Microbiology & Immunology at Penn State College of Medicine
Microbiology
The outstanding faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students of the Microbiology & Immunology Department are known for their major contributions in viral and tumor immunology, viral pathogenesis and molecular and structural virology.
Members of the faculty have attained national and international recognition for their research endeavors. Our faculty are notable for their outstanding records of scientific publications, membership and leadership roles on national scientific review committees and advisory panels, appointments on editorial boards of leading virology and immunology journals, and strong extramural grant funding.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is honored to host the inaugural Tevethia Endowment Speaker, Rafi Ahmed, PhD.
Rafi Ahmed, PhD, director of the Emory Vaccine Center and Member of the National Academy of Sciences, will be the inaugural speaker for the Tevethia Educational Endowment hosted by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Ahmed is internationally recognized for his seminal contributions to our understanding of B and T cell memory to chronic and acute viral infections, such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2, and to mechanisms of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
This event will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in Lecture Room C from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is delighted to announce this year's Finkelstein Memorial Student Research Award recipients, Kashif Shaikh and Juliana Restrepo.
The Finkelstein Memorial Student Research Award, initiated in 1974 in memory of Judy S. Finkelstein, supports research related to the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of immunologic and rheumatologic diseases.
Kashif Shaikh
Shaikh's application, “ZFAND6 is a novel negative regulator of inflammation,” has been selected for funding by the award for supplies and materials to conduct the proposed research.
Juliana Restrepo
Restrepo's application, “Investigating the role of IL1B in mediating B and T cell interactions,” has been selected for funding by the award for supplies and materials to conduct the proposed research.
Association of Faculty & Friends Grant
Shareef Shaneen
On behalf of the Association of Faculty and Friends (AFF), Shaneen will be receiving funding from the AFF 2022/2023 fundraising efforts. It is the responsibility of the AFF Allocation Committee to designate funds in accordance with the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine and the AFF’s mission which is to support and promote medical education, research, clinical care, scholarship and to serve the needs of our community.
Ender's Award
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is honored to announce the recipients of this year's Ender’s Award, Adam Fike and Xupeng Hong.
The Ender's prize is an award presented at commencement by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to graduating PhD candidates who have shown sustained academic excellence throughout their tenure with the department and evidence of outstanding research achievement. A committee of Microbiology and Immunology faculty will consider candidates each year to assess whether any graduating students have reached this special level of excellence. The student or students so honored will receive a certificate and cash award. An endowment fund supporting the award has been established by contributions from faculty and graduates of the department.
Dr. Jianming Hu, left, presented the Ender's Award to Adam Fike, center, and Xupeng Hong, right.
Courtney Award
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is also excited to announce the winners of this years’ Courtney Award, Nadia DiNunno and Maddie Martin.
The Courtney Award is presented at fall convocation to PhD candidates who have passed their comprehensive examination and who have demonstrated an outstanding record of academic achievement during their graduate studies within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. A committee of department faculty will consider candidates each year to assess whether any students have reached this exceptional level of excellence. The student or students so honored will receive a certificate and cash award. An endowment fund supporting the award has been established by contributions from faculty and graduates of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Nadia DiNunno
Maddie Martin
Microbiology Alex Pham Fellowship Tab Basic Content
Graduate School Endowment Fellowship
The dean of the Graduate School at Penn State has selected Alexander Pham to receive the Graduate School Endowment Fellowship for the fall of 2023, provided by a generous gift from the Alumni Association Graduate Fellowship endowment.
This fellowship is intended for full-time graduate students exhibiting academic excellence. This accomplishment is quite an honor.
