GRADUATE PROGRAM GUIDELINES: LABORATORY ROTATIONS
Department of Cellular Biology Rotation Policy
Department of Cellular Biology
Graduate Student Rotation Policy
- The goals of student rotations are: a) to provide opportunities for incoming students to learn about the research interests of laboratories in the department, and the manner in which the laboratories pursue these interests; b) to gain some breadth of training and/or to gain experience with a research technique; and c) to allow faculty to meet incoming students.
- Since the period of the rotation is relatively short, rotation students should not feel undue pressure to complete projects in the laboratories. The primary emphasis is on effort and learning. Rotation students are expected to engage projects energetically.
- All M. S. candidates will engage in 2 rotations with 2 different faculty members, and may select a major advisor at the end of Fall semester.
- All Ph. D. candidates will engage in 2 or 3 rotations with 2 or 3 different faculty members, respectively. They may select a major advisor at the end of Fall semester, or continue with additional rotations in Spring semester.
- The schedule of rotations is as follows: a) 3 weeks for new students to adjust to coursework and assignments; b) 6 weeks for each rotation; c) the third rotation, if elected, will commence at the start of the new semester. Students who have made up their mind about the first rotation are permitted to begin prior to the fourth week of the semester.
- Students will choose a major advisor at the end of the last rotation.
- Grading of laboratory rotations will be on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis for each rotation. Under most circumstances, a laboratory rotation will represent at least ten hours of work per week per credit hour during the half-semester in which it is performed.