Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Science – Combined Clinical Microbiology Residency

Degree Description:

The program’s research and training programs are focused in the immunology, epidemiology and host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level of bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections of animals and humans. The academic research environment is enriched by integration of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, the School of Molecular Biosciences, the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health (http://globalhealth.wsu.edu/), the Washington State University Animal Health Research Center and the USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit. Dissertation research is carried out under the direction of a highly collaborative research faculty internationally recognized for infectious disease research and who are experienced in mentoring trainees within state-of-the-art laboratories funded by federal agencies including NIH, NSF, USAID, and USDA, non-profit research foundations such as The Wellcome Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other federal, state, regional, and private institutions and organizations.

The residency training occurs within the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), a full service veterinary diagnostic laboratory staffed by faculty of the Departments of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Veterinary Clinical Sciences. WADDL has 3 primary facilities, a primary full service laboratory in Pullman, an Aquatic Health laboratory in Pullman and an Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory branch in Puyallup. The laboratories are accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), WADDL is one of 12 founding members of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network , and one of the 9 veterinary diagnostic laboratories that serve as a reference lab in the Laboratory Response Network for Bioterrorism. Specialized sections in aquaculture, bacteriology, molecular diagnostics, parasitology, serology, and virology ensures that residents develop a strong background in all aspects of clinical microbiology, including detection and diagnosis of emerging and zoonotic pathogens. Additional information about WADDL is available at https://waddl.vetmed.wsu.edu/

Training occurs under the direction of ACVM-certified microbiologists and is enriched by faculty with expertise in infectious diseases, including zoonotic agents and emerging pathogens. The rich and diverse case load provides direct experiential learning and is supported by specialized infectious diseases seminars.

Overview of the Graduate Program: Training is tailored to the individual’s background and career goals, with the proviso that a strong basic sciences foundation is indispensable in preparation for disease research. Core knowledge is advanced through regularly scheduled research seminars, special research seminar series, and through directed readings with the Graduate faculty. Mentored laboratory research is the most critical part of the training and the strength of our program. This is the primary mechanism by which the philosophy of research is imparted to new scientists. Together the major professor and graduate student trainee develop a directed course of research. Throughout the training period, all graduate students attend weekly research seminars where faculty and trainees present recent results. The goal of trainee participation in these seminars is exposure to critical analysis of data, experimental design and discussion of research significance. Trainees are expected to conduct original research leading to a significant contribution to knowledge in the trainee’s area of emphasis and culminating in publication in leading international scientific journals. This publication is required for and constitutes the PhD dissertation. The final PhD examination is preceded by a public presentation of the research, attended by the faculty, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows, followed by an oral examination.