Multidisciplinary Parasitology & Vector Biology Program
Program Description
Ph.D. Graduate Program in Parasitology and Vector Biology
Parasitology and Vector Biology at Yale University is an interdisciplinary graduate program of training and research in the study of parasites and their effects on their hosts. The faculty shares a commitment to understanding the biology of parasites and their vectors through employing cellular, molecular, genetic, and immunologic approaches. The faculty, primarily in the School of Public Health, consists of scientists in several academic departments at Yale University, including evolutionary biology and ecology, internal medicine, pharmacology, cell biology, and microbial pathogenesis.
The pre–doctoral training program is designed to provide individualized education in modern parasitology and vector biology and to prepare students for independent careers in research and teaching. Course work generally occupies the first two years of study. Each student, together with a faculty advisor, outlines a course of study tailored to the individual’s background and career goals. A program of course work includes Parasitology, as well as complementary courses offered in other programs such as epidemiology, microbial pathogenesis, cell biology, immunology, biochemistry, genetics, ecology, and statistics. The program also sponsors seminars in parasitology. All students participate in three research/laboratory rotations with different faculty members. These research rotations ensure that students quickly become familiar with the variety of research opportunities available in the program. An individualized qualifying exam on topics selected by each student, in consultation with the faculty, is given before the end of the second year. Students then undertake an original research project under the supervision of a thesis advisor. The remaining degree requirements include submission of a dissertation prospectus, completion of a research project, writing of a dissertation and its oral presentation.
Student Group
About 300 graduate students are enrolled in the various programs in the biological sciences at Yale University. Approximately 15 graduate students and 50 post–doctoral fellows are associated with the parasitology program.
Applying
Application forms and information about the graduate program and financial aid can be obtained at Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Students may apply either through the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health or the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)/Microbiology Graduate Program. Completed forms as well as GRE General Test and Subject Test scores must be submitted by December 5th. The TOEFL is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. This requirement is waived only for applicants who will have received a baccalaureate degree, or its foreign equivalent, prior to matriculation at Yale, from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction. If you do not qualify for a waiver but have taken the TOEFL within the last two years you will need to have your TOEFL scores released to us (code 3987). If your scores can no longer be released, you will need to take the test.
Financial Aid
All students admitted to the program receive a stipend, health insurance coverage, and tuition costs. The stipend for trainees is approximately $29,000 in 2008–09.
Cost of Study
Tuition and fees are usually covered by financial aid.
Research Facilities
Faculty members and students have access to a number of special facilities, including a protein and nucleic acid facility for automated DNA sequencing, microarray analyses, oligonucleotide synthesis, and peptide sequencing and synthesis; confocal and electron microscopic facilities; fluorescence–activated cell sorting; and computer facilities. Special laboratory facilities for the biocontainment of infectious agents and for rearing and studying insect vectors are also available. The Kline Science Library and Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library have extensive collections of journals, books, and electronic data resources.
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