For more complete information and to apply to the Graduate Program in Immunology, see the department website.
The Graduate Program in Immunology began in 1982 with two students and a handful of faculty. Since then, we have grown to 36 students currently in training and 50 faculty. The faculty research interests span the entire gamut of immunology, from basic mechanisms such as somatic hypermutation and gene rearrangement, molecular mechanisms of antigen processing and presentation, molecular signals for immune cell development and differentiation, to translational research in the fields of cancer vaccines, allergy, infectious disease, immune engineering, autoimmunity, and transplantation.
We are fortunate to have a number of centers of excellence in basic immunology and cellular engineering, microbial immunology, autoimmunity and cancer immunology. This, combined with world-class facilities in genomics, genetics, proteomics, cell imaging and bioinformatics means almost limitless opportunities for students to do cutting-edge and creative immunology research. It is indeed an exciting time for immunology at Hopkins.
We are able to offer one of the most rigorous and expansive scientific training arenas in the world. The large number of accomplished biomedical scientists, the focus on interdisciplinary training, the availability of state-of-the-art research facilities and a collegial environment gives our students a unique opportunity to develop as the next generation of leaders in Immunology. Recent program graduates have become postdoctoral research fellows in major labs all over the world. Many of our alumni have gone on to significant positions as successful independent researchers at universities, research institutes, government laboratories and biotechnology enterprises. Also, a number have distinguished themselves in public policy, intellectual property and scientific writing. All of our alumni have gone on to fulfilling careers in the biomedical field and for that we are grateful and very proud.
Students accepted into the program will have their tuition, fees, and medical insurance (including dental and vision) paid. Students will receive a competitive stipend to cover living expenses. Support for the Graduate Program in Immunology is derived from government and private sources and individual research grants.
The Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI) is a new endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended eligible institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), community colleges across the country, and regional institutions in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for undergraduate study, are eligible to apply.
Candidates for admission should hold a bachelor’s degree or higher with training in one of the following, or related, areas:
Courses in Immunology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology are recommended, but not required.
Transcripts of all college and university study (undergraduate and graduate) are required and must be uploaded to the application. If you have attended more than one institution, transcripts from each institution must be received for your application to be considered complete. International transcripts must be officially translated into English. If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s degree, upload a copy of your current transcript, showing in-progress courses. Official transcripts for in-progress courses can be uploaded to the online application in the Transcript Upload section when they become available, after you submit. Applicants should also upload a list of any current courses, and courses that will be taken before beginning graduate study that do not appear on their transcripts. Do not mail documents to the Office of Graduate Student Affairs unless requested or admitted.
If admitted, an official transcript from each institution you have attended showing proof of graduation and degree conferral will be required prior to matriculation. To be considered official, final transcripts must be sent either:
1) by mail, directly from the institution in a sealed envelope:
Office of Graduate Biomedical Education
1830 E. Monument Street, Suite 620
Baltimore, MD 21287
2) electronically. If your institution is sending an E-transcript, please make sure they are sending the notifications to: Gradadmissions@jhmi.edu
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted through the online recommendation system. Applicants will need to obtain the name and email address of the recommenders when completing the application. Please request your letters of recommendation from faculty members or other professionals who are acquainted with you and your academic work. These letters should comment on your aptitude and promise for independent research.
As of October 2019, The Graduate Program in Immunology will no longer require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission.
All levels of graduate education at Johns Hopkins require proficiency in the English language. It is highly recommended that applicants for whom English is a second language take the TOEFL/IELTS to demonstrate this proficiency. In general, foreign students admitted to the Graduate Program in Immunology have achieved TOEFL scores over 550.
You are exempt from having to take the TOEFL/IELTS if you hold a degree from a U.S. University/College or have attended a minimum of 2 years at an English speaking University/College. TOEFL/IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from expected entrance date.
Please use the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine code (5316) when submitting scores.
Application fee is $125.
All Johns Hopkins University graduate students who are accepted will be subject to criminal background investigations. Generally, all offers of admission to School of Medicine degree programs will be conditioned on satisfactory criminal background investigations.
In the first year of study, each student takes a core set of courses emphasizing basic molecular principles and how they apply to understanding immune function.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ME.110.728 | Cell Structure and Dynamics | 1.5 |
| ME.250.703 | Graduate Immunology | 4 |
| ME.250.709 | Immunology Course Discussion 1 | 1 |
| ME.250.804 | Introduction to Immunology Research (Parts I and II) 1 | 1 |
| ME.260.709 | Molecular Biology and Genomics | 1.5 |
| ME.260.802 | Molecular Biology and Genetics Research (Immunology Special Studies in Research Course) 2 | 1-18 |
| ME.360.728 | Pathways and Regulation | 2 |
| ME.250.721 | Fundamentals of Immune Recognition | 1 |
| ME.100.716 | Analysis of Macromolecules | 2 |
| ME.110.733 | Principles of Genetics | 2 |
| ME.800.811 | Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| ME.800.805 | BCMB Quantitative Biology Lab | 1 |
Course runs the whole academic year- student registers for it in Fall and Spring
Students are required to register for this course in Fall, Spring, and Summer of each year.
