during the first semester; each rotation is approximately 8 weeks in length. Students have an opportunity to perform a 3rd or 4th rotation during their second semester, as needed. The Associate Department Head for Graduate Education will assist students in the selection of research laboratories. By the end of the first two semesters of study, a permanent faculty research advisor is identified and approved by the GEC and Department Head.
For more information about pursuing a PhD in Pathology at CSU, please visit:
https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/degree-programs/graduate/ph-d-in-pathology/
Staff
- Dr. Zaid Abdo, Ph.D. Link Associate Department Head for Graduate Education Professor Understand the structure, interactions and functions of the microbial community with their host; antibiotic resistance in bacteria
- Josh Daniels, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.M. Link Associate Professor Microbiology Veterinary Residency Coordinator
- Lon Kendall, D.V.M., D.A.C.L.A.M. Link Director, Lab Animal Resources Joint Professor Comparative Medicine Veterinary Residency Coordinator Host immune response, diagnostics, laboratory animal pathology.
- Amy MacNeill, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.P. Link Associate Professor Clinical Pathology Veterinary Residency Coordinator Research interests include isolation and characterization of canine and feline tumor cells and the study of poxviruses as anticancer agents.
- Allison Vilander, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.P. Link Assistant Professor Anatomic Pathology Veterinary Residency Coordinator Probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus as an oral vaccine vector and pre- and probiotic influences on the development of the mucosal immune system.
Links
Disclaimer: This information is provided as general background only, is not specific program policy and is subject to change. Since graduate education is highly individualized you are advised to check with the university program directly for up to date information and requirements.