Microbiology and Immunology Program

The Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program at BMI is committed to the training of Ph.D and M.Sc. students. Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees are offered through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The program has close ties with hospitals and research centers across Ottawa to favor multidisciplinary research. Our aim is to create a strong academic environment to foster the career development of graduate students.

The program includes several major fields of scientific endeavor: microbial physiology and genetics, molecular biology of viruses, stem cell biology, and cellular and molecular immunology. These research fields involve studies on bacteria, virus, immune cells, stem cells and cancer cells with an emphasis on cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, system biology, pathogenesis and emerging pathogens.

Director
Dr. Andrew Makrigiannis
Tel: (613) 562-5800 * 6706
Fax: (613) 562-5452
E-Mail: amakrigi@uottawa.ca

Academic Administration Officer
Fay Draper
Tel: (613) 562-5800 * 8164
Fax: (613) 562-5365
E-mail: fdraper@uottawa.ca

Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Studies Committee:
Dr. Andrew Makrigiannis, Director; Dr. Sean Li (Health Canada); Dr. Thien-Fah Mah; Dr. Lakshmi Krishnan (NRC); Dr. Lisheng Wang (BMI), Kanishka Mohib, students’ representative.

Members of Microbiology and Immunology Program

General Information

The Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Microbiology and Immunology.

Admission

Apply online

For admission to graduate work in Microbiology and Immunology, students must comply with the general regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. For direct admission to the Master's program, all candidates must have a recognized B.Sc. Honours degree or equivalent in Microbiology, Biology, or Biochemistry with a high second class "B+" standing. For example, the ideal applicant will have completed a program similar to the Honours BSc with Specialization in Biochemistry with Option in Microbiology and Immunology (http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/info/regist/calendars/programs/1079.html). Applicants must also have successfully completed upper year courses in two of the following three disciplines: bacteriology, virology, and immunology. Applicants who have not completed these (and possibly other preparatory courses) in a Canadian university may be required to complete them before entry into the graduate program.

Financial Support

Program requirements for MSc in Microbiology and Immunology

The following requirements must be met:

Successful completion of the graduate course MIC5100;
Successful completion of an additional 3-credit MIC graduate course
Completion of the seminar course (MIC5366), which involves the presentation of a seminar and regular attendance at the seminars presented by the Department
Presentation and defense of a thesis (MIC7999) based on original research carried out under the direct supervision of a faculty member of the Department

Note: The Department may require students to take additional courses, depending on their backgrounds.

The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of three sessions (one year) of full-time research under the direct supervision of an approved member of the Microbiology and Immunology program.

Program requirements for PhD Microbiology and Immunology

The following requirements must be met:

Six credits of MIC graduate courses including at least 3 credits at the 8000-level, approved by the Department;
Enrollment in the seminar course MIC8366, which involves the presentation of a seminar and regular attendance at the departmental seminars;
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination (MIC9998);
Presentation of a pre-thesis seminar (MIC9997) in the last two terms preceding the submission of the PhD thesis;
Presentation and defense of a thesis (MIC9999) based on original research carried out under the direct supervision of a research faculty member in the Department.

Note: The Department may require students to take additional courses, depending on their backgrounds.

Courses and Important Dates 2011-2012 Microbiology and Immunology

Not all of the following courses are necessarily given each year.

MIC5100 – HOST/PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS AND MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(not for credit for Ph.D. students) This course will examine current issues in microbiology/immunology. Topics to be chosen to allow discussion across the broad areas of virology, immunology and bacteriology. Within each of the modules, the focus will be on host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level, how microorganisms utilize, modify or disrupt host cell functions, including immune cell functions and immune responses, to establish infection and cause diseases, or on immunological diseases which may have an infectious component. Prerequisite: At least one undergraduate course in microbiology and /or immunology and one course in molecular biology, or permission of the course coordinator.

