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Department of

Biological Sciences

Graduate Handbook

2019-2020

 
I.  GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT 
OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES .......................................... 1 
LABORATORY ROTATIONS, SELECTION OF MAJOR PROFESSOR
 ............................................................................ 1 
EXTRAMURAL PH.D. ................................................. 2 
THESIS/DISSERTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE .............. 2 
PROGRAM PLANNING ............................................... 2 
COURSE INFORMATION ............................................. 3 
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT ......................................... 4 
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT ......................................... 4 
TEACHING EXPERIENCE ............................................. 5 
TIME LIMITATION ..................................................... 5 
MINI-SEMINARS ...................................................... 5 
JOURNAL CLUBS ...................................................... 5 
STUDENT INVITED SEMINAR ....................................... 5 
RADIOISOTOPE USAGE .............................................. 6 
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ............................................ 6 
DEPARTMENTAL GRADUATE COMMITTEES - DUTIES AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................... 6 
II.  STUDENT EVALUATION .................................... 7 
RESEARCH EVALUATIONS ........................................... 7 
COURSE WORK ....................................................... 8 
EVALUATION OF TEACHING ........................................ 8 
III.  MASTER’S DEGREE QUALIFYING EXAM AND 
THESIS ...................................................................... 8 
MASTER’S THESIS OUTLINE ........................................ 8 
MASTER’S QUALIFYING EXAMINATION ......................... 9 
THESIS DEFENSE .................................................... 9 
FINAL SEMINAR ....................................................... 9 
APPROVAL OF THESIS .......................................... 9 
IV.  DOCTORAL DEGREE QUALIFYING EXAM AND 
DISSERTATION ........................................................ 10 
PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION ............................ 10 
OUTLINE FOR DISSERTATION .................................... 14 
DISSERTATION ....................................................... 14 
DISSERTATION DEFENSE .......................................... 15 
PUBLIC SEMINAR ................................................... 15 
APPROVAL OF DISSERTATION ................................... 15 
V.  FINANCIAL AID ............................................... 15 
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS ..................................... 15 
EXTENDED DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT ........................ 15 
TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS .......................................... 16 
SUMMER SUPPORT ................................................ 16 
INCOME TAX LIABILITY AND WITHHOLDING ................ 16 
VI.  FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS .......................... 16 
MU FELLOWSHIP .................................................. 17 
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARSHIPS AND 
FELLOWSHIPS ....................................................... 18 
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS FROM FACULTY GRANTS .... 20 
SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS .......................... 20 
TRAVEL AWARDS ................................................... 21 
RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS ..... 21 
VII.  GRADUATE STUDENT WELFARE ...................... 22 
VACATION POLICY ................................................. 22 
LEAVE POLICY .................................................... 22 
TRAVEL POLICY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS........... 22 
OFFICE SPACE ....................................................... 23 
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS 23 
HEALTH INSURANCE ............................................... 23 
PREPARING FUTURE FACULTY & PROFESSIONALS ......... 23 
CONDUCT ............................................................ 23 
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY .............................. 24 
VIII.  WEHR LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING RULES ............ 24 
OFFICE/SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT ............................... 24 
PERSONAL PHONE MESSAGES .................................. 24 
ISSUANCE OF KEYS AND SWIPE CARD ......................... 25 
AFTER-HOURS ACCESS ........................................... 25 
IX.  COURSE INFORMATION .................................. 29 
X.  APPENDIX ...................................................... 34 
MINI-SEMINAR RUBRIC .......................................... 34 
ANNUAL REVIEW ................................................... 34 
WRITTEN QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC ........................ 34 
ORAL QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC ............................. 34 
DISSERTATION OUTLINE RUBRIC ............................... 34 
ORAL DISSERTATION RUBRIC ................................... 34 
   

NOTE: This Handbook is intended to be a companion to the Marquette University Graduate School

Bulletin. Exceptions to the guidelines listed in this Handbook may be petitioned in writing by the student to

the Graduate Affairs Committee.

I. GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

The Department of Biological Sciences has separate master’s and Ph.D. degree programs. The

anticipated learning outcomes for the master’s and Ph.D. degree programs include:

1. Demonstrate an in-depth mastery of advanced concepts in Biological Sciences

2. Demonstrate independent scientific thinking

3. Demonstrate the ability to design and execute an original research project

4. Communicate biological information effectively in both written and oral formats

LABORATORY ROTATIONS, SELECTION OF MAJOR PROFESSOR

Biological Sciences faculty who may be accepting students in the coming academic year will give short

presentations during the orientation period to familiarize incoming students with their research programs.

