Pathobiology (Immunology, Molecular Toxicology, and Infectious Disease)

An interdisciplinary Ph.D. program that focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of disease for students with an interest in cancer biology, immunology, and infectious disease.

The Pathobiology graduate program at Penn State University is a Ph.D. program featuring a wide range of faculty who share a common interest in understanding the molecular basis of human and animal disease. Students in the program can choose from an outstanding selection of laboratories, headed by young and active faculty, for their Ph.D. research.

Research in Pathobiology is particularly strong in the following three areas:

• Immunology - faculty seek to understand the mechanisms by which the body fights disease. Their work covers a range of important research areas, from the role of cell signaling in B and T lymphocytes to that of macrophages in cell‑mediated immunity.
• Toxicology - faculty in toxicology provide exciting oppor­tunities to study the response of cells to toxic compounds and to understand the molecular basis for cancer development.
• Infectious disease - brings together a diverse faculty with a wide range of techniques to bear on viral and bacterial pathogens that cause both human and animal diseases.

Faculty research is well-funded, with external funding coming primarily from the National Institutes of Health, as well as a variety of other sources. Tuition for Pathobiology students, as well as stipends to cover living expenses, are paid using these research funds.

Many of our students and postdoctoral scholars work under the umbrella of the Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Disease (CMIID).

This program provides opportunities to learn from scientists throughout the world who participate in the Bortree seminar series.