Molecular Biology Program Administration:
The Molecular Biology Program is governed by a director and a steering committee.
The director serves a two-year term. The director chairs steering committee
meetings and makes executive decisions as required.
The steering committee meets monthly during the academic year. Its members
are:
• The director
• One department representative from each of the participating departments
• Chairs of the curriculum, advising, admissions, and the recruitment committees
• Two students elected by the students
There are six participating departments (Biology, Biochemistry, Human
Genetics, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Oncological Sciences, and Pathology).
Department representatives to the steering committee are elected by each
of the participating departments.
Chairs of the admissions, curriculum, advising, and recruitment committees
are chosen by the Program director for a tenure of 2-3 years to coincide
with the director’s tenure. The director also selects the chair of
the academic standards committee, although that person does not serve
on the steering committee.
The new Program director is chosen by the current Program director with
the following stipulations: (1) The new director cannot be from the same
department as the current director, (2) The director chosen must meet
with the approval of the steering committee by a 2/3 vote. If the nominee
is not approved, the director must submit the name of another candidate
until approval from the steering committee is achived. (3) The director
must be a full professor in one of the participating departments.
The following three recommendations are intended to enhance stability
for the Program. (1) The steering committee composition should have overlap
each year such that there will always be some experienced members on the
committee. (2) The future Program director should be identified a year
in advance and attend steering committee meetings for at least six months.
(3) The future director should chose committee chairs about six months
before taking office, and these chairs should sit in on their respective
committees to gain experience.
Director: Carl Thummel
Admissions Committee Chair: Mark Metzstein
Advising Committee Chair: Vicente Planelles
Curriculum Committee Chair: Charlie Murtaugh
Recruiting Co-Committee Chairs: Gillian Stanfield and Eric Schmidt
Academic Standards Committee Chair: Jim Metherall
Biology Department Representative: Markus Babst
Biochemistry Department Representative: Brenda Bass
Human Genetics Department Representative: Gillian Stanfield
Neurobiology & Anatomy Department Representative: Wolfgang Baehr
Oncological Sciences Department Representative: Matt Topham
Pathology Department Representative: Matt Williams
Student Representatives: Judi Pickens and Magdalena Potok
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
Minutes are compiled by the Program office, approved by the director,
and sent out via e-mail to all Program faculty members.
Policy Changes
How a policy is enacted:
(1) A policy change is suggested
(2) It is discussed at a steering committee meeting
(3) It is reviewed by the participating departments via the department
representatives
who are expected to bring issues to their
department for discussion. (an e-mail summary
is also copied to the department chairs)
(4) Final approval is by the Steering Committee
(5) It is posted on the webpage
