17 Best Immunology Gifts (in 2024)

8 min read

Last updated: December 5th, 2024

The internet is not exactly overflowing with immunology-specific gifts, but we've scoured several sources to find the most popular and high-quality gifts for immunologists and immunology researchers that will definitely win a smile.

Whether it’s a graduation gift for a student, birthday present or Christmas gift, I hope this gift guide helps you finish your shopping faster than ever. Show them you understand their passion for immunology and relish the moment when they geek out over your perfect gift.

This list is a compilation of our favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. Microbiology Word Magnets

Science-themed gifts are rarely as entertaining and enduring as our science-themed word magnet sets! We recently launched these to encourage creativity and self-expression in labs, classrooms and offices. Each specialty pack comes with 144 tiles carefully designed by a PhD in that field for technical accuracy and tacit absurdity.

The Microbiology word magnet set was designed by Dr. Susanna L Harris, who chose words to make it both science-y and humorous. Microbiology has a lot of overlap with Immunology, and this set includes key words like “coronavirus”, “vaccine”, “mutate” and “RNA”.

Also now available on Amazon.

2. Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive

Immune is a beautifully designed book that takes a thorough look at the immune system. Philipp Dettmer, the man behind YouTube's most popular science channel, takes readers on a journey through the human body's castle and fortifications. The book expresses the immune system's complicated, beautiful symphony with vivid illustrations, precise explanations, captivating metaphors, and a splash of comedy. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who’s interested in the complex inner workings of the human body.

Check the price on Amazon.

3. How Immunologists Swear Coloring Book: A Funny Immunology Doctor Specialist Gift

For anyone with a love of immunology and an artistic side, try this immunology-focused coloring book. This irreverent and sweary coloring book offers innovative and hilarious illustrations that are ideal for de-stressing from work and all the other stresses that life can throw at you. It features 40+ high-quality coloring pages that will surely bring out the creativeness and inner child in any immunologist.

Check the price on Amazon.

4. Lab Coat Pocket Protector

An immunology lab can be unforgiving at times. Here’s an indispensable accessory to help them stay organized and efficient even on the busiest days. The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them. Immunologists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their work clothes, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.

Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.

pink women's pocket protector for science and STEM lab work

Check the price on Amazon.

5. GIANT MICROBES Antibody Plush

This next one may seem like a young child's toy, but we've seen many PhD's purchase and love these to death. This amazing company makes a full line of plush microbes, cells and organs the size of a small stuffed animal! The best one for immunology enthusiasts is the Antibody Plush, which includes a nice sheet explaining what antibodies are and how we use them in a common laboratory setting.

Check the price on Amazon.

6. Virulence: An Infectious Card Game

Have you ever imagined what life as a virus might be like? Virulence: An Infectious Card Game is a simple and engaging card game that's perfect for the immunologist in your life! It’s a virus-themed blind bidding card game that tries to put you in the shoes of malicious viruses. It has enough strategy to hold the attention of an adult gamer while being simple enough to play at home or in the classroom for younger students interested in immunology!

Check the price on Amazon.

7. Rocketbook Matrix cloud-connected reusable paper notebook

Immunologists and immunology researchers do a lot of work both on paper and with software. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox, and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.

The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are reusable? Use their "Pilot Frixion" pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!).

Check the price on Amazon.

8. Spleen Lapel Pin

This spleen lapel pin is a unique gift for your favorite immunologist to showcase their passion for what they do. Made from high-quality metal, this pin lends a whimsical touch to lab coats, professional attire at conferences, and even everyday wear.

spleen lapel pin

Check the price on Amazon.

9. West Nile Virus Plush

This next one may seem like a young child's toy, but we've seen many immunology PhD's purchase and love these to death. This amazing company makes a full line of plush microbes, cells and organs the size of a small stuffed animal! The best one for immunology enthusiasts is the West Nile Virus Plush. It's a fun stocking stuffer and also a nice comfort when wrangling with difficult problems!

Check the price on Amazon.

10. Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases

Vaccinated provides a detailed yet concise overview of the development of most key vaccinations, focusing primarily on the twentieth century. It centers on Maurice Hilleman, the father of nine vaccines, including measles, mumps, and rubella, that practically every child receives. It's a fascinating, well-researched, and enjoyable book that's perfect for immunologists.

Check the price on Amazon.

11. The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets

RNA has been the sidekick of DNA for too long. Remember the COVID vaccine which was created within a few days of the virus being genetically sequenced? That was because of RNA. This new book does a deep dive on why RNA is the real hero of modern biology and genetics. It controls so many aspects of humans and nature that an immunology major who understands it is well-equipped to study the secrets of life on our planet.

Check the price on Amazon.

12. COVID-19 Stress Balls

Working in the medical field can be stressful at times, especially in the midst of a pandemic. This funny COVID-19 Stress Balls is here to support your favorite immunologist when life gives them that crazy urge to shout and destroy. It can endure THROWS, SLAMS, and WHACKS! It’s engineered to absorb all of that bad energy so that your immunologist can reclaim their happiness.

Check the price on Amazon.

13. Keep Calm and Trust the Science: An Extraordinary Year in the Life of an Immunologist

In 2020, it seemed like everyone was a garage immunologist all of a sudden. It was hard to cut through the noise to hear from the experts. Keep Calm and Trust the Science was written by one of these experts. It shows the very unglamorous side of an immunologist in public policy, and how he had to grapple with incomplete data to make major decisions that could save or lose lives.

I thought it was quite funny at times, amidst all of the death and destruction around him. For an immunologist with an eye toward government service or public policy, this makes for an inspirational story and guidebook of how to handle skepticism and rely on your data in the face of heavy criticism.

Keep Calm and Trust the Science: An Extraordinary Year in the Life of an Immunologist

Check the price on Amazon.

14. Immune Cells Wall Art

Made with high-quality archival and acid-free fine art textured paper, this poster wall art print showcases T cell or T lymphocyte, an essential part of the immune system. The artwork shows T cells attacking a cancer cell and is a great addition to any house, office, lounge, or other places where your favorite immunologist or immunology researcher wishes to display their passion for their profession.

Check the price on Amazon.

15. Janeway's Immunobiology

For young immunology students, Janeway's Immunobiology is a fantastic resource. It provides excellent explanations, a comprehensive overview of the topics, and the authors know how to weave a story into each chapter. The illustrations and explanations are simple to follow and understand, making this a must-have book for budding immunologists!

Check the price on Amazon.

16. Pandemic Board Game

Pandemic Board Game is another fun game for the gamer immunologist in your life. In light of COVID-19, this could appear to be a gloomy addition to the list, but Pandemic has long been a favorite among board game enthusiasts. This is a cooperative game in which players must collaborate to save the world from four deadly diseases. This is a game where either everyone wins or everyone loses, so work together!

Check the price on Amazon.

17. New 100% Cotton Lab Coats designed for Chemists

Most Immunologists I know wear lab coats daily. And most of them hate their lab coats. That's why we spent 3 years designing and modifying a lab coat that scientists love! Released in 2024, the Louis and Curie lab coats are consistently reviewed as "the best lab coat I've ever had".

For immunology labs specifically, the tapered knit cuffs are especially important for protecting your cultures from contamination from your skin and keeping clunky oversized cuffs from knocking over expensive glassware. We also made sure to use 100% cotton, which is more breathable than polyester. The two versions are tailored to fit male and female builds differently, with a wide size range and adjustable belt so immunologists can finally feel great in their lab coat at work.

This is one to clue them in about beforehand so you can get the sizing right and make sure it meets their lab safety requirements! Or, you can grab a refundable $75 gift card to let them grab their own lab coat plus a pocket protector!