FIRST YEAR OF GRADUATE
STUDY
Courses
Students receive broad training in the sub disciplines listed above while specializing in one or more of them for their research career. Each student needs to complete nine graded courses to qualify for a Ph.D. from the Division of Biological Sciences. Students choose from courses in major areas of human genetics including: methods of genetic analysis, mechanisms of human disease, population genetics and evolution. In addition you are free to choose courses from a wide range of topics in biology, including developmental genetics, statistical genetics, population genetics and evolution, cell biology, and structural biology. Students also attend a seminar course during the fall and winter quarters of their first year, called "AllStars." AllStars is a seminar course that is intended to introduce students to the research interests of the faculty.
Laboratory Rotations
Laboratory Rotations help students decide on the appropriate advisor/laboratory for their thesis research. Rotations can be performed any time, and students are encouraged to begin the summer before the first year of graduate school. Students are required to do two laboratory research rotations which are are graded, and together constitute one of the nine graded courses required by the division.
By the end of their first year, most students have completed all of their core courses. Upon entering their second year of graduate study, students have chosen an advisor, and their focus is almost entirely on research.
SECOND YEAR OF GRADUATE STUDY
Teaching Assistantships
The ability to communicate verbally and teach is an important skill for a successful research career. All students are required to serve as teaching assistants (TA's) for two quarters. This usually occurs during the second year and third years. When possible, one quarter should be taught at the undergraduate level and one at the graduate level. A course designed to train graduate students to be effective TA's can be taken in lieu of one of the two TAships. Responsibilities may include leading discussion groups, writing problem sets and running laboratories.
Preliminary Examination
Just prior to the start of the second year (usually in September), students take an oral Preliminary Examination as a first step towards candidacy for the Ph.D. The exam consists of written questions provided to the student two weeks prior to the exam, which the student will then be asked to defend before the committee members.
Qualifying Exam
The Qualifying Exam evaluates a student's ability to propose and defend a doctoral thesis research plan. At the end of the second year, (usually in May) students will submit a written proposal and defend their proposal in front of a committee. This is the final requirement for formal admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The proposal also serves as the foundation for each student's thesis research.
ADVANCED YEARS OF GRADUATE STUDY
After the Qualifying Exam
After the Qualifying Exam, students will devote the majority of their time to their thesis research, while continuing to attend seminars and journal club meetings. Finally, each graduating student writes a dissertation describing his/her research, presents the work in a public seminar, and defends it before his/her faculty examining committee.
Annual Doctoral Committee Meetings
Once a student has passed their Qualifying Exam, they will meet with their doctoral committee 6 months after taking the exam. After the initial meeting, students will meet at least once a year with their Doctoral Committee and present a brief written report of their research. After the fourth year, a minimum of two meetings per year may be required.
Duration of Graduate Study
Although each graduate student experience varies, it is intended that the dissertation research period should take approximately 12-16 quarters, with the total duration of class work and research, not to exceed 26 quarters.