Coursework
Most major coursework requirements are pursued and satisfied in Years 1 and 2, except as specified. All MGM students must take and pass the following:
UPGEN 778A-F and CMB710A-F: Genetic and Genomic Approaches to the Solution of Biological Problems/Cell and Molecular Biology Modules (fall semester in year 1 & 2)
This modular course is required in Years 1 and 2 so that 12 modules in total are taken. At least 6 of the total 12 modules must be from the UPGEN offerings. The other modules may be taken from the CMB module course offerings to complete the course requirement.
Students typically take 6–9 modules in Year 1 and 3–6 modules in Year 2.
MGM 701: Foundations in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (required in Year 1). Students will discuss a book relevant to genetics and microbiology (currently The Gene) with input and context from MGM faculty.
MGM 790S: Monday student research seminar (required in years 1-4). In the fall semester this course will cover a wide variety of topics related to your progression through graduate school. Please note attendance is required and will be recorded. However, students from all years are not required to attend all classes. Please
see the syllabus for details. Attending all assigned sessions is required for a passing grade. Any absences must be approved by the instructor. In the spring of year 4 students will give a public seminar. The seminar should consist of data they have produced towards the completion of their thesis work. As the graduate school only guarantees five years of funding, the expectation is that this talk should cover a completed or nearly completed study that is ready for or has been submitted for publication.
MGM 793S: Research in MGM (required for Years 1 & 2). Fulfilled through rotations in Year 1 and through research in your thesis lab in Year 2.
Electives: Minimum 5 credit hours in full-semester courses or mini-courses on any aspect of genetics or microbiology. Each year the Director of Graduate Studies, Director and administrator will help to determine which courses may be used to fulfill this requirement.
By the end of the second year, all MGM students should have a minimum of 24 graded credits. They must earn a B- or higher in classes 1-4 above. The student advisory committee, which is composed of the DGS, Director and Administrator, has the authority to add or waive course requirements on an individual basis. If a student has previous coursework that might allow them to opt out of a required course, they must take the next higher related course in order to complete the MGM requirement.
Registration
All first-year students will meet with the DGS and program coordinator prior to registering for classes for the first year. You will meet again with the DGS and program coordinator near the end of the first semester to choose spring semester courses. You are responsible for setting up the meeting for choosing spring semester courses.
To register for courses: You will be automatically registered for “Full Continuation” (CTN) for the fall and spring semesters, but it is important that you verify this process has actually happened. If you do not see “CTN” on your fall and spring list of courses, please contact the DGS/program coordinator immediately. If you do not register before the end of the add/drop period, you will be unable to fulfill your requirements. EVERY SEMESTER, registration for Continuation (CTN) will be required, including manual registration for Full Continuation (CTN) in summer.
Recruitment
First year students are important contributors to recruitment of new students. All first years are expected to participate in recruitment weekends held in February. This involves working with the student recruitment committee and the admissions committee to plan recruitment activities and later acting as host for a recruit.
Laboratory Rotations
Purpose of rotations
It is important to take full advantage of these laboratory rotations. They fulfill several purposes by providing: 1) exposure to different types of research and scientific approaches; 2) practical experience that will help in deciding the laboratory in which you will want to pursue your PhD; and 3) provide the lab members and PI with an opportunity to consider a potential 4 to 5-year working relationship.
Choosing rotation labs
Students must perform three different laboratory rotations during the first year. Rotations are logged in T3 and rotations dates are set by the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education. Rotations should be with primary or secondary faculty members of MGM. Rotations outside of MGM faculty will only be allowed with written permission from the DGS and are unlikely to be approved without extenuating circumstances. Students are encouraged to explore areas of research within MGM that they may not have considered prior to entering the program. Your classes during the first semester provide an important opportunity to meet different professors and to learn about research topics that might not be on your immediate radar screen. Students should schedule their first rotation prior to the start of classes. The summer rotation can be shorter, but needs to be at least eight weeks in length. All exceptions to these guidelines should be discussed with the DGS or DGSA.
Rotation report
At the end of each laboratory rotation, you and your rotation mentor must submit a rotation evaluation form in T3, documenting the lab in which you performed your rotation and a description of the studies you pursued and completed while there. A Rotation Evaluation Form must be completed by you and the rotation mentor within 2 weeks after completion of each rotation.
Thesis Advisor
Students choose, and affiliate with, a thesis advisor after completing their rotations. This must be done by the end of July of the first year. Students are welcome and encouraged to discuss affiliation choice with MGM leadership. In some cases, a student will complete an additional rotation before choosing an advisor. Please refer to the T3 website for the links to affiliate.
Vacation Policy
Regardless of student status (rotation or affiliated) in a lab, the student should request and confirm approval with the advisor when they take vacation. Policies for the amount of vacation and timing of approval.
Conference Travel Awards
Students in their first and second year of training who are presenting a paper or poster at a conference may request a program travel stipend. Students are limited to one stipend per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Students must be in good standing with the graduate school and the program in order to be considered for this travel stipend. Please note-Students on academic probation are not eligible for this award. To apply for an award, please provide the program coordinator with the following information:
- The name of the meeting and other relevant details (conference dates, location, etc.)
- A copy of the submitted abstract.
- Documentation of approval for presentation of paper or poster at the conference
- A letter of support from your faculty advisor in whose laboratory or group the accepted work was
carried out.
The graduate school also offers travel awards for conference and course attendance. However, to qualify, the student must have passed their prelim exam and be in good standing with both the program and the graduate school.
Summer
Be sure to register for full continuation (CTN) over the summer.