博士课程以研究为基础，使学生成为独立的研究人员。该计划包括课程作业以及笔试和口试，但该学位的主要重点是完成原始研究和准备研究论文。MMI博士研究的机会非常多样，包括病毒学，细菌学，寄生虫学，疫苗开发，宿主免疫，发病机制，自身免疫，生物信息学，传染病生态学和医学昆虫学等广泛领域的研究。
The goal of the MMI doctoral program is to train independent scientists to take leading roles in advancing our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive infectious and immune diseases. The specific goals listed below are designed to foster ingenuity, creativity, and critical thinking in students that will enable them to recognize and solve key problems in infectious and immunological diseases of public health importance. Through a departmental core curriculum as well as research area-specific courses, laboratory rotations, qualifying examinations, mentored research, and professional development, all MMI PhD students are prepared to engage in cutting edge research and scholarship that advances knowledge. MMI PhD students hone their scholarship, research and professional skills. Course and laboratory work can address problems in microbial pathogenesis, immunology, disease transmission, and diseases related to malaria, mosquito and arboviral biology.