Requirements for the Ph.D. Program in Molecular Biology:

I. First Year

A. Courses
Students in the Molecular Biology Program will complete the standard program outlined below during their first year.  The student and Academic Advisor will meet at least twice each semester to plan coursework and discuss rotations (see below).  If background deficiencies are identified, the student may be advised to register for appropriate undergraduate work and to delay taking a core course until the second year. 

Fall Semester
MBIOL 6050-001                      Faculty Research Seminar  (.5 credit)
MBIOL 7570-001                      Research Ethics  (1 credit)           
MBIOL 6410-001                      Protein & Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (2 credits)
MBIOL 6420-001                      Genetics & Genome  (3 credits)
MBIOL 7960-001                      Graduate Research (1 credit)
MBIOL 7960-002                      Graduate Research (1 credit)

Electives (choose one from below)
MBIOL 6440-001                      Gene Expression (1.5 credits)
BLCHM 6450-001                     Biophysical Chemistry (2 credits)
BLCHM 6430-001                     Structural Methods (1.5 credits)

Spring Semester
MBIOL 6100-001                      Journal Club/Grant Writing (2 credit)
MBIOL 6480-001                      Cell Biology I (1.5 credits)
MBIOL 7960-001                      Graduate Research (1 credit)
MBIOL 7960-002                      Graduate Research (1 credit)
Electives (choose 3)                      TBA - (1-3 credits)

Students must earn a B- or better in all graded core courses.  Only one retake is allowed.

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and to remain in good standing (see Part C) with the Molecular Biology Program and to be eligible for tuition waivers and stipend. 


B. Rotation Projects
During their first year, students in the Molecular Biology Program complete four laboratory rotations with different faculty members.  Each student is required to participate in all the Fall and Spring semester rotations.   Students are required to rotate in at least two different departments throughout the year.   In addition to helping you choose a thesis mentor, lab rotations may provide exposure to new areas of research you might not otherwise experience, familiarize you with the research in different groups and departments, help you learn new experimental approaches, and help develop contacts that may prove helpful in subsequent thesis research.

Guidelines for choosing and successfully completing a lab rotation, click here

C. Evaluation of First Year Academic Performance

We make every effort to help students succeed during the first year, including consultation from an academic advisor.  However an unsatisfactory Molecular Biology Program academic and/or research performance can result in dismissal.  Any student with a grade of C in 2 or more of the core courses, and/or with a GPA less than 3.0 will be evaluated for appropriateness for con tinuation in graduate school.  Students with an unsatisfactory performance in their rotations and thus unable to identify a suitable dissertation lab by the end of their first year will also be evaluated for appropriateness for continuation in graduate school.  Evaluation of students with unsatisfactory academic and/or laboratory rotation records is conducted by the student’s academic advisor and the director.  In any event, a GPA of 3.0 is a requirement for eligibility for graduate school tuition waivers.  Students who drop below a 3.0 GPA will have their tuition waiver withdrawn.  Moreover, the MBP does not provide financial support beyond the first academic year; this is a departmental responsibility.
 
Every student is required to sign the enclosed statement regarding the University of Utah Honor Code.  Some university courses have take-home exams.  Cheating, plagiarism or collusion on examinations is not permissible.  Academic dishonesty will likely result in revocation of stipend and tuition benefits and a recommendation for dismissal from graduate school.  Collaboration on certain problem sets may be permitted as specified by the course instructor.  If any doubts exist, ask the instructor for clarification.  Please read this information carefully and if you have any questions, please contact your advisor, the Director, or the Program office.

D. Recruiting Involvement
All students are expected to participate in the new student recruiting effort during their first year.  This will include hosting prospective students during the recruiting weekends.  The 2011 MBP weekends are scheduled for January 27-20, February 10-13 and 24-27.


II. Selecting a Thesis Advisor

The Molecular Biology Program is responsible for students only during their first year.  Subsequently, each student must find a thesis advisor and, thereby, become a student in the thesis advisor’s department.  Every effort will be made to assist students in finding an advisor, but ultimately, each student is responsible for making appropriate arrangements.  Only in exceptional circumstances, and with approval of the Program Director, will the Program continue financial support beyond one year.

In order to allow fair access to thesis labs, students and faculty should not make firm commitments regarding choice of a thesis lab until 2 weeks prior to the end of the spring semester.  Students should discuss their interest in working in the lab of the potential Thesis Advisor during the year, learn whether space will be available and whether a faculty member “in principle” will direct their thesis.  When a choice has been made, submit this information to the Program office.  At this time, a Thesis Agreement Form will be signed by the student and PI.  This form states the student's progress during the first year.

A student may elect to join a thesis lab outside the MB Program.  However, the Program cannot guarantee stipend support for students in labs outside the Program. 

The Program recommends each participating department maintain the current stipend amount but departments may vary on other support, i.e., insurance benefits.  Please consult the individual department and your potential thesis advisor about support.


III. Following Years

After the first year, each student's education will be conducted under the policies of the department of the Thesis Advisor.  This requires satisfactory completion of the standard first year program, including any courses that have been deferred or that must be repeated.  In addition, requirements of the graduate school must be met, including a cumulative grade point average above 3.0 and the writing and defending of a Ph.D. Thesis.  Additional requirements common to all departments include the following:

A. A Preliminary Examination must be passed.  The form and content of the exam may differ slightly from department to department.  In general, the preliminary exam will not be undertaken (and in no case shall be considered to have been passed) until the Molecular Biology core program has been satisfactorily completed.  The preliminary exam should be taken before the end of the second year.
B. Thesis committee meetings must be held at least once a year after the preliminary exam.
C. 1 1/2 semesters of additional graduate level courses should be taken.  This could be a mix of didactic and journal clubs.  Please check the individual department requirements.  Some non-graduate level courses such as physical chemistry or computer courses may also be accepted.
D. Participation in departmental journal clubs is expected.
E. Starting in the second year, service as a Teaching Assistant for one semester will be required of each student.
F. A student transferring from one department to another after the first year will be subject to the specific guidelines of their new department.  There is no guarantee that a prelim in one department will be sufficient for another department’s requirements.

 


Updated 7/29/2010