Students interested in rotating through a laboratory should consult with the relevant faculty to ensure

mutual interest. All first-year students must complete three lab rotations before the end of their second

semester. Students are expected to enroll in one BIOL 6096 course in the fall semester and two BIOL

6096 courses in the spring semester and will receive one unit of credit for each rotation. Rotation

performances are graded on a satisfactory “S” or unsatisfactory “U” basis. Receiving a “U” rotation grade

may be grounds for placement on probation and any additional “U” rotation grade may be grounds for

dismissal from the program. Faculty choosing to give a “U” grade to a student for their rotation

performance should directly communicate this to the student at the end of the rotation period and explain

why they considered the student’s performance not to be at the expected level. Faculty assigning a

student a “U” grade for a rotation or terminating a rotation should also directly inform the Director of

Graduate Studies. Prior to completion of the second semester, Ph.D. and master’s students must match

with a major professor.

Near the end of the third rotation, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will solicit a count of how

many new graduate students each faculty that hosted rotation students could potentially accept into

their lab. The DGS will inform all first-year students of the counts provided by the faculty.

Three policies constrain the number of graduate students whose stipends are not fully supported by

individual faculty funds that may enter any given lab. First, no faculty member will accept more than

two first-year students into their lab in any given year. Second, no faculty member will have more than

three first- and second-year students in their lab at any one time.

Following the completion of the third rotation, students will submit a prioritized list of faculty to the

Graduate Affairs Committee; on this list, students will divide the faculty with whom they rotated into

“acceptable” and “unacceptable” and then rank order the acceptable faculty. Faculty will submit a

similar list of students to the committee, again with students divided into acceptable and unacceptable

and the acceptable students rank ordered. An Assignment Committee, chosen by the Graduate

Affairs Committee, will compare the lists and match students with faculty mentors. The overriding

factor for the Assignment Committee will be to place students in labs for which both mentor and

student have deemed the match acceptable. Wherever possible, higher priority will be given to the

preference of the students. The Assignment Committee will not include any potential mentors, and all

information received by the Assignment Committee will remain strictly confidential.

Decisions will be communicated to the students and all participating faculty by letter prior to the

completion of the second semester. A form signed by the faculty mentor and the student will formalize the

relationship. It should be noted that a student is not obliged to enter any of the labs sampled, nor does

accepting a student for a laboratory rotation oblige a faculty member to become a student’s major

professor.

In the unlikely event that an assignment into a laboratory of interest cannot be secured for the student

after completing the 3 rotations and matching process, an option of completing a fourth rotation will be

provided. Note, if a student cannot secure a match after four rotation periods, this may be grounds for

dismissal from the program.

Once a faculty mentor has been established, a thesis/dissertation advisory committee will be formed.

EXTRAMURAL PH.D.

In general, graduate students are expected to choose a major professor from either the regular or adjunct

faculty of the department. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may request permission from the

Department Chair to work in a laboratory outside these sites. However, a thesis/dissertation advisor must

also be chosen from the department faculty who then will monitor and be responsible for the student's

training. Publications resulting from this arrangement will acknowledge the Department of Biological

Sciences as the primary address of the student author.

THESIS/DISSERTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Director of Graduate Studies will be responsible for advising and approving all course selection for

graduate students until a permanent thesis/dissertation advisory committee is established. The

permanent thesis/dissertation advisory committee should be chosen no later than the end of the

student's second semester.

The committee will consist of no fewer than five members for Ph.D. students in the NEURO track and no

fewer than four members for Ph.D. students in the BSCI track with at least three members from the

graduate program, or three members for the master’s student, at least two of whom must be from the

graduate program. Any members from outside the University must provide a C.V. The committee is

appointed by the Department Chair upon recommendation of the student’s major professor, following

consultation with the student.

A student’s program of study and research will be decided by the student and their thesis/dissertation

advisory committee. The advisory committee will meet with the student as soon as possible after its

formation to review the student's background and decide upon a program of coursework. For this

meeting, the student should prepare a list of undergraduate and graduate courses already taken that are

relevant to the field of study, the grades obtained in these courses, and where the courses were taken. In

addition, the student, in consultation with the major professor, should prepare a written plan of

coursework for consideration by the committee at this meeting. After the committee discusses the

program of coursework, a brief and general discussion of the student's tentative research project may

ensue.

The Advisory Committee shall meet with the student annually before the end of the spring semester to

review progress, complete the annual assessment form, and consult on the dissertation project. It is

strongly recommended that the annual committee meeting be held within one week of the presentation of

the student's mini-seminar.

