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Overview MCDB Program EE Program MD/PhD Program |
So, how do courses and rotations and teaching experiences add up to a graduate career? Below we show a sample timeline of what a typical gradate student may experience in our MCDB graduate program, and then give a quick tour of the milestones you will reach during your graduate training.
Year One. September is a big month, where students start their first laboratory rotation, begin the Graduate Core Course, and attend the annual Departmental Retreat, where they can meet with faculty and other graduate students. The second research rotation begins and November, and the third begins in February. At the end of April, the Graduate Core Course has been completed, and each student chooses a mentor and settles into a research laboratory to begin her/his thesis work. Year Two. We don't ask students to teach during their first year; this leaves this period open so that students can concentrate on the Core Course, and have fulfilling research rotations to decide which lab is best for them. You may choose to complete your teaching assistantship in the fall semester of year two, or during the spring term of year three. The teaching experience also prepares students for giving oral presentations during their scientific careers. The spring semester of year two is always teaching-free, allowing students to prepare for their comprehensive exams. Year Three. Exciting coursework beings in year three, when students take Advanced Topics Courses, offered for half of semester (either the 5' end or the 3' end of the semester). These courses delve into the nitty-gritty of cutting-edge research. Recent topics have included the operation of catalytic RNA, mechanisms of transposition, regulation of developmental patterns, and the genetics of microbial developmental processes. Some students defer their teaching assistantship until year three as well. Year Four. More Advanced Topics Courses help round out the breadth of a student's knowledge. By this time, students are pros at giving Friday Noon Seminar, where they present their work to fellow students and faculty. These talks hone their skills for giving job talks, which usually come in ... Year Five. ..., when most students finish up their thesis work, polish off their dissertations, and move on to bigger and better things! |
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