My name is Joseph Zeppa, and I'm a PhD
candidate in the Department of
Microbiology and Immunology at Western
University. So having completed my
undergraduate degree at Western, I was
already aware of the engaging faculty,
the beautiful campus, and facilities that
we have in London, as well as the fact
that there are numerous funding
opportunities for graduate students here
at Western. So I study the human specific
pathogen streptococcus pyogenes, which
causes over five hundred thousand deaths
each year worldwide. So it is the goal of
my research to better understand the
host-pathogen interactions of
streptococcus pyogenes, and to use these
findings to generate a vaccine against
this organism. So the Department of
Microbiology and Immunology of Western,
allows me to thrive and be successful
because it teaches you cutting edge
techniques, it fosters collaboration
between the professors in the department,
which are also world-renowned scientists,
and it also exposes you to the tools and
equipment that you need to be successful,
in both your research and your studies.
The best thing about being a Western 
graduate student is the camaraderie that
you feel between all Western graduate
students, everybody is in the same boat
as you, or has had similar experiences
so there's an instant bond between
everybody who comes to Western, so it's a
really nice feeling to be able to go out
and meet these individuals, and
instantaneously connect with them. The
best advice that I can give to somebody,
who is looking to apply to the graduate
studies Department at Microbiology and
Immunology, would be to apply early, and
also don't be afraid to contact the
professor that you're most interested in,
to do this would convey your interest in
not only their research program, but also
the department in general, which is a
very positive thing.
