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The first year
graduate program is carefully structured to accomplish three distinct
but interrelated purposes:
During their first year, all entering students pursue a rigorous academic program consisting of a sequence of graduate core courses (aimed at providing up-to-date coverage of three large subject areas) and a minimum of two electives. Students take Molecular Biology and Protein Biochemistry during the Fall quarter, Cell Biology during the Winter quarter, and Genetics during the Spring quarter. In addition, they enroll in at least two of the following electives: Immunology, Developmental Biology, Plant Molecular Biology, Neurobiology, Virology, Signal Transduction or Cancer Biology. Students in the evolutionary biology program take one quarter course in evolution and genetics, one in ecology, and one in behavioral biology. Electives are then drawn from three advanced graduate courses whose topics vary annually. For either track, the first year is the only period in which course work is required.
View a chart of first year courses for the graduate program.
The laboratory rotation program is a fundamental aspect of the student's first year. The rotation program allows students to rotate in laboratories of their choice for 6-week periods. The short projects are related to the general research interests of the individual student and the labs chosen. The goal of the rotations is to introduce the students to different areas of research in biology and to a variety of research methods, procedures and approaches. Students are highly encouraged to select at least one of the four rotations in an area not directly related to their thesis research interests. All of the "rotation labs" are potential hosts for thesis research, and the non-binding character of the rotation program allows the student to experience a variety of research groups before committing to one of them.
A very important additional function of the rotation program is to initiate the first-year trainees into the community of advanced graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. In this manner, the rotations help to knit together a community of researchers, and ease the path to freer exchange of advice and sharing of facilities and skills. We believe that the combined exposure to a strong academic program, together with a rigorous rotation program and a supportive research community provides a solid foundation for the training of our Ph.D. students.
Almost all first-year students choose a thesis advisor for their doctoral research by the Summer Quarter. Trainees invariably base that choice on a rotation in the prospective advisor's lab.
During the summer of the first year, all trainees must take a comprehensive examination, which is an open book, "take-home " type test. Each trainee must answer a number of questions covering the areas of Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology and at least one other area. Exam questions are intended to test the trainee's ability to think coherently and analytically, interpret data, formulate ideas, and propose realistic means of putting those ideas to experimental test. Although the examination is intended to be challenging, it is quite unusual for students not to pass and proceed with their doctoral training.
Students in the Ecology, Behavior and Evolution section must pass an oral examination with their committee and present a written analysis of aspects of the research conducted in their rotations.
The Division of Biological Sciences provides financial support to each Ph.D. graduate student in the form of a stipend, fees, tuition and health insurance. The stipend for the 2006 - 2007 year is $26,000, but will be adjusted to remain competitive with other programs. Students continue to receive financial support as long as they maintain satisfactory academic progress and have not reached the Division support term limit, which is currently seven years.
This support is funded by Federal, State, and private sources and provided in the form of research and teaching assistantships, fellowships, and NIH training grant appointments. Because foreign students are not eligible for support from Federal funds, resources available to support foreign students are limited.
All prospective graduate students are urged to apply for any extramural predoctoral fellowships for which they may be eligible. These include the National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, and other fellowships - in addition to those that are administered by the University. More information on possible fellowships can be found at this website:
|
2008 - 2009 Support Level: Stipend: |
$28,000.00 |
During the spring of the second year, students form a thesis committee and present a specific proposal for thesis research. In 1992, the faculty instituted a series of guidelines aimed at ensuring completion of the Ph.D. in a 5 to 5.5 year program. These guidelines include a yearly meeting between the student and the entire thesis committee, the purpose of which is to identify any difficulties or problems and provide help and guidance before anything negative affects the student's research program. Advancement to candidacy takes place when the trainee has made substantial progress on his or her thesis research and can chart a specific, coherent course to the completion of the research. This usually occurs 8-15 months prior to completion of the thesis. Finally, the finished thesis is presented to the student's committee. Students are then required to present an oral defense of their thesis research (open to the public).
All examination and committee meeting requirements (with the noted or obvious exceptions) to be completed by the end of Spring quarter of the year indicated.
YEAR 1:
First Year Core (3) and Elective (2) Courses
Laboratory Rotations (minimum of 4)
First Year Comprehensive Examination (Summer)
YEAR 2:
Thesis Research
Graduate Research Colloquium (attend for at least 1 quarter)
Bioethics Course
Selection of Core Thesis Committee
Thesis Proposition Examination (Spring/Summer)
Teaching Experience (1 one-quarter laboratory course)
YEAR 3:
Thesis Research
Graduate Research Colloquium (attend with presentation for at least
1 quarter)
Required Meeting of Core Thesis Committee
Third Year Appraisal / Advancement to Candidacy
Teaching Experience (1 one-quarter course)
YEAR 4:
Thesis Research
Graduate Research Colloquium (attend with presentation for at least
1 quarter)
Selection of Remainder of Thesis Committee
Advancement to Candidacy time limit
Teaching Experience (1 one-quarter course)
YEAR 5:
Complete Thesis Research
Pre-Defense Thesis Evaluation Meeting
Prepare Thesis
Thesis Defense
Students act as a teaching assistants for three courses during their graduate careers. Since UCSD is on the quarter system, this equates to one year developing teaching skills. Normally students teach one course a year during their second, third and fourth years in the program. Students are not required to teach during their first year in the program. This teaching requirement provides our trainees with significant hands-on experience in college level instruction, and reinforces their grasp of the basic subject matter (genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, neurobiology, etc.).
Since 1994, the Division has hosted an annual research oriented retreat to allow all graduate students in the program to present results of their research (poster or slide presentation). The retreat is held during the Fall quarter at southern California facilities such as Idyllwild or Lake Arrowhead. This gathering of students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty provides a unique opportunity to interact in an informal setting with colleagues in various research groups. Please visit our retreat website.