PROGRAM PLANNING

Because a master’s degree is not a prerequisite to the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Biological

Sciences, entering graduate students may embark directly upon a doctoral program. A formal Doctoral

Planning Form or Master’s Program Planning Form (obtainable from the Graduate School web site) must

be submitted by the student and their advisory committee to the assistant of the Graduate Affairs

Committee to be forwarded to the Graduate School Office no later than the end of the student's

second semester. The deadline is extended to the end of the 5

semester for master’s students who

have switched from the PhD program.

The Program Planning Form is a binding contract between student, department, and Graduate School

and specifies the exact requirements and expectations of the student and their advisory committee. This

contract must be amended if any additions or deletions are to be recognized. The student must complete

all requirements as listed on the form prior to graduating. Some requirements may prevent the student

from being advanced to candidacy if not fulfilled.

COURSE INFORMATION

A typical doctoral student completes a minimum required 24 credit hours of course work and 12 credit

hours of dissertation work. Course work includes a minimum of seven 2-3 credit graduate lecture

courses, 5 credits of research, and 5 one-credit seminar courses. Students must

take BIOL 6005 Scientific Writing Workshop as one of their five seminar courses. All students must enroll

in BIOL 6952 Department Colloquium during each term in residence.

Master’s students must complete a total of 30 credit hours, including 21 credit hours of course work and

research, three credit hours of seminar courses and six credit hours of thesis work. Eighteen of the 30

credit hours must be taken in biological sciences. During each term in residency, master's students are

also required to enroll in BIOL 6952 Department Colloquium.

Every graduate student must enroll in either: adviser-approved course work; thesis or dissertation credits;

a continuation course; or a combination of every fall and spring semester until graduation to maintain their

graduate student status. Any student failing to enroll for one or more academic year semesters must

petition for readmission upon return. Reinstatement is possible if departmental endorsement is given and

the student has no outstanding balance owed to the university. The Dean of the Graduate School and the

major department jointly decide if a student will be readmitted. More detailed information is available in

the Graduate School Bulletin.

CONTINUATION COURSES

In order to maintain full-time status, students who are not enrolled for at least seven credits in a

semester must be enrolled in a continuation course.

The deadline for continuation course registration is the first day of the semester. A Continuation

Course Registration Form must be approved by the student's adviser and the Director of Graduate

Studies, and submitted to the assistant of the Graduate Affairs Committee to be forwarded to the

Graduate School Office for registration. This course is graded "S/U", and there is a $100 fee charged,

which will usually be paid by the student's tuition scholarship. Questions regarding continuation

courses may be directed to the administrative assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee.

SUMMER REGISTRATION

Graduate students who intend to graduate in August must be enrolled in a continuation course during

the summer term prior to their graduation. Registration in the summer is only required if the student

intends to graduate in August.

TRANSFER OF COURSES

When a doctoral student enters the program with a master’s degree from another institution in the

same or a closely related field, the student may request the department and the Graduate School to

allow the master’s degree to satisfy up to 25% of the 24 required course credits. This request is made

via the Doctoral Program Planning form. In all cases, a minimum of 18 credits of coursework

exclusive of the dissertation credits must be taken at Marquette while in the doctoral program.

Master’s level students wishing credit transfer from another institution must take their requests to the

Dean of the Graduate School on the Master’s Degree Transfer of Credit Request form. The student

must also have met the following conditions: 1) completed six credits (nine credits if admitted on

probation) as a degree-status student in their Marquette master's program; 2) taken the courses

requested for transfer at the graduate level and for graduate credit; 3) earned a grade of B or above

in each of the courses; and 4) official transcripts are on file from the institutions involved, if other than

Marquette.

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Graduate students may be permitted to apply upper division undergraduate credits towards their

graduate program. Such courses require department approval (either the student’s major professor of

adviser, Graduate Affairs Committee or Department Chair). Only those courses which are designated

as being available for graduate credit (5000 level courses) can be so used. Under some

circumstances the student may be advised by their committee to make up deficiencies in their

previous undergraduate training by taking undergraduate courses which are not available for

graduate credit. Such courses do not count towards the credits required for a graduate degree.

AUDITED COURSES

Graduate students who audit courses are charged the full graduate fee per credit plus all laboratory

fees where applicable (undergraduate or graduate). Such audited courses are not credited towards

the graduate degree.

STUDENT COURSE LOAD

As stated in the Graduate School Bulletin, a student may take a maximum of 14 credit hours during

any one semester. During a summer session, a maximum of seven credit hours may be taken. Full-

time status normally requires seven credit hours per semester, or registration in a continuation

course. A course load greater than 10 hours requires the approval of the student’s mentor,

Department Chair, and the Graduate School on the Credit Overload