Student Life

I chose the Microbiology PhD Program at Yale to immerse myself in a community of exceptional, well-connected individuals who are not only driven and curious, but also fun-loving and passionate about science. My primary focus was on exploring the scientific questions that fascinated me through my research, yet I was fortunate to have unparalleled opportunities to delve into my other interests, such as music, writing, and science education — engaging with both the broader Yale community and the local area. There was an uplifting sense of camaraderie among fellow students, all of whom genuinely wanted to see each other succeed. Additionally, the faculty provided a strong support system, encouraging me to chase my intellectual interests at Yale and offering guidance to help me clarify and navigate my future aspirations.

When applying to graduate school, I knew I wanted a warm and welcoming environment from the students, enthusiasm from the professors, and the flexibility of taking a variety of classes that complement my interests in infectious diseases. At Yale, I resoundingly found all three things in abundance. Also, once I had visited New Haven, I was excited to explore what the city had to offer.

One of the main strengths of the Microbiology track is that this is a close-knit community – once I got here I quickly got to know everyone in the program, which made for a supportive and welcoming environment. The curriculum allows students the flexibility to tailor their classwork to their individual interests. Team-taught core classes in the department encourage in-depth analytical discussions of primary literature and help students gain familiarity with Yale’s highly accomplished microbiology faculty and their research interests. This pushes us to improve our critical reading skills while opening our eyes to exciting lab rotation opportunities we may not have previously considered. I am truly impressed by the quality of research and collaboration that takes place here at Yale, and I am eager to see what the next few years will bring

I selected Yale due to the Microbial Pathogenesis department which has a clear record of excellence in bacteriology, virology, and immunology. I am continually excited to learn about the variety of research being conducted at Yale on both the host and pathogen side, and love learning from the wealth of knowledge contained by the trainees and faculty here. Another strength of the program here is the flexibility of curriculum, that allows students to focus on taking the classes that will truly benefit their research. One of my primary reasons for choosing Yale-Microbial Pathogenesis was the other graduate students. I’ve found the graduate students here to be incredibly kind and supportive, and they create a very collegial and fun community in which to do research.

One of the main reasons I joined the Microbiology PhD Program was because of the friendly and welcoming community between the PhD students when I was interviewing. They all seemed to have appropriate time to focus on their research and their other interests, were open about their level of interactions with professors, and were very helpful in identifying great labs to rotate in. This collaborative scientific environment combined with a flexible schedule and course options were all crucial for my development as a scientist.

I knew that I wanted to work in a virology lab when applying to different graduate schools, and I wanted to go to a program where I had more than just a couple of labs that sounded interesting. I ended up choosing Yale because it had the most virology labs that I was interested in joining. I also had great interactions with current students plus the collaborative environment at Yale made it the right decision for me.

One of the main aspects that drew me into the Microbiology PhD Program was the friendly and supportive community found among students. The track’s curriculum allows students to be flexible and explore classwork unique to each student’s interests. The dynamic range and appointments at Yale allow for collaboration and opportunities for interdisciplinary training. The intersectionality of campuses, facilities, and cores allows its students to pursue their curiosities and research goals. I am very grateful for the opportunities and training I have acquired throughout my years at Yale, and I look forward to what’s to come!

Three factors guided my decision to join the Microbiology program at Yale for my PhD. One was the number of faculty doing research and using techniques that were exciting and interesting for me. Second was the flexible structure of the curriculum that allowed me to tailor my classes to best support my research interests. Most important in my decision was meeting the current students when I visited campus. The graduate students in the department were welcoming, intellectually curious and creative, valued a healthy work-life balance, and exhibited a supportive environment for new and current students. Beyond the Microbiology program, Yale has many student organizations, such as the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, that enrich my training and allow me to explore new interests.

I chose Yale’s Microbiology PhD program for two main reasons: the breadth of research and the fellow students. My intellectual aspirations did not extend very far beyond a desire to study, “bacteria and how they work” when I first arrived. From the first series of faculty flash-talks and lectures in “Biology of Bacterial Pathogens,” I was immediately struck by the diversity of microbiology research happening both at Yale and in the field at large. I took advantage of this opportunity and chose to do my laboratory rotations in three groups with disparate focuses — asymmetrical cell division, mechanisms of gastrointestinal pathogenesis, and phenotypic heterogeneity in chemotaxis. The labs were even located on three separate Yale campuses! This experience helped me refine my own professional interests and begin to see both connections and distinguishing features of research groups in the Microbiology program. Even from the interview, I could tell that students here liked each other — and what’s more — that they supported each other in tangible ways. There is a culture here of students helping each other with fellowships, suggesting new experimental ideas, sharing advice, and good-naturedly commiserating when experiments go awry. I can honestly say that my professional network has grown exponentially (no pun intended) by interacting with other trainees at Yale.