Students can enter the Microbiology program in two ways:

• Supported by a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) funded by the major professor, typically through a grant. Such an arrangement is the result of discussions between applicant and professor, and depends on grant funding.
• Supported for the first 3 terms by a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), which requires working part-time as a teaching assistant in undergraduate microbiology lab courses. This option allows a student to explore different labs/projects/advisors before making a decision for their thesis work. Students conduct 'rotations' by spending a term in different research labs; M.S. students should choose their thesis project no later than by the end of their second term, Ph.D. students by the end of their third term. It is typical for grant funds to subsequently support students on GRA appointments.