About the Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Welcome to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia! 

The department is internationally recognized as a leading centre for the study of microbes and the immune system and the roles that they play in human health and the environment. 

Our world-class research program consists of approximately 30 teams driving the latest developments in areas such as antibiotic discovery and resistance, antivirals and vaccines, autoimmunity and inflammatory disease, cancer immunity and immunotherapy, and pathogen ecology and evolution. Leveraging the department’s collaborative environment and cutting-edge facilities, our researchers pursue fundamental knowledge and apply their findings to meet society’s most pressing needs. To appreciate our track record of scientific excellence and impact, we invite you to explore our reports on our research findings and accomplishments.

We also bring a spirit of innovation to our teaching program, where we have implemented insight from the scholarship of teaching and learning to develop curriculum and teaching practices that engage and challenge our students. Our passionate educators have designed data science and experiential learning courses that allow our students to apply science to tackle real-world problems using the most up-to-date tools. With hands-on research experience integral to both our undergraduate and graduate programs, our students are equipped to drive new advances in the biological sciences well beyond their time at UBC.   

Ultimately, our success as a department is contingent upon connection, which we foster through our active student associations, seminar series, and regular social and academic events. If there’s anything we’ve learned from microbiology and immunology, it’s that coordinated action by small entities can have a profound influence on a larger system. Our community has been similarly shaped by each of our faculty, staff, and students, and we look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve in the future. 

Sincerely, 
Michael Murphy
Professor and Department Head