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First Year In BBSP

  • LABORATORY ROTATIONS I: begins second week of September
  • LABORATORY ROTATIONS II: begins first week of January
  • LABORATORY ROTATIONS III: begins third week of March
  • SELECT RESEARCH ADVISOR: completed no later than June 1
  • COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN EXAMINATION (optional)

Second Year

  • GRANT WRITING COURSE BIOC 712: take course during Fall semester (PhD students only)
  • FORM 5 MEMBER THESIS COMMITTEE: Spring semester (usually before March)
  • SPECIFIC AIMS TO THESIS COMMITTEE: Spring Semester (usually mid March)
  • THESIS PROPOSAL TO THESIS COMMITTEE: Spring semester (usually late April)
  • COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE ORAL EXAMINATION
  • COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Third Year

  • FIRST ANNUAL THESIS COMMITTEE MEETING: Spring semester

Fourth Year

  • SECOND ANNUAL THESIS COMMITTEE MEETING: Spring semester

Fifth Year and Beyond

  • Students are strongly encouraged to complete their degrees by the end of their 5th year and typically will have a final THESIS COMMITTEE meeting to approve the final plans of work and with picking a defense date.
  • It is expected that BCBP students finish their degrees before the end of year 6. The typical time to graduation in BCBP is typically 5.5 years.
  • Students in their 5th year, in addition to holding their ANNUAL THESIS COMMITTEE meeting, will also be asked to provide the committee a timeline and outline any planned work needed to finish their research publication (if the student has not yet published their 1st authored paper; see Publication Requirement). This plan must be approved by all members of the THESIS COMMITTEE.
  • Students entering the 6th year of their PhD will be required to hold THESIS COMMITTEE meetings every 6 months to ensure completion in a timely manner. A revised timeline and any final work that is needed to complete a 1st author-publication must be outlined and approved by the THESIS COMMITTEE.
  • Students who begin a 7th year are required to meet with the DGS along with their faculty mentor(s) to discuss and devise a plan to finish their degree no later than by the end of the 7th year. After this meeting, the student must submit a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) and timeline that is approved by the DGS and THESIS COMMITTEE. This plan may serve as the basis for whether or not a student continues in the program after at the end of year 7. The department recognizes that unusual circumstances can occur, and thus, the DGS and Chair will review each student’s situation in a case-by-case basis to determine if going beyond the 7th year will be allowed. A Ph.D. degree is not guaranteed; it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that he/she is fully committed and is putting in the necessary time and dedication to finish their degrees.