Department of Microbiology and Immunology - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport - Overview
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Offers Biomedical Science MS degrees and PhD Degrees in individual disciplines
The School of Graduate Studies at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) offers the only biomedical MS and PhD degrees in northwest Louisiana. A cooperative MS degree with LSU-Shreveport is also available, and a combined MD/PhD degree is available to exceptional students enrolled in the School of Medicine.
These degrees are offered in the five basic science departments in the School of Medicine: the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department; the Cellular Biology and Anatomy Department; the Microbiology and Immunology Department; the Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department; and the Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience Department.
A special biotechnology track is available for PhD students in all departments. A track within the Cellular Biology and Anatomy Department offers an MS degree that is designed to train students who wish to pursue careers as educators of human anatomy. Graduates of these programs have developed careers in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and other related areas.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center's special areas of research strength include the NIH-funded Center for Molecular and Tumor Virology, cancer research, and cardiovascular research. Thesis and dissertation projects in these areas are available through several departments and investigators.
LSUHSC's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology emphasizes research training in molecular biology, molecular genetics, epigenetics, cancer biology, protein chemistry, protein synthesis, protein engineering, enzyme mechanisms, bioinformatics, nucleic acid chemistry, cellular neuroscience, and membrane biochemistry.
The Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy offers courses and research training in basic biological processes related to tissue and organ development and function, cancer biology, neurobiology, and neurovascular coupling.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology offers a program of courses and laboratory research training in molecular and tumor virology, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, immunology, and cancer biology.
The Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology offers research training in cardiovascular and cell physiology, and in the pathophysiology of different diseases.
The Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience emphasizes broad training and multidisciplinary approaches to understand disease mechanisms and treatment strategies encompassing addiction, neurological disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and renal function.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Research Facilities
In addition to the extensive departmental research facilities, the university's Research Core Facility (RCF) provides shared instrumentation for confocal microscopy (including multiphoton confocal), automated cellular imaging, fluorescence microscopy, DNA-array analysis, flow cytometry, laser capture microdissection, mass spectrometry, and real-time PCR.
In addition, the Animal Imaging Facility (part of the RCF) provides microPET/SPECT/CT, and in vivo chemiluminescence and fluorescence imaging capabilities. An AAALAC-accredited animal facility supports the needs for use of animals in research. A Biosafety Level 3 facility is available for research involving hazardous materials.
The library that serves the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center includes small group teaching rooms, teleconferencing facilities, and state-of-the-art computer labs. This library houses a collection of print volumes, offers journals in either print or electronic format, and provides electronic access to databases and books. The Academic Computing Center provides use of mainframe, minicomputer, and microcomputer facilities.
Louisiana State University Graduate Program Financial Aid
The graduate program at LSU offers financial support in the form of stipends, and waiver of tuition fees is available to qualified, full-time PhD students. These stipends are awarded on a competitive basis.
Admission to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Admission to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center graduate program is gained through admission to a departmental program. Requirements include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution with an acceptable GPA, an acceptable score on the GRE, and satisfactory standing at the school most recently attended. A TOEFL score of 550 or better is required of international students.
Acceptable scores for the GRE and the required GPA are defined by individual departments. All departments encourage applicants to come for an interview whenever possible, and an interview may be a requirement for admission.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Campus and Community Amenities
In addition to the School of Graduate Studies, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport also includes the Schools of Medicine and Allied Health Professions, the University Hospital, the E. A. Conway Hospital in Monroe, and the Huey P. Long Hospital in Pineville, Louisiana. The Health Sciences Center and the University Hospital have a student body of about 800 and a full-time faculty of more than 470.
Shreveport is located in northwest Louisiana, where climate and geography combine to offer year-round recreational opportunities. The metropolitan area has a population of about 350,000. Shreveport is also a major center for health and medical services.
Other college campuses in the area include LSU-Shreveport, Centenary College, Southern University, Bossier Parish Community College, and branches of several other universities.
Other attractions for student who attend programs at LSUHSC include the R. W. Norton Art Gallery, the Shreveport Symphony, the Shreveport Opera Company, Barnwell Art and Garden Center, thoroughbred racing (Louisiana Downs), minor-league baseball (Shreveport-Bossier Captains), ice hockey (Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs), Sci-Port, the Multicultural Center of the South, the Southern University Museum of Art, and numerous theater, dance, and music groups.