Professional development activities in BBSP First Year Groups
\nClassroom courses (typically two per semester)
\nThree lab rotations
\nChoose research advisor and MCRO Ph.D. program<\/p>\n
Fall – Begin attending at least 2\/3 of department and student seminars each semester.\u00a0 Take required MCRO795 course in research proposal development and writing.<\/p>\n Spring – Think about prelim topics, submit two draft Specific Aims pages for faculty feedback, and complete written preliminary exam describing original research proposal by June 1.\u00a0 Revise if desired.<\/p>\n Fall – Inform the Student Services Specialist and the Director of Graduate Studies of your exam date and Oral Exam Committee members by October 1.\u00a0 Finish oral preliminary exam and project approval by December 31. \u00a0At least one week prior to meeting, provide committee with a written document of two pages or less describing hypotheses, Specific Aims, and a brief overview of research design, including which parts of research design have been completed.<\/p>\n Our expectation<\/em> is that all Ph.D. students will conduct sufficient research to result in at least two first-author publications describing original results in high quality, peer-reviewed journals.\u00a0 As a minimum standard, to earn the Ph.D. degree we require<\/em> that (i) a student must make meaningful contributions to and be an author on at least two manuscripts intended for publication in respected, high-quality professional journals or books, (ii) at least one of the two manuscripts must be a first (or co-first) author primary research manuscript, (iii) at least one of the two manuscripts must be accepted for publication, and (iv) if the second manuscript is not accepted for publication, then peer reviews must be returned prior to the private Ph.D. defense.\u00a0 When ready to graduate, submit dissertation to committee at least two weeks prior to defense.\u00a0 Defend dissertation in private meeting with committee.\u00a0 Give public seminar of dissertation research at least two weeks after private defense. \u00a0Submit final dissertation to Graduate School.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Begin dissertation research
\nChoose dissertation committee and Chair by first day of Fall semester classes
\nFinish classroom course requirements (six total, including at least two literature-based)
\nAct as Teaching Assistant for one semester in MCRO251 undergraduate lab<\/p>\nSecond Year in Department (3rd year Ph.D. students, 2nd year M.D.\/Ph.D.)<\/h2><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Continue dissertation research and required seminar attendance
\nBegin annual presentations in student seminar series
\nAct as TA for one semester in a MCRO course to complete teaching requirement<\/p>\n\u2265 Third Year in Department (\u2265 4th year Ph.D. students, \u2265 3rd year M.D.\/Ph.D.)<\/h2><\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>Continue dissertation research and required seminar attendance.\u00a0 Meet at least annually with dissertation committee.\u00a0 Provide committee with a progress report at least one week prior to each meeting.\u00a0 The report consists of a Specific Aims page followed by a description of progress to date organized by Aim. \u00a0The progress report should include any changes in Aims, a summary of key results, and plans for future experiments. \u00a0The report should also communicate the student’s vision for how results could be organized into publications, and the current status of progress toward publications.\u00a0 In fifth year, take refresher training in the Responsible Conduct of Research.<\/p>\nDegree Completion – typically Fourth or Fifth Year in Department (5th or 6th year Ph.D. students, 4th or 5th year M.D.\/Ph.D. students)<\/h2><\/h3>\n