Students in the Medical Scientist Training Program

Stony Brook University medical students who are in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) are encouraged to explore the biomedical research opportunities within the Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program and apply for admission to the Program. The curriculum is modified for MSTP students in recognition of the preclinical coursework that they complete in the first two years of medical school and it allows these students to satisfy the requirements for the Ph.D. in a timely manner.


First Year

Fall Semester

HBM 599 Graduate Research in Microbiology and Immunology
Original investigations under faculty supervision.
HBM 690 Microbiology and Immunology Seminar
A weekly meeting devoted to current work performed by students in the Microbiology and Immunology PhD Program.
HBM 691 Readings in the Microbiology and Immunology Literature
Readings in microbiology and immunology literature including areas of molecular biology and genetics.
HBM 640 Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis (for MSTP students who have joined an infectious disease laboratory)
This course covers the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of a selected group of very important viral and bacterial pathogens. While MI faculty members teach much of the course, a significant portion of the material is presented by invited lecturers who are leaders in their fields. Rather than present a "bug parade," the course focuses on principles of microbial pathogenesis as illustrated by the best understood viral and bacterial pathogens. The course is directed to graduate students, post-doctoral and medical fellows, and advanced medical students who are contemplating careers in infectious disease research.
HBP 533 Immunology (for MSTP students who have joined an infectious disease laboratory)
Principles of immunology for graduate students in the biological sciences, including definition of antigens and antibodies, specificity of the immune response, immunoglobulin structure, the genetics of immunoglobulin synthesis, cellular cooperation in the immune response, hypersensitivity, tolerance immunogenetics.

Spring Semester

HBM 599 Graduate Research in Microbiology and Immunology
Original investigations under faculty supervision.
HBM 690 Microbiology and Immunology Seminar
A weekly meeting devoted to current work performed by students in the Microbiology and Immunology PhD Program.
GRD 500 Integrity in Science
This short course is designed to introduce students to the major issues in the ethics of science and research. Using a combination of readings - written and web-based - videos, lectures, case discussion and other exercises, students will investigate the moral values intrinsic to science and the professional and social values with which scientists must comply. Each class will begin with an introductory lecture followed by discipline-based, small group discussions designed and managed by faculty from the department or program from which the graduate students come.
HBM 522 Biology of Cancer (for MSTP students who have joined a cancer research laboratory)
A course on the biology of cancer with the emphasis on cancer as a disease of man. Lectures address human cancer as seen by the clinician and as basic research relates to human diseases. This course provides students with a link between courses in cell and molecular biology and the application of this basic information to tumor management.
HBM 693 Research Proposal Preparation in Microbiology and Immunology
A course, based upon the microbiology and immunology literature, to instruct students in scientific writing and the preparation of research proposals. The course is organized in three parts. In the first section of the course, students will become familiar with the components of the research proposal and will read and evaluate proposals written by the training faculty. Lectures given by the course co-directors will cover the basics of scientific writing, research proposal preparation and the problems and concerns commonly voiced by reviewers of research proposals. In the second section, students will develop two short proposals in the area of molecular genetics and microbiology that are unrelated to their graduate research. One of these short proposals will be selected for development into a full proposal. In the third section, students will develop and write the full proposal. The students’ skills in proposal preparation will be enhanced by critiquing the short and full proposals presented by other students in the second and third sections of the course.

Second Year and On (before advancement to candidacy)

HBM 599 Graduate Research in Microbiology and Immunology
Original investigations under faculty supervision.
HBM 690 Microbiology and Immunology Seminar
A weekly meeting devoted to current work performed by students in the Microbiology and Immunology PhD Program.
HBM 695 Advanced Readings in Microbiology and Immunology (elective)
A seminar in changing topics in microbiology and immunology such as virology, bacteriology, vaccines, drug discovery, mycology and parasitology.

Second Year and On (after advancement to candidacy)

HBM 699 Dissertation Research in Microbiology and Immunology
For the student who has advanced to candidacy. Original research will be under the supervision of the dissertation advisor and advisory committee.
HBM 690 Microbiology and Immunology Seminar
A weekly meeting devoted to current work performed by students in the Microbiology and Immunology PhD Program.
HPM 695 Advanced Readings in Microbiology and Immunology (elective)
A seminar in changing topics in microbiology and Immunology such as virology, bacteriology, cancer biology, vaccines, drug discovery, mycology and parasitology.

MSTP Alumni

Bhagwat, Anand (Ph.D. 2016; M.D. 2018)
Chabra, Inderjit (Ph.D. 2006, M.D. 2008)
DeJesus, Nidia (Ph.D., 2007; M.D. 2009)
Iafrate, Anthony John (Ph.D. 1998; M.D. 2000)
Kaplan, Leonard (Ph.D. 1986, M.D. 1988)
Lee, Benjamin (Ph.D. 1997, M.D. 1999)
Motley, Michael (Ph.D., 2020, M.D. 2022)
Nomakuchi, Tomoki (Ph.D. 2016; M.D. 2018)
Parsons, Ramon (Ph.D. 1992, M.D. 1994)
Patel, Hiren (Ph.D. 2016; M.D. 2018)
Psonis, John (Ph.D. 2019; M.D. 2021)
Werneburg, Glenn (Ph.D. 2016, M.D. 2018s)

Current MSTP Students

Sakarin, Isabel
Xie, Danielle
Yoo, Kyungyoon