Immunology
Immunology is a branch of biology that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms. Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the: physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities immune deficiency, and transplant rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, rheumatology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology.
The term was coined by Russian biologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov who advanced studies on immunology and received the Nobel Prize for his work in 1908. He pinned small thorns into starfish larvae and noticed unusual cells surrounding the thorns. This was the active response of the body trying to maintain its integrity. It was Mechnikov who first observed the phenomenon of phagocytosis, in which the body defends itself against a foreign body.
Prior to the designation of immunity, from the etymological root immunis, which is Latin for "exempt"; early physicians characterized organs that would later be proven as essential components of the immune system. The important lymphoid organs of the immune system are the thymus and bone marrow, and chief lymphatic tissues such as spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, adenoids, and liver. When health conditions worsen to emergency status, portions of immune system organs including the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.
Many components of the immune system are typically cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ; but rather are embedded or circulating in various tissues located throughout the body.
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .
Matching Immunology Colleges
|
Yale University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition |
|
Tulane University of Louisiana
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $56,684 average out-state tuition; $56,684 average in-state tuition |
|
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Four or more years; Public; $20,400 average out-state tuition; $8,568 average in-state tuition |
|
Loyola University Chicago
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $46,410 average out-state tuition; $46,410 average in-state tuition |
|
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Four or more years; Public; $25,433 average out-state tuition; $10,099 average in-state tuition |
|
University of Toledo
Four or more years; Public; $18,388 average out-state tuition; $9,028 average in-state tuition |
|
Rush University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $29,828 average out-state tuition; $29,828 average in-state tuition |
Scholarships for Immunology Majors
American Parkinson Disease Association Research GrantAmerican Parkinson Disease Association |
|||||
|
award Up to $75,000 |
deadline June 05, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe American Parkinson Disease Association Research Grant is available to PhD students who are involved in research science. APDA Research Grants are intended to support research aimed at developing new insights into the pathophysiology, etiology and/or treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Grant proposals can address research questions anywhere... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
VTSGC Graduate Fellowship-PAIDVermont Space Grant Consortium |
|||||
|
award Up to $50,422 |
deadline January 15, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe VTSGC Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students attending a college or university in Vermont with a focus on STEM studies. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award. Selection is based on a project narrative with NASA-relevance, a resume, and transcript. The goals of this program are to (1) help prepare the next... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for BioinformaticsDickinson College |
|||||
|
award $38,000 |
deadline January 15, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics is available to incoming freshman students at Dickinson College who demonstrates superiority in the life sciences. Selected recipients will also receive $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM ScholarshipU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
|||||
|
award Up to $30,000 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary CollegeMount Mary College |
|||||
|
award $27,000 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
|||||
High School Senior ScholarshipMarshall H. and Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund |
|||||
|
award $24,000 |
deadline December 30, 2025 |
||||
DescriptionThe High School Senior Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors from Aitkin, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Lake, Itasca, Koochiching, or St Louis County. You must be planning to pursue a four-year degree, plan to major in a math or science field of study, and have a minimum GPA of 3.5, a minimum ACT of 24 in order to be... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Sturgis FellowshipUniversity of Arkansas |
|||||
|
award $20,000 |
deadline February 01, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship-PAIDUniversity of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) |
|||||
|
award $20,000 |
deadline May 15, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship is available to graduate students at the University of California-Los Angeles who are majoring in a STEM field, medicine, dentistry, or public health. Applicants must have participated and completed the Big Bang Theory undergraduate scholars program and received their qualifying degree from UCLA within... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Bess Heflin FellowshipUniversity of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies |
|||||
|
award $19,000 |
deadline Varies |
||||
DescriptionThe Bess Heflin Fellowship is open to graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin. You must be studying one of the following programs: plant biology or botany, nutrition, ecology, evolution and behavior, economics, zoology, history, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, government, anthropology, sociology, psychology, biological... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Health Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship - Benedictine UniversityBenedictine University |
|||||
|
award Up to $15,000 |
deadline February 01, 2026 |
||||
DescriptionThe Health Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship is open to full-time graduate students at Benedictine University who are enrolled in the MSIP program. To be eligible for this award, you must be a legal resident of the United States (US citizen, permanent resident or DACA status), possess an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5, and... View Scholarship Details |
|||||
Immunology Related Majors
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Sciences
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- Zoology/Animal Biology
- Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Wildlife Biology
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Anatomy
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Cell Biology and Anatomy
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
