The Department of Microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai focuses on exploring virus-host relationships and disease pathogenesis, aiming to bolster global readiness against current and emerging viral challenges. Equipped with exceptional, full-service facilities, our research environment brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists who approach this goal from many perspectives. We also actively recruit graduate students, Master of Science in Biomedical Science, PhD, and MD-PhD students, as well as postdoctoral fellows and faculty members, who share our passion for designing vaccines and treatments.

Researchers within the Department have made seminal discoveries that have contributed to the creation of novel vaccines and treatments and have facilitated diagnostics for epidemics and pandemics. Our expertise ranges from respiratory viruses, such as influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, and Nipah virus, to viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus, human cytomegalovirus, hepatitis c virus, and Ebola virus.

We also understand that pathogens affecting tropical and subtropical areas of the world are rapidly expanding due to climate change. As such, the Department is increasingly focused on mosquito-transmitted viruses, such as West Nile, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, and Dengue. We are interested in recruiting faculty with expertise in arthropod borne viruses (arboviruses), and are actively expanding our focus on threads related to climate change and other factors in the context of One Health.

Our enthusiasm for educating the next generation of leaders in microbiology is evident at every level. With more than 35 graduate students working toward their MS, PhD, and MD-PhD degrees, and over 40 postdoctoral fellows, the Department promotes an inclusive learning atmosphere that fosters intra- and interdepartmental collaborations. Our students regularly partner with the Department of Medicine; the Division of Infectious Diseases; the Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute; the Center for Inborn Errors of Immunity; and the Departments of Pathology, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Oncological Sciences, Pharmacological Sciences, and Neuroscience.

As Chair of the Department of Microbiology, I invite you to connect with us and discover our transformative training and pathogen research, aimed at helping solve global health challenges.

Ana Fernandez-Sesma, PhD
Mount Sinai Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Chair, Department of Microbiology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai