Certificate in Microbiota & Mucosal Health

Graduate Certificate • Department of Pathology • University of Utah

15 Credit Hours • Post-Baccalaureate • Anticipated launch Fall 2027

Pending final university approval

About the Certificate

The Certificate in Microbiota and Mucosal Health (CMMH) will provide a flexible, high-impact pathway for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and working professionals seeking advanced skills in immunology, microbiota and microbiology science and translational research. This certificate builds on existing University of Utah coursework and introduces a new cornerstone course, Principles of GI and Microbiota Interactions, while leveraging electives in immunology, bioinformatics, and clinical immersion.

The CMMH prepares trainees for careers at the intersection of microbiology, immunology, data science, and translational medicine — fields that are rapidly growing within Utah's life sciences sector. Graduates will be equipped to contribute to microbiota-driven diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing, aligning with employer needs in clinical labs, biotech startups, and research organizations.

  • Scientific Foundations

    Scientific Foundations

    Host–microbiota interactions, mucosal immunology, and experimental modeling of health and disease.

  • Applied Bioinformatics

    Applied Bioinformatics

    Microbial genomics, metagenomics, and computational analysis using R, Python, and command-line tools.

  • Clinical Exposure

    Clinical Exposure

    Rotations at ARUP Laboratories, GI clinics, and microbiota-focused biobanks including the MAGIC Biobank.

Curriculum

Required Courses (6 Units)

PATH 5030 / 7330 - Basic Immunology (Fall)

This is a survey course covering the basic principles in Immunology with lectures provided by faculty directly involved in particular areas. The final third of the course will feature clinical and experimental topics in Immunology.

PATH 7400 - Microbiota and Mucosal Immunology (Fall)

This course examines the fundamental mechanisms governing interactions between the gastrointestinal immune system and the resident microbiota. The course includes a combination of didactic lectures, discussions of primary literature, case studies and a translational group project.

Electives (9 Units)

Course Course Title Units Term
BMI 5018/6018 Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Data Science 3 Fall
BMI 6060 Applied Computational Genomics 3 Fall Odd Years
MDCRC 6280 Translational Medicine Symposium 0.5 Fall & Spring
MDCRC 6300 Med Into Grad Boot Camp 1 Fall & Spring
MDCRC 6410 Research Seminar Series 0.5–1 Fall & Spring
MDCRC 6450 Grant Writing 3 Fall & Spring
MDCRC 6490 Introduction to Omics: Applications to Research 2 Fall
MDCRC 6530 Utilization of Animal Models in the Development of Clinical Research Projects 2 Spring
PATH 6055 Research Elective 1–9 All
PHARM 7568 Regulatory Affairs and Intellectual Property in Biopharmaceutical Sciences 1.5 Spring

Learning Outcomes

  1. Explain Core Concepts in Microbiota and Mucosal Health

    Demonstrate understanding of host–microbiota interactions, mucosal immunology, and their role in health and disease.

  2. Apply Experimental and Computational Methods

    Utilize principles of Good Laboratory Practices to perform wet-bench techniques (e.g., microbial culture, sequencing) and bioinformatic analyses (R, Python, command-line).

  3. Interpret and Communicate Scientific Data

Critically evaluate microbiota-related literature and present findings through written and oral communication tailored to scientific and lay audiences.

Admissions

Who can apply

  • Current University of Utah graduate students

  • Postdoctoral researchers

  • Working professionals

  • Applicants from diverse academic backgrounds

Minimum requirement

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

Certificate options

  • Embedded certificate: completed alongside a graduate degree

  • Stand alone certificate: completed independently of degree enrollment

Certificate Requirements

Credit hours

  • 15 graduate credit hours total

Coursework

  • Required core courses in microbiota and mucosal immunology and basic immunology

  • At least 9 credits selected from approved electives

Academic standing

  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in coursework counted toward the certificate

  • Individual courses must be completed with a passing grade that meets Graduate School and program requirements

Industry Endorsement

Industry partners and academic leadership have received the Certificate in Microbiota and Mucosal Health well, as it addresses urgent workforce gaps identified in Utah's life sciences sector. Employers have endorsed the program's focus on microbiota-driven technologies and durable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. These organizations emphasize the need for professionals who can "hit the ground running" in laboratory and data-driven environments, a goal directly supported by the certificate curriculum.

Endorsing Organizations:

ARUP Laboratories · Canyon Labs · IBEX Preclinical Research · Curza Inc. · Coy Lab Products

Get Started

Reach out to learn more about the certificate, admissions timeline, and how the CMMH fits your career goals.

Training and Program Coordinator: Max Genetti

Course Directors: June Round & Daniel Leung

Contact