Education & Training

Innovation and Involvement

Our center prioritizes education and training using the latest, cutting-edge technology.

We offer progressive training and coursework leading to master's, doctoral or combined MD/PhD degrees through the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. Laboratory research and coursework will prepare the individual for a consummate career in biomedical research and academia.

Staphylococcal Biology Training Program

This program provides pre-doctoral trainees with the mechanistic basis of staphylococcal gene regulation, metabolism and disease for both host and bacterial factors; the tools to apply paradigms learned in the study of staphylococcal disease to other bacterial pathogens; dedicated training by infectious disease physicians and clinical microbiologists to gain an understanding of disease processes of other pathogens in addition to applied or translational research in a basic science setting; and the appropriate experience to successfully secure competitive post-doctoral fellowships.

Pre-doctoral students also are exposed to the vast array of other infectious diseases through defined interactions with clinical microbiologists and infectious disease physicians. We use our collective expertise in Staphylococcal disease as a paradigm to foster training opportunities and expand students' knowledge base to other pathogens during their studies in clinical microbiology and infectious disease.

Through an international consortium of microbiology research laboratories, graduate students gain exposure to microbiology expertise around the world.

Postdoctoral Training

Our center's investigators are committed to providing postdoctoral fellows with a highly collaborative and cooperative environment to pursue hypothesis-driven research related to all aspects of infection caused by S. aureus and S. epidermidis, including:

• Physiology and virulence of these pathogens.
• Mechanisms of biofilm formation.
• Host-immune response to infection.

Fellows are encouraged to develop and conduct independent research projects using state-of-the-art technology available through the center. Ultimately, the training received will prepare these individuals for careers in academic, industrial or clinical research settings. 

Fellowship Research Opportunities

We offer opportunities for medical resident and fellowship research training, including for those in infectious disease, orthopedic surgery, pathology and clinical microbiology.

The research training includes bacterial pathogenesis, immunology of bacterial infections, bacterial genetics and the study of antibiotic resistance.