Requirements for a PhD Degree

The PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a research degree. The goals of the graduate program are to provide you with the academic background and laboratory experience that allow you to understand experimental design and state-of-the-art technology, perform timely and significant experiments, communicate with a wide range of scientific colleagues, and advance scientific knowledge.

In the first year, until you have selected a permanent advisor, the First Year Graduate Advisor will serve as temporary advisor. After that, your primary source of non-course work instruction and advice is your thesis research advisor. To assist you in selecting a research area and research advisor, several activities are scheduled. These include: Faculty Research Talks, Laboratory Rotations, Seminars, Research Meetings. In addition to these activities, your coursework will give you a chance to acquaint yourself with various faculty members. Selection of research advisor is made after completion of all laboratory rotations, usually during the summer between Year 1 and 2. Once you have a thesis advisor, you and your advisor will select your thesis committee members. You are expected to make a presentation of your research at least once a year in order to inform your Thesis Committee of your progress and to provide the committee members with an opportunity to make suggestions as to the direction of the project.

Courses: The following requirements and procedures are specified for "typical" students' certain exceptions can be made with the consent of the advisor and the department. Required courses:

  The Candidacy Exam will be taken at the end of the Spring Semester

Year 3:  The third year will consist of Colloquium (BCHEM 590) (1 credit) if the student has not yet passed the comprehensive examination, and research (BCHEM 600 prior to passing the comprehensive exam or BCHEM 601 after passing the comprehensive exam).

Additional Elective Courses: Additional elective courses may be taken pending the advisor's approval and that of the professor in charge of the course (if necessary).

Laboratory Rotations: During the fall semester of the first year, students work in two different laboratories in the Department; spending about 6 weeks in each. These consist of: one assigned 'techniques' rotation (starting from the beginning of the fall semester until about November 1); one chosen 'techniques' rotation (starting November 1 until February 1)[one of the 'techniques' rotations will be in a lab that emphasizes biochemical approaches and the other in a lab that emphasizes molecular/genetic approaches]; one rotation in a lab of your choice starting about February 1 and lasting until the end of the spring semester; and one 4 to 6 wee rotation in a lab of your choice during the summer after successful completion of your Candidacy Exam.

Seminars and Journal Clubs: Students are expected to participate in all departmental seminars; they are a very valuable part of your education. The department hosts outstanding scientists who are conducting cutting-edge research in the various biochemistry and molecular biology areas. As a student in the department you will have an opportunity to meet with these seminar speakers. First year students are strongly encouraged to attend the various group journal clubs and group research meetings in the Department. Advanced students should participate in those meetings related to their area of research.

Teaching Assignments: Students will tutor individual or small groups of medical students. Tutoring responsibilities will usually be confined to only a portion of one semester. During the semester you tutor, you will be responsible for attending all of the lectures. Actual tutoring time usually amounts to 2 to 4 hours per week. Students may also be called on to assist in the graduate courses. The tutoring and assistance experience is an asset to your professional training.

English Competency Requirement: The Graduate School requires that all graduate students must be certified as competent in both written and spoken English. Both requirements must be met before the student may take his or her Comprehensive Examination.

The Written English Requirement:

1. The requirement will be satisfied by a series of three written reports submitted to the Academic standards Committee. In the reports, each student will describe his or her two 'techniques' laboratory rotations and the laboratory rotation undertaken from February to May during the first year. 

2. A report is due two weeks after the conclusion of each rotation. It consists of a double-spaced, 3 to 5 page paper describing the experimental approach, results (positive and negative), and implications related to the rotation work.  The suggested organization is to include a brief introduction, a methods section, and a results/discussion section.  The committee anticipates that the report will be organized and written carefully, with good prose and composition. The purpose of the report is to demonstrate scientific writing ability. 

3. The final report will initially be evaluated by the rotation advisor.  Following approval by the advisor, the Academic Standards Committee will evaluate the report. The rotation advisor or a member of the Academic Standards Committee will meet with the student to discuss evaluation of the report. Passing or failing will be determined by the Academic Standards Committee. Students who fail will be required to submit revised, acceptable reports.

4. If a student should fail two times, then he or she must take an English writing course that has previously been approved by the Academic Standards Committee. Any fees for the course are the students responsibility. A passing grade (B or better) in this course will be viewed as satisfying the writing requirement.

Each student will be given, upon entering, a copy (paperback) of Strunk and White Elements of English Style to serve as the model for acceptable English prose.

The Spoken English Requirement

1. This requirement will be satisfied by the student's performance in the two oral reports presented describing the rotations during the first year.

2. A member of the Academic Standards Committee or the First Year Advisor will evaluate each presentation and provide comments to the student regarding their ability to make a presentation and answer questions in acceptable spoken English.  If the presentation is deemed unacceptable, the student will revise the presentation and present  it for re-evaluation. 

Examinations (PhD): There are three examinations for the PhD degree: the written Candidacy Examination taken at the end of the first year; the Comprehensive Examination taken by the end of the fifth semester; and the oral, PhD thesis defense. Admission to candidacy for the PhD occurs upon successful completion of the written candidacy exam and demonstration of research potential and maintenance of no less than a 3.0 GPA in academic courses. The written exam is given to students at the end of their first year of study. The Comprehensive Examination must be taken prior to completion of the fifth semester. You will prepare a research proposal for which you will be evaluated. The Thesis Defense is your final required examination. Each PhD candidate must present his or her thesis work in a public seminar. You are responsible for answering questions raised by the committee or by visitors.

The thesis work of a student must be described in a single integrated document. The format of the thesis must conform to the regulations set out in the Thesis Guide published by the thesis office of the graduate school. Submission of an approved Thesis in accordance with all of the requirements of the departmental doctoral committee and the Graduate school is usually the final step prior to graduation. It is expected that a student will have at least one paper accepted for publication in a major peer-reviewed scientific journal prior to the thesis defense.