Virology

WELCOME from the Virology Program Head:

It is an exciting time to study virology! New viruses, such as avian influenza, have emerged around the world, the AIDS epidemic continues to sweep across sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. New vaccines for HIV, smallpox, avian influenza and genital herpes are direly needed. New antivirals for Denque, Hepatitis C and HIV are also desperately needed. Researchers at Harvard University are working on all of these biomedical problems as well as conducting basic research that is defining new molecular structures of viruses and virus-encoded enzymes, new mechanisms within cells for molecular and organelle trafficking and function, and new mechanisms that control cell growth. Harvard researchers are among the world leaders in the design and testing of AIDS, genital herpes, and small pox vaccines. The Harvard Program in Virology provides extraordinary opportunities to conduct graduate study for the Ph.D. degree in these exciting areas of biomedical science. We invite you to apply for graduate study for the 2009-2010 academic year Admissions.

Opportunities for postdoctoral research are also available within the laboratories of the Program faculty. For postdoctoral research, we invite you to apply directly to the individual laboratories. View faculty research by Name or by Field of Study.

The program is a joint effort of 55 faculty from throughout Harvard University. Specific research areas include: the molecular genetics, molecular biology and molecular pathogenesis of latent, persistent, or cytolytic virus infections, the characterization of virus-receptor interactions and the mechanisms of cell entry, structural studies of viruses and viral proteins, mechanisms of cell growth control, transformation, signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation, the use of viruses vectors for heterologous gene expression and for gene therapy, the interaction of viruses with innate immunity, the pathogenesis of viral infection and rational antiviral drug design. View faculty research by Name or by Field of Study

The Ph.D. Program in Virology was formed in 1983 and is conducted under the auspices of the Division of Medical Sciences (DMS), which is part of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). Ph.D. degrees are awarded through the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University (HU). The Program currently has a total of 45 students. The relatively small size of the Virology graduate program and faculty make this program ideally attractive for students interested in collegial student-student and student-faculty interactions. First year students meet weekly with more senior students and faculty at the Virology Program student journal club, research seminars and luncheon discussion groups.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the Program or questions on how to apply.

With best wishes,

David Knipe
Head, Harvard Program in Virology
email: david_knipe@hms.harvard.edu

For more information about this website, please contact:

Kathleen McDonald
Administrator, Harvard Program in Virology

email: kmcdonald@hms.harvard.edu