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1^st year students begin at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ in August with a series of orientations. The department will reach out to students with more detailed instructions prior to the beginning of the semester.

The 1^st year typically consists of laboratory rotations, coursework, and a teaching assistantship.

Laboratory Rotations – Students participate in four rotations during their first academic year (two during each semester). The rotation lasts ~8-weeks. A rotation is a time when a student previews joining a laboratory by participating in research and attending laboratory events/meetings. The goal of laboratory rotations is to help students find a match with prospective thesis advisor. Biochemistry Ph.D. students can rotate with investigators from across the University but must perform their first rotation with a Biochemistry faculty member.

Coursework – Students take a number of graduate-level courses within their first year. The most important are two semesters of Biochemistry Core, a class only for Biochemistry Ph.D. students that provides a foundation in principles of biochemistry and essentials for research.

Teaching Assistantship – Students are typically funded as Teaching Assistants for their 1st year. In subsequent years, students are typically funded by their thesis advisors lab as Research Assistants.

1^st year students typically “join a lab” at the end of Spring Semester of their first year. Joining a lab consists of selecting a thesis advisor (also called mentor) with whom to perform their dissertation research. Labs may begin financially supporting students at this time. Students are encouraged to apply to one of the NIH training grants at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ during this time.

After joining a lab, 2^nd year students in Biochemistry labs usually no longer teach. This year typically consists of applying for fellowships, taking qualifying exams (also known as COMPs), completing elective coursework, and dissertation research.

Applying for Fellowships – Biochemistry Ph.D. students are encouraged, but not required, to apply to fellowships to support their stipend and research. Our students have received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP), National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 Predoctoral Fellowship, and many other prestigious fellowships.

Qualifying Exams (COMPs) – During the second year, students take qualifying exams. Passing these exams advances students to Ph.D. Candidacy.

Coursework – Students complete the remaining coursework required to fulfill their degree. Typically, second year students take electives on specialty topics they choose.

Dissertation Research – After joining a laboratory, students spend virtually all of their time working with their thesis advisor to perform research for their dissertation.

After advancing to Ph.D. candidacy, students spend virtually all of their time working with their thesis advisor to perform research for their dissertation. Students in Biochemistry convene a Thesis Committee of 3–5 faculty members who meet annually to provide advice and guide students through their degree.

Students who have fulfilled the degree requirements for a Ph.D. in Biochemistry prepare a written Dissertation/Thesis and hold a Thesis Defense. The average time to completion is 5.5 years.