<p>I just finished my first semester as a college junior majoring in Public health. I am interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Tropical Diseases (i.e. the infections that affect the developing world). I will be studying in South Africa for the upcoming semester and will definitely be pursuing research in infectious disease while I am abroad. I was just wondering if anybody had experience in this particular field or had any advice on graduate schools. My school (Tulane) has a 4+1 masters program where i could finish my undergrad and get my MPH in Tropical Medicine in 5 years (I think I am pretty much guaranteed entry into the MPH program at this point). But I think I definitely want to pursue the PhD route at some point. Would this require significant research experience beforehand? (I only have 1 semester of research) SHould I just do the MPH program first and then look into the PhD? I really dont know much about this so any advice would be helpful</p>
<p>I thought Tulane has a PhD program in parasitology. (I think it might be through the school of public health… I had a professor who went there.) Besides, it’s the name I think of for those fields. As far as others, are you interested in any particular disease? You could search Pubmed for that disease and see what labs are publishing on it (the abstracts shouldlist the school the lab is at). Also, my impression is that there more places doing bacterial work than eukaryotic single-celled (malaria et al), and even fewer doing mutli-celled (platyhelminths, nematodes).</p>
<p>If you’re going to get a PhD in tropical diseases (whether it’s the public health/epidemiology aspect or basic science research, like a microbiology program) you’re going to need research experience to show that you’re cut out for it. The good news is, since you’re at Tulane, you’re in a great spot for it. I think your best bet would be to get a research position, ASAP. Then you could either continue on to the MPH while doing your research or if you decide against the MPH, maybe stay in your lab as a tech or find a post-baccalaureate fellowship.<br>
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions; I spent two years studying a tropical disease (malaria) and am in a microbiology PhD program now.</p>
<p>Public health and lab research are often very separated in science. I am also interested in both, and there are only a handful of programs in the country that specifically see it as an interdisciplinary field. For me, I chose to go the research/micro route, because it will leave me with more options in the future, to go to either research or more public health related work. The first step you need to take is to decide if you want to be doing lab work or more big picture work - ie designing ph programs, advocacy, stats and analysis of ph-specific problems. If you want to keep the doors open to micro in the future, just make sure you get into a lab asap.</p>
<p>Tulane is great, but you might also want to consider the Tropical Medicine programs in England - London and Liverpool. My husband (MD, MPH) did the diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene in Liverpool and loved it. They also have PhD programs.</p>
<p>It sounds like it would be worth it to go ahead and get the MPH in the 5 year program and then think about the PhD when you have a better idea of what you want to pursue. You have exciting possibilities. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Just an FYI, the only problem with getting a degree in England (LSHTM is my dream school, le sigh) is that you have to pay for it yourself as an international student. There are fellowships available, but it’s not guaranteed funding like it would be for a research ph.d stateside.</p>
<p>Sorry I havent been to this thread in a long time! Thanks for the responses! I just had a general question about research. I have to start thinking about my honors thesis right now, that I will be starting next year when I return from study abroad. For the honors thesis we are required to research an original question. I am really interested in doing something relate to malaria and I would like to get some experience working in the lab. My first question is how exactly I would go about getting a position in a lab. Just email professors and hope for the best? Im also wondering if it is even realistic to try to pursue reserach right now. I have no experience working in a lab (except for some basic mosquito stuff) and I haven’t really taken any biological science classes. Do you think profs would even give a 2nd semester junior a chance at this point, considering my lack of experience? What’s the best way to go about this? Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated</p>