MIC 8122 Advanced Topics in Immunology (3 cr.)
Focus on cellular immunology, including thymocyte maturation, induction and regulation of cellular responses, immune responses to pathogens, immunological memory, tolerance. Student assessments to be conducted by two methods: Weekly assessment of student presentations and participation in class discussions; assessment of take-home assignments such as completion of a research grant on a topic covered in the course. To be offered alternate years subject to sufficient demand. Prerequisite: MIC 4125 or equivalent.

MIC 8124 / BCH 8109 Advanced Topics in Cell Death (3 cr.)
Molecular mechanisms of cell death. Particular attention to be paid to role of aberrant cell death in human disease. Offered yearly if sufficient demand.

MIC 8125 Special Topics in Microbiology and Immunology (3 cr.)
Discussion of current topics in Microbiology and Immunology. Topics to vary from year to year depending on the interest of faculty members offering the course and students. Student assessments to be conducted by two methods: Weekly assessment of student presentations and participation in class discussions; assessment of take-home assignments such as completion of a research grant on a topic covered in the course.
Prerequisite: permission of the course coordinator.

MIC 8126 Immunochemistry (3 cr.)
Focus is on antigen structure of protein and carbohydrate antigens, receptor structure of B cells and T cells, structure of MHC molecules, accessory molecules and cytokine receptors and cell signaling pathways induced by the antigen and cytokine receptors. Student assessments to be conducted by two methods: Weekly assessment of student presentations and participation in class discussions; assessment of take-home assignments such as completion of a research grant on a topic covered in the course. To be offered alternate years subject to sufficient demand.
Prerequisite: MIC 4125 or equivalent.

MIC 8236 Advanced Topics in Virology (3 cr.)
An in-depth presentation of current topics in virological research. Topics will vary from year to year. To be offered in alternate years subject to sufficient demand.
Prerequisite: MIC 4126 or equivalent.

MIC 8238 Advanced Topics in Bacteriology - Mechanisms of Pathogenesis (3 cr.)
Recent advances and current topics in selected areas of bacteriology with emphasis on mechanisms of pathogenesis. Students present and discuss journal articles. Offered in alternate years subject to sufficient demand.
Prerequisite: MIC 4124 or equivalent.

MIC 8401 Advanced Topics in Bacterial Genetics (3 cr.)
Recent advances and current topics in selected areas of bacteriology; focus on microbial genetic and genomic methods, how and why they were developed, how they work, and how we analyze and use genomes to study bacterial pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions. Offered in alternate years subject to sufficient demand.
Prerequisite: MIC 4124 or equivalent.

MIC 8500 Special Topics in Health-Related Environmental Microbiology (3 cr.)
Microbial genetic and genomic methods; origin, purpose and functioning. Analysis and use of genomes to study bacterial pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions.
Prerequisite : MIC 4100 or equivalent.

MIC 8700 Biology and Pathogenesis of HIV Infection (3 cr.)
Biology and pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Genetics, replication, structure, regulation of gene expression, immunopathogenesis, antiviral therapy and vaccine development. Offered in alternate years subject to sufficient demand.
Prerequisite: BCH 3170 or equivalent and permission of instructor.

MIC 5366 Seminars I (3 cr.)
Every MSc student will be required to attend the weekly academic unit seminars. Compulsory for all graduate students.

MIC 8366 Seminars I (3 cr.)
Every PhD student will be required to attend the weekly academic unit seminars. Compulsory for all graduate students.

MIC 7999 M.Sc. Thesis

MIC 7999 Thèse de maitrise

MIC 9997 Research Seminars
For students doing research leading to the PhD. A seminar based on the student's original results, to be presented during the last two academic sessions prior to submission of the PhD thesis.

MIC 9997 Séminaire de recherche
À l'intention des étudiants faisant de la recherche en vue de l'obtention du doctorat. Un séminaire, fondé sur les résultats originaux de leur recherche, doit être présenté par les étudiants au cours de l'avant-dernière ou de la dernière session d'inscription précédant la soumission de la thèse de doctorat.

MIC 9998 Comprehensive Examination (Ph.D.) - Examen de synthèse (Doctorat)

MIC 9999 Ph.D. Thesis - Thèse de doctorat

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For information regarding this graduate page, please contact Fay Draper