At 11:24 AM 9/6/98 +1000, Shirlene Lim wrote:
>I am interested in specialising in the field of parasitology. What would
be the best way to achieve this, and where would be the best courses to study?
This depends upon your current level, where you want to work, and what you
mean by parasitology (classical or modern, for instance). France has good
parasitologists and good training, as do many countries. If you're
well-trained in modern basic science, I'd recommend taking the Woods Hole
Molecular Parasitology course, which attempts to convert biochemists,
molecular biologists, immunologists, and cell biologists into corresponding
molecular parasitologist specialists in a single Summer course. If you're
at the pre-PhD level and your English is excellent, I'd suggest pursuing a
graduate program at a good US university, which in terms of ranking in the
US, include Harvard, Stanford, UCSF, Hopkins, Yale, Tulane, and elsewhere,
either with a parasitologist or with a world expert in the discipline of
your choice, or both. If you know precisely what you want to do (medical
entomology, gene regulation, vaccines...), your choice becomes more
focused; do literature searches to identify those who publish good work in
that area, and see if they have a graduate program (or postdoctoral
opportunities, if you have a degree). I'm less familiar with European
graduate programs, but rumors say that these tend to be relatively long
programs, with relatively less close supervision, and with less equipment
and supplies and salary than you may need. In all cases, look for an
institution and an advisor with a policy of screening hard at admission,
but supporting those chosen to complete programs and qualify for positions.
If your qualifications are not stellar, you can try second-level
institutions, but you did ask for the "best" place.
Good luck!
Gerald McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
635 Barnhill Drive, MS A128
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5120
317-274-2651; FAX 317-278-2018
E-mail: gmclaugh at iupui.edu
