Duke University
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Durham, North Carolina
Overview
The diversity at Duke University comprises 8,500 acres of pine forest, Gothic quadrangles, and a prominent Medical Center as well as modern laboratory facilities. The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology was created in 2002 in recognition of the opportunity to pursue graduate education and faculty recruitment in the discipline.
Duke University has a total enrollment of approximately 12,000 full-time students, 5,200 of whom are pursuing graduate or professional degrees. There are currently 41 students in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.
Most students continue training at the postdoctoral level, with eventual careers in college teaching and academic or industrial research. In addition to research universities throughout the country, popular destinations include pharmaceutical and biotech industries and government research organizations.
The Location and Community
Approximately 155,000 people live in Durham, which enjoys proximity to Chapel Hill and Raleigh (homes of the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, respectively). The lifestyle is suburban, but there is ready access to an eclectic mixture of activities ranging from the music clubs in Chapel Hill to sacred music in the Duke Chapel. Research Triangle Park, midway between Durham and Raleigh, draws scientists to a number of large research firms and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology offers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) through the Graduate School. Research and education investigate a wide variety of fundamental problems in genetics and microbiology, with particular focus of interest in microbial pathogenesis, RNA biology, virology, and experimental genetics. Students spend their first year taking courses and doing rotations in different laboratories to explore research opportunities before selecting a faculty adviser. Subsequently, students take an oral preliminary exam and then pursue research full time. As part of its commitment to training young researchers, the program encourages participation in a variety of extra-classroom activities, including departmental research meetings, a departmental retreat, and discussions of topical scientific literature.
Facilities & Resources
The department is housed in modern facilities in the Jones and CARL buildings on the Medical Center campus, adjacent to the other basic science departments. The Center for Genome Technology is part of the department, and it contains modern high-throughput DNA sequencing and microarray technologies. Members of the department have ready access to shared facilities, including those run by the Cancer Center and the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition and fees for academic year are $33,255. This includes registration, health, health insurance, and summer session fees.
Financial Aid:
All applicants for admission are automatically considered for University and departmental fellowships that include a stipend, plus health insurance, fees, and tuition.
Housing/Living Expenses:
A wide variety of housing is available in Durham and nearby Chapel Hill. The atmosphere is suburban, so housing and living costs are generally much lower than those in major metropolitan areas.
How to Apply
Students can apply online or request a paper application from the Graduate School at the Web address listed. General Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are required, and Subject Test scores encouraged. Applications must be postmarked by December 31. Interviews are arranged in January. Matriculation is allowed only in the fall semester.
Who to Contact
Dr. Robin P. Wharton
Director of Graduate Studies
Duke University Medical School
Durham, North Carolina 27710
E-mail: rwharton@duke.edu
Web site home page
Faculty
• Alejandro Aballay, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Bacterial pathogenesis and host resistance; type III secretory systems; innate immunity.
• Hubert Amrein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Molecular mechanisms of sex determination and dosage compensation in Drosophila; olfactory and gustatory sensation.
• Maria Cardenas-Corona, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor. Biology of TOR signalling pathways in S. cerevisiae; mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by chromatin remodelling in response to signal transduction.
• Bryan R. Cullen, Ph.D., James B. Duke Professor. Regulation of HIV-1 replication and gene expression.
• Fred Dietrich, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Application of large-scale sequencing for the comparative analysis of genomes.
• Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco, M.D., Ph.D., Professor. Role of RNA-protein interactions in the regulation of splicing of nuclear precursor mRNAs (pre-mRNAs) and the trans-activation of HIV-1 gene expression.
• Matthias Gromeier, M.D., Assistant Professor. Molecular basis of enteroviral neuropathogenesis; engineering picornaviruses for the treatment of cancer.
• Joseph Heitman, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor. Signal transduction cascades as the targets of toxins and in the regulation of differentiation and virulence in yeast and pathogenic fungi.
• Jack D. Keene, Ph.D., James B. Duke Professor. Cellular and viral RNA metabolism in regulation of gene expression; molecular nature of autoantigenic proteins and autoantibodies; molecular diversity and combinatorial chemistry.
• Elwood A. Linney, Ph.D., Professor. The 3-D imaging of gene expression; environmental biosensing using embryos; investigation of retinoic acid and estrogen signaling pathways during embryonic development of zebra fish.
• Douglas Marchuk, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Molecular genetics of human disease.
• Hiroaki Matsunami, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Molecular mechanisms of chemosensation in mammals.
• John H. McCusker, Ph.D., Associate Professor. S. cerevisiae genetics, fungal pathogenesis, and quantitative genetics using S. cerevisiae as a model.
• Thomas G. Mitchell, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Medical mycology; models of host-fungal dynamics; mechanisms of resistance (e.g., phagocytes) and determinants of pathogenicity (e.g., fungal capsules, antigens, chemotaxins).
• Joseph R. Nevins, Ph.D., James B. Duke Professor and Chair. Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression.
• David J. Pickup, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis; regulation of viral gene expression; viral modification of cytokine responses to infection.
• Raphael Valdivia, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Intracellular membrane trafficking and bacterial pathogenesis.
• Robin P. Wharton, Ph.D., Associate Professor. Mechanisms of pattern formation and size regulation during development of Drosophila; RNA-protein interactions and translational control.