Graduate training leading to the Ph.D. is available in laboratories of faculty of the department. In addition to formal course work, students participate in a variety of activities that enhance their training and facilitate interaction with other students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty. These include participation in the monthly Departmental Research in Progress meeting; participation in activities organized by the Centers of Microbial Pathogenesis, RNA Biology, Virology, and Experimental Genetics; and attendance at an annual departmental retreat. The program is committed to training young researchers to solve fundamental problems in microbiology and genetics.