Microbiology Multidisciplinary Training Area

The Microbiology Multidisciplinary Training Area is ideal for those seeking a PhD or MD-PhD in the field of virology and pursuing a career in scientific discovery. Our mission throughout the program is to develop graduate students into independent scientists specializing in virology.

This program focuses on understanding how viral pathogens such as influenza, HIV, hepatitis C, herpesviruses, poxviruses—as well as emerging viruses like West Nile, Zika, Dengue, Ebola, and coronaviruses—infect and cause disease in humans. In addition to viral pathogenesis, our students explore innovative antiviral strategies and vaccine development, as well as cell biology, physiology, and immunology.

The curriculum for the Microbiology Multidisciplinary Training Area emphasizes the scientific method, data interpretation, result presentation, research ethics, and career development. The Department is committed to fostering personalized learning for all students, who can expect to work with researchers specializing in a range of areas. These areas include antiviral and viral antagonism, host genetics/epigenetics of infectious diseases, innate and adaptive immunity, development of novel model systems, viral engineering and tool generation, vaccine and antiviral development, and viral entry.

Applicants interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the field of virology are encouraged to apply to the Icahn School’s PhD in Biomedical Sciences Program.

The Mechanisms of Virus-Host Interactions T32 Training Grant

The Mechanisms of Virus-Host Interactions T32 Training Grant is a long-standing multidisciplinary program that prepares pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in the broad discipline of virology and the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

In this program, we educate trainees in the principles and experimental approaches required for independent scientific investigations in the molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions, including virus entry, replication, egress, and the delineation of cellular and immune responses to viral infections. Participants are also taught to critically analyze data, and to effectively communicate their scientific findings through presentations. They troubleshoot problems logically and utilize hypothesis-based thinking to delineate scientific questions.

Each year, the Symposium on Virus-Host Interactions represents the pinnacle of the Mechanisms of Virus-Host Interactions T32 Training Grant. This full-day event includes a keynote speaker followed by pre- and post-doctoral trainees' oral and poster presentations at the New York Academy of Medicine. The Symposium provides an excellent venue for pre- and post-doctoral trainees to network, and has been key to exposing trainees to new technologies and diverse scientific approaches while enhancing their presentation and communication skills.

With the continued health burden of virus-associated diseases, the Department remains committed to investing in the training and retention of virologists of diverse backgrounds and talents.

Research Focus

Faculty associated with the Mechanisms of Virus-Host Interactions T32 Training Grant are members of several institutes, centers, and initiatives throughout the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. These internal partners provide trainees with exposure to many areas of research and enrich their overall training. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount’s CoRE facilities additionally deliver critical research resources for our participants and mentors.

Institutes, centers, and initiatives affiliated with the Mechanisms of Virus-Host Interactions T32 Training Grant include:

• The Department of Medicine, which focuses on revolutionizing the practice of medicine, identifying new approaches to treatments, and providing insights that improve our understanding of human diseases.
• The Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, which explores newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that threaten world health by uniting clinical and basic science investigators with a common interest in creating therapeutics.
• The Personalized Virology Initiative, which focuses on molecular and immunological studies of emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens such as Dengue virus, West Nile, Chikungunya, Zika virus, Hantavirus, Yellow Fever virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.
  
• The Center for Vaccine Research and Pandemic Preparedness, which integrates basic and translational research to prevent, treat, and cure viral infections. The Center aims to amplify the translational impact by leveraging research breakthroughs toward the development of new vaccines or therapeutics.
• The Sinai-Emory Multi-Institutional Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center, which is comprised of a unique team of experts from disciplines encompassing vaccinology, virology, immunology, biochemistry, structural biology, pathology, veterinary medicine, virus evolution, bioinformatics, and epidemiology. The Collaborative focuses on developing improved seasonal and universal vaccines that induce long lasting protection against influenza.
• The Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute, which explores and dissects disease pathways to enhance clinical translation of basic research in immune mediated diseases.