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Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program
Program
Description
The course of study in this program leads to
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The student receives
extensive theoretical and practical training in the
biomedical sciences. The goal of this program is to prepare
students to become productive biomedical researchers and
highly qualified teachers.
In the first year, students are not
members of any department but are registered for classes
through the School of Medicine. Their advisor is the
director of the program.
During the first year, students are
expected to divide their time profitably between course
work and creative research in the form of up to three
laboratory rotations, each of which will last
approximately half a semester. Usually, one rotation
will be performed in the fall semester and two in the
spring semester although students may also enter the
program early (e.g. in July) to start a rotation before
formal classes begin.
The first year of course work consists of
the Biomedical Science core curriculum. This consists
of one of two tracks:
The first semester of either track is
very similar and students may switch between tracks if
their research interests change.
In most cases, PhD students receive a
stipend and a tuition waiver. This is paid during the
first year by the integrated program. Stipends are
full-time research assistantships and it is anticipated
that students will make a significant contribution to
any laboratory in which they are involved. After
completion of course work, the student’s prime
commitment is to laboratory-based dissertation research.
At any time during the first year, the
student may select a major professor (mentor) and
department but this must be done before July 1 (at the
end of the first year). At that time, the student
leaves the integrated program and joins the mentor’s
department. If this is before the end of the spring
semester, the student continues in the core curriculum.
The student is then subject to the rules and regulations
of the graduate program of the major professor’s
department. The student’s degree will be awarded by the
major professor’s department. Thus, for example,
students joining a laboratory in the School of Medicine
will, on completion of their thesis, be awarded a Doctor
of Philosophy in Biomedical Science whereas students
joining a laboratory in the Department of Biology will
receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Biology. The PhD
manuals for the constituent departments will be posted
on the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate program
web site. The rules and regulations pertaining to a
particular student will be those in force at the time
the student joins the mentor’s department and the
student should ensure that he or she obtains a copy of
the appropriate PhD manual. If the program is altered
after the student is admitted, the student shall have
the choice of complying with the new rules and
regulations or those in force at the time of admission.
Research in biomedical science is expensive
and in selecting a major professor, a student should ensure
that the mentor is in a position to support both the
student’s stipend and research expenses.
Once students select a major professor, the
student, in association with the major professor, should
appoint an advisory committee. Additional specialized course
work, usually taking place during the second year, is
defined by the mentor, the department and the student’s
advisory committee.
The Director of the Integrated Biomedical
Science Graduate Program will monitor and aid the progress
of students through the various departmental/school
programs, where appropriate, but after selecting a major
professor the student should first consult the major
professor concerning any difficulties and then the graduate
director of the major professor’s department. |
