University of Texas at El Paso

What you'll study

Although UTEP does not run a named PhD in Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, doctoral study in closely related areas typically covers advanced training in infectious disease epidemiology, pathogen biology, disease ecology, surveillance methods, global health policy and implementation science. Research-led programmes emphasise:

• Advanced epidemiological methods and biostatistics for infectious disease research
• Molecular and laboratory techniques relevant to parasitology, virology and bacteriology
• Field study design, population-based surveillance and outbreak investigation
• Environmental and vector-borne disease ecology, including climate and land-use drivers
• Health systems, global health policy, and implementation strategies for low-resource settings
• Research ethics, community engagement and transnational public health practice
• A sustained, original dissertation project under supervision that addresses an applied or translational problem in infectious or tropical disease

Entry requirements

Entry to a doctoral research programme addressing hygiene, tropical or infectious disease themes normally requires:

• A relevant master's degree (for example public health, epidemiology, biological sciences, biomedical sciences or a closely related discipline) or a strong bachelor’s degree with substantial research experience
• A statement of purpose describing research interests and a proposed area of doctoral study
• Academic transcripts and at least two academic or professional references who can attest to research potential
• Demonstrable research experience — laboratory work, field studies, publications, or a strong master’s thesis project — is highly desirable
• Evidence of quantitative skills (coursework or experience in statistics, epidemiology or biostatistics)
• Proof of English proficiency for international applicants where applicable (e.g. recognised test scores or previous coursework in English)
• Applicants should contact potential faculty supervisors to discuss fit and available resources prior to formal application; some programmes may require an interview

Career prospects

Graduates trained at the PhD level in tropical and infectious disease research can follow a variety of careers across academia, government and the non-profit sector. Typical career paths include:

• Academic research and teaching positions in universities and research institutes
• Public health leadership roles in local, national and international agencies (e.g. ministries of health, public health departments)
• Epidemiologist or surveillance scientist in disease control centres and public health laboratories
• Technical advisor or researcher for international organisations and NGOs working on tropical disease control, outbreak response and health systems strengthening
• Research scientist or programme manager in diagnostics, vaccine development or pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors
• Policy analyst or consultant focusing on global health policy, preparedness and implementation science

Why study at University of Texas at El Paso

UTEP’s location on the US–Mexico border gives it particular strengths for research on cross‑border, community and population health — areas that are directly relevant to infectious disease and tropical health challenges. The university supports interdisciplinary, community-engaged research and often collaborates with local health providers and regional partners to address real-world health problems. Graduate students benefit from access to regional field sites, opportunities for bilingual and binational research, and mentoring from faculty working on epidemiology, environmental health and translational biomedical questions. Prospective students should contact UTEP’s Graduate School and relevant departments to identify the best doctoral pathway and potential supervisors for work in infectious or tropical disease research.