The Department of Microbiology and Immunology provides a stimulating environment in which to pursue a graduate or undergraduate research program. Our faculty is internationally recognized for contributions in microbiology, molecular biology and immunology. Students will have the opportunity to experience the most up to date molecular approaches to the study of problems in microbiology and immunology.
The department also has a strong support staff and excellent facilities to backup the research programs:
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The Biological Sciences building (Undergraduate Life Sciences Teaching Laboratories) houses our undergraduate teaching labs and faculty
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Research Labs are located at the Life Sciences Building, Lower Mall Research Station and in the Michael Smith Laboratories.
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Central locations close to the Woodward Biomedical Library and health, life and natural sciences research facilities.
Recent developments in immunology, molecular biology and biotechnology have opened many new possibilities in industry and medicine for the application of microbial-based technologies. Thus the opportunities for qualified students will continue to increase in both universities and industry. The Department has established itself as a leading centre for immunology, recombinant DNA technology and for research into infectious diseases. Another notable research field is applied and environmental microbiology, with the focus mainly on sources of environmental problems and solutions involving microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and algae). Despite their small size, microbes exert a huge influence on all terrestrial and aquatic environments thereby affecting all plants and animals, including humans. As both academic and industrial research opportunities abound in such areas as Biotechnology, Bioremediation, Agriculture, and Food Processing, the career outlook for graduates from the department is excellent.
The atmosphere in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology reflects the success of the individual labs in developing new areas of research. There is excellent rapport between faculty and graduate students and extensive sharing of information and technology between laboratories and students. There are, in addition, many collaborative research projects between groups within the department and with laboratories in other departments at UBC and at other universities. The breadth of research opportunities, the distinguished faculty, and the high quality of the graduate program makes the department a stimulating and challenging place in which to carry out studies in Microbiology and Immunology.