The Virginia Tech Interdepartmental Microbiology Program offers training in all areas required for the development of successful scientists.

Research:
During your first semester you will perform research rotations in three laboratories, chosen from a broad range of topic areas. Following those rotations, you will come to a mutual choice with a faculty member to enter their lab and complete your dissertation research. The average time for students to complete the Ph.D. program is 5 years.

Teaching and Presentation skills: 
All graduate students are required to spend at last one semester as a graduate teaching assistant, generally supervising an undergraduate teaching laboratory.

All students have numerous opportunities to develop their presentation skills under non-stressful conditions.   First year students give short 10-minute talks describing their research rotation projects.   More advanced students present seminars describing their research projects or related topics.   Students are expected to participate in lab group meetings and journal clubs to present and discuss the most recent research methods and discoveries.  All this prepares the student to present their research at national and international research conferences.

Coursework:
The plan of study for each student is based on their prior experience and their future interests.  Students are required to complete 18 graded credit hours in advanced coursed (generally 6 courses).  Students will take 2-3 courses each semester of their first year and 1-2 courses each semester in their second year. The remainder of their time is spent in the research labs.  In addition to the courses listed below, each year there are several specialized courses offered that examine the most recent research advances within various fields of study.