Overview

The four-year doctoral programme in Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases trains the next generation of biomedical scientists in modern techniques of molecular cell biology and equips them with current knowledge on the major pathogens causing disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of PhD training is to produce graduates prepared in creative and independent thinking, sophisticated analytical skills for identifying limitations in existing concepts and methods, and with in-depth theoretical and empirical knowledge in infectious diseases.

The programme seeks to train highly skilled molecular and cell biologists with advanced analytical and scientific competencies for careers in research institutions, bioscience-based industries, quality assurance, academia, and government agencies. It aims to promote research addressing national and global health challenges, including emerging infectious diseases, with applications in health, agriculture, industry, and the environment, while supporting advanced postgraduate training. The programme also seeks to foster collaboration with research institutions and bioscience-based industries through consultancy and advisory services and to promote community engagement and extension services in health, agriculture, industry, and environmental sustainability.

Components of the Programme

Year 1

Semester 1: Core Courses

  • MCBI 701: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and Information Literacy
  • FASC 700: Special Topics in Science
  • FASC 701: Science and Society

Semester 1: Elective Courses

  • MCBI 710: Laboratory Rotation
  • BCMB 701: Advanced Topics in Bioinformatics
  • MCBI 601: Bacterial and Viral Infections
  • BCMB 609: Immune Response Mechanisms

Semester 2: Core Courses

  • FASC 702: Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
  • MCBI 702: Current Vaccine Approaches
  • BCMB 708: Advances in Biomedical and Infectious Diseases Research

Semester 2: Elective

  • MCBI 704: Advances in Drug Discovery and Development
  • FASC 710: Teaching Science at Tertiary Level
  • MCBI 602: Eukaryotic Infections: Protozoan, Helminthic and Fungal
  • MCBI 604: Host and Pathogen Genomics

Year 2

Semester 1

  • MCBI 700: Thesis
  • MCBI 720: Seminar I

Semester 2

  • MCBI 700: Thesis
  • MCBI 730: Seminar II

Year 3

Semester 1

  • MCBI 700: Thesis
  • MCBI 740: Seminar III

Year 4

Semester 1

  • MCBI 700: Thesis
  • MCBI 750: Seminar IV