MCDB Graduate Student Handbook

Welcome to the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology (MCDB). Graduate students are a very important part of MCDB. We have only one goal for our Ph.D. program: to train creative, productive investigators who will become the leading research scientists of tomorrow. Over the next four to five years, we will be working with you to achieve that goal.

There are several important stages in this developmental process, requiring hard work and commitmenmoviet on your part. At the same time, there are a number of people and support services in MCDB to help you. The purpose of this handbook is to outline exactly what will be expected of you as a Ph.D. student, and to familiarize you with the support services available to you. Please read it thoroughly, and if you have any questions consult the Graduate Advisor.

click here for a print version (in pdf) of this handout

 

PART I. WHAT WE EXPECT OF YOU

  1. Normal Progress Toward the Ph.D.
  2. Course Work
  3. Laboratory Rotations
  4. Teaching Experience
  5. Selection of a Thesis Advisor and Doctoral committee
  6. Departmental Written Qualifying Examination
  7. The Doctoral Oral Qualifying Examination
    1. The Independent Research Proposal
    2. The General Knowledge Section
  8. Annual Committee Meetings & Midstream Seminar
  9. The Ph.D. Thesis and Final Oral Examination
  10. Petitions for Postponement
  11. Disqualification from the Program and Appeal
  12. Withdrawl

PART II. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US: GRADUATE STUDENT RESOURCES

  1. The MCDB Student Affairs Office
  2. Faculty Advising Resources
  3. Graduate Student Support Policy