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

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

VTSGC Graduate Fellowship-PAID

Vermont Space Grant Consortium

Up to $50,422 January 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The 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...

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VTSGC Graduate Fellowship-PAID

Vermont Space Grant Consortium

award

Up to $50,422

deadline

January 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The 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...

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Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

$38,000 January 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The 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.

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Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

award

$38,000

deadline

January 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The 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.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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.

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National Space Club Keynote Scholarship

National Space Club

$20,000 November 17, 2025 See Details

Description

The National Space Club Keynote Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students with definite plans to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award.

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National Space Club Keynote Scholarship

National Space Club

award

$20,000

deadline

November 17, 2025
See Details

Description

The National Space Club Keynote Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students with definite plans to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award.

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Science Ambassador Scholarship

Cards Against Humanity

$20,000 December 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The Science Ambassador Scholarship is available to women and non - binary high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in a STEM field. To be considered, you must submit a three - minute educational video of yourself explaining a topic in science that you are passionate about.

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Science Ambassador Scholarship

Cards Against Humanity

award

$20,000

deadline

December 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The Science Ambassador Scholarship is available to women and non - binary high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in a STEM field. To be considered, you must submit a three - minute educational video of yourself explaining a topic in science that you are passionate about.

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

$20,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The 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...

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Sturgis Fellowship

University of Arkansas

award

$20,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The 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...

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Bess Heflin Fellowship

University of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies

$19,000 Varies See Details

Description

The 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...

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Bess Heflin Fellowship

University of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies

award

$19,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The 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...

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UCF Astronaut Scholarship

University of Central Florida

Up to $15,000 October 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The UCF Astronaut Scholarship is available to full-time junior and senior-level undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida who are majoring in Natural or Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics. You must have conducted a considerable amount of research in your field and be nominated by a faculty member to be...

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UCF Astronaut Scholarship

University of Central Florida

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

October 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The UCF Astronaut Scholarship is available to full-time junior and senior-level undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida who are majoring in Natural or Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics. You must have conducted a considerable amount of research in your field and be nominated by a faculty member to be...

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Health Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship - Benedictine University

Benedictine University

Up to $15,000 February 01, 2026 See Details

Description

The 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...

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Health Professionals of Tomorrow Scholarship - Benedictine University

Benedictine University

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

February 01, 2026
See Details

Description

The 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...

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