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Ph.D Program
in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology
The didactic portion of the
program is designed to provide a fundamental base of knowledge
and to enhance the various research options available to
the doctoral degree candidate. All students enter through
the Integrated
Studies Program, a combined admissions and first-year
academic program that serves as the single portal of entry
for three programs: CMDB, Cellular and Molecular Physiology,
and Biochemistry. The
first-year curriculum is described on the ISP website
and includes fundamentally important topics in biochemistry,
molecular biology, cell biology, and developmental biology.
After the first year, two additional courses most suitable
to form the base for the student's research program will
be selected by the student in consultation with his/her
adviser and the graduate program advisory committee. The
following courses are currently offered by program faculty
(see other program descriptions for additional course opportunities).
Qualifying
Exam
The
qualifying examination is administered in the second year,
typically in the January-February time frame, after the
majority of the formal course work has been completed. This
examination consists of oral and written components, both
which involve an intensive review and analysis of a current
research problem. Students will be tested on their ability
to review, analyze, and present the scientific literature
and to generate appropriate experimental approaches to unanswered
question in the areas chosen for examination. Please see
Qualifying Exam Guidelines
for details.
Evaluation
Based
on achievement in didactic courses and lab rotations, participation
in seminars, and performance on the qualifying exam, a faculty
committee evaluates each student's potential and ability
to do original research and votes for admission to research,
probation, or separation from the program.
Research
and Dissertation Research
training begins in the first year of the program. As part
of this training, participation in seminar series, journal
club, and research forums will be required of all students
throughout their program. Laboratory rotations (generally
four), provide the basis on which the student chooses a
research area and an adviser. These rotations expose the
students to various techniques and research problems presented
in the program. Please
note that the first two rotations must be done with faculty
in one of the three programs participating in the ISP, providing
a choice of approximately 60 research groups. The last two
rotations may be done within the ISP or in any of the 120+
laboratories in the Sackler
School. Students select their thesis advisor at the
end of the first year, and this determines which program
they will enter in their second year. Students choosing
the CMDB Program will go through the process described above.
Once the thesis advisor is chosen, the student will work
with an appropriate advisory committee to delineate a research
project and present it to the program faculty. Throughout
the research phase of the program (typically three to four
years) students meet at least semi-annually with their full
advisory committee, who assist in evaluating the research
progress and directing the research. Once the dissertation
research has been judged complete by the advisory committee,
a written dissertation is submitted and the results presented
to the program faculty. Upon successful completion of the
above requirements, the degree is awarded.
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