For nearly a century the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology has been a proven training environment for both bench scientists and physician scientists. Today, we continue to recruit and train the best and brightest Ph.D. and M.D. scientists in biomedical research. We are deeply committed to the development of our next generation of scientists and we strive to provide a collaborative, interactive research environment where transformative science is achieved.
The Department integrates the research of disease mechanisms from diverse disciplines. Consequently our faculty support a broad spectrum of research programs ranging from lipid metabolism and neurotoxins to bacterial pathogenesis and cancer. The breadth of our research is matched only by its depth as some of our investigators implement new diagnostic tools in the clinic while others investigate the structural intricacies of host-pathogen interactions. Consequently the department offers the most unique and integrative training environment available in modern medical research.
The department and Vanderbilt as a whole offers exceptional resources to all trainees. These include access to a broad array of expertise and physical resources through the famous Vanderbilt CORES (composed of more than 70 core facilities). In the spirit of Vanderbilt, research in our department is integrated with the numerous research institutes and programs established on campus including the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS), and the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Resources (VICTR). We are physically located in the heart of a compact campus that integrates clinical care and basic research. The department works actively with postdoctoral trainees to gain opportunities for promotion to senior positions and "a bridge to independence"-funding to facilitate their rapid advancement into academic, governmental, and industrial careers.
Beyond the department, our institute and our city are great places to be. Vanderbilt ranks 14th among the top research medical schools. Our medical center is located in Nashville, Tennessee, a city recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best U.S. places for business and careers. The cost of living in Nashville is unusually low for a major city and there is no state income tax. Accordingly, most trainees with children—and the desire to purchase a condo or house—view Nashville as a great place to live and prosper. If you haven’t seen enough, come see for yourself: living in Nashville near the Vanderbilt campus and “Nashville is Music City."
For more information on our postdoctoral training opportunities contact the Postdoctoral Program Director, Dr. Deborah Lannigan.