During the first year, each student engages in three short-term research projects. Each project lasts approximately three months and is carried out under the direction of a faculty member. Additional rotations may be scheduled based on student interest. The projects are designed to give you an introduction to experimental research and an opportunity to learn more about specific areas of immunology prior to choosing a thesis laboratory and project. After completing the research rotations and giving rotation presentations, the student will select a mentor for their thesis project.
Students are required to take five elective courses prior to graduation. Students can begin taking courses in the spring of their first year, but most students opt to start in their second year. There are many available advanced level graduate courses offered in the School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. The Immunology Program specifically offers several courses, including those listed in the table below. Many of these courses utilize small group discussions, in which students read and discuss current and seminal research papers on the selected topic.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ME.250.723 | Immunometabolism | 1 |
| ME.250.726 | Multidisciplinary Immunology | 1 |
| ME.250.724 | Translational Immunology | 1 |
| ME.250.714 | HIV Biology | 1 |
Students must fulfill an ethics requirement by (1) completing the Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research course in year 1 (listed above), and (2) starting in year 5, participating in two Research Integrity Colloquia each year.
In the fall of the second year of study, trainees will take the Graduate Board Oral Examination. By the time the students take this exam, they will have successfully completed all required coursework. This examination serves as a means of evaluating the student’s cumulative knowledge in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, biophysics, genetics, and immunology and their preparedness to carry out research for the Ph.D. degree. The exam may cover the student's proposed dissertation topic, but this is not the focus of the exam.
Students must complete an Annual Academic Progress and Professional Development Plan each year. Each student and their thesis advisor separately complete a form that includes questions on the student’s research progress, professional development, mentoring relationship, overall lab or research team environment, and an evaluation of the student’s competencies. The student and advisor then meet to discuss their responses, develop an action plan, and outline next steps.
In the spring of the second year of study, students will bring together 4-5 faculty members, including their mentor, to serve as their thesis advisory committee. The purpose of the thesis committee is to help the student move their research forward, provide networking opportunities and career development advice, and to ensure the student successfully completes their degree. At the initial meeting, the student will prepare a written research proposal in the form of an NIH grant.
Students are required to have at least ONE thesis meeting per year but are welcome to have more if desired. At each committee meeting, the student should present their research work, roughly following the format of the written proposal. The discussion can be, and often is, open-ended in nature, and includes professional development. The student should be prepared to discuss:
Upon completion of the thesis research, each student must prepare a formal written thesis, based on the guidelines provided by the Graduate Board of the University. Two readers must find the written thesis acceptable: the thesis advisor and another member of the Thesis Advisory Committee. Students must also present a formal public seminar on their research. The program office will schedule the final seminar. All University guidelines for thesis preparation must be met. More detailed information on this process is available in the program office.
The Graduate Program in Immunology offers a wide range of activities that serve to enrich the training experience. All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the program activities throughout their graduate career, and this is a vital aspect of the training program.
Immunology Journal Club is intended to accustom all graduate students in the Graduate Immunology Program to the habit of reading a diverse range of immunology journal articles early in their graduate careers. Presenters are generally encouraged to present new developments and findings that are less related to their research focus. This allows participants to explore new areas of immunology, familiarize themselves with key investigators in the immunology field, and develop sharp and valid criticism of sound experiments. This is an invaluable opportunity for students to keep abreast of new advances and hone their presentation skills in an informal setting.
The Graduate Program in Immunology holds an annual fall retreat. This is a one-day activity at an off-site location. The day includes poster presentations by all Immunology trainees (3rd year and above), a series of short student oral presentations (4th years), and a keynote address by a distinguished invited speaker. This meeting provides students with an excellent opportunity to improve presentation skills in an informal retreat setting.
Students and faculty of the Graduate Program in Immunology gather regularly on Thursdays for the “Immunology Floor Meeting.” At these meetings, two speakers from different labs give 30-minute presentations on their research in progress. These presentations are designed to allow for the exchange of ideas in an informal atmosphere. The idea is to have people present, as if they were presenting at a lab meeting, so we can exchange ideas at the frontier of our research. These are not to be highly polished presentations but a description of your project as it stands, with people encouraged to talk not just about exciting new results, but also about difficulties, troubleshooting, new techniques being attempted, ideas, etc. The speakers can be graduate students, post-docs, or even faculty members, and we hope the venue will be an excellent opportunity for refining our speaking skills.
Students are highly encouraged to attend the Johns Hopkins Immunology Forum that is scheduled on a semi-regular basis, on Tuesdays at 2 PM. Seminar speakers from various institutions in the United States and abroad give talks and often meet with faculty and trainees. Immunology Neighborhood Talks are given by Hopkins faculty members who share valuable insights about their work with colleagues and students. Collectively these activities provide a powerful training opportunity, allowing trainees to not only hear an interesting seminar, but also to develop the skills and confidence enabling them to enter into scientific dialogue with gifted scientists.
The mission of the Graduate Program in Immunology is to develop outstanding predoctoral training in the field of Immunology. Our goal is to train the next generation of Immunologists who, through active scholarship, will contribute to the generation of new knowledge on the basic mechanisms of the immune system and the application of this knowledge to the understanding and treatment of disease. We accomplish this mission by selecting and supporting qualified trainees, offering relevant didactic coursework and providing a strong research environment with a dedicated faculty who are skilled mentors and accomplished researchers in Immunology.
