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Introduction
The Ph.D. Program in Biological Sciences can be described in terms of 4 components: course work, qualifying examinations, teaching, and research. For further treatment of this topic consult the Graduate Student Handbook
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Course Work
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The Core Course in cell and molecular biology (G6001 - G6002). Two semesters of this intensive course (3-4 meetings/week) cover genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, structural biochemistry, neurobiology, immunology, and computational biology.
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Pre-research Seminars (G9301): Faculty describe their research, plus discussions on the conduct of science.
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Ethics is required in the second semester of the first year: BEPS W4090 Ethics & Experimentation
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Students who have not had Physical Chemistry (one semester either Chemistry BC3252 or Chemistry C3079) and 3 semesters of college-level math, are required to make up those undergraduate courses.
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Attendance at the weekly Departmental colloquium (outside speakers) is required. Seminars are usually held Mondays and Wednesdays at noon in Room 700 Fairchild.
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Three graduate seminar courses. Two courses for students with a Masters degree. For a list of elective courses go to pre-approved elective courses.
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Qualifying Exams
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Part I: Successful completion of the Core Course.(G6001 - G6002).
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Part II: a written research proposal describing an intended thesis project (~10 double-spaced pages) followed by an oral defense before a 2-person faculty committee. This exam takes place during the Spring semester of the second year.
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Teaching
Experience in teaching is deemed an important and essential part of Ph.D. training. Two semesters are required for most students. Assignments include leading a recitation section and supervising a laboratory section. Extra credit is given for more demanding assignments. Students are given a short workshop in teaching technique at the start of this training. More information on teaching can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook
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Research
Research constitutes the single most important component of the training program. Laboratory rotations begin in the first semester of the first year. Two or three rotations are strongly encouraged, but not required. A rotation period constitutes either an entire semester (i.e., Fall or Spring Semester) or the Summer term of the first academic year (i.e., mid-May to September). Thus, by the start of the second year, students will have settled into laboratories for their thesis research.
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Student Advisory Committees
Starting in the second year, each student meets with an advisory committee consisting of their research sponsor plus two other faculty. This committee stays with the student until the completion of the program, the defense of the thesis.
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Time to Degree
First Year
Fall
- Core I class - Biol G6001
- Pre-research seminar
- Rotation 1
- Elective (1 of 3)
- 1st Residence Unit
Spring
- Core II class - Biol G6002 (with G6001 completes Qualifying Exam 1)
- Ethics
- Rotation 2
- Elective (2 of 3)
- 2nd Residence Unit
Summer
- Statistics (if needed)
- Rotation 3 (if needed) or Research in permanent lab
Second Year
Fall
- Elective (3 or 3)
- Teaching (1 of 2)
- Research
- 3rd Residence Unit
Spring
- Elective (if needed)
- Teaching (2 of 2)
- Research
- 4th Residence Unit
- Qualifying Exam 2 - link to form
Apply for MA degree - link
to application
Students
are expected to complete the Masters Degree requirements by the end of the
Second Year.
Summer
Third Year
Fall
- Complete Electives (if needed)
- Research
- 5th Residence Unit
Spring
- Complete Electives (if needed)
- Research
- 6th Residence Unit
Apply for MPhil degree - link to
checklist - link
to application
Students are expected to complete the Masters of Philosophy requirements by the
end of the Fourth Year.
Summer
Fourth Year
Fall, Spring
- Research
- Student Seminars
- Annual Committee Meeting - link to form
- Extended Residence Units
Summer
Fifth Year & beyond
Fall, Spring
- Research
- Committee Meeting every 6 months - link to form
- Extended Residence Units
Summer
Apply for Dissertation Defense - link
to application
Thesis Defense
Deposit Thesis and PhD degree is complete.
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Departmental Retreat
Every other year, the entire department spends a weekend in the mountains discussing research projects. The past two Mini-Symposium Retreats have taken place at Mohonk Mountain House .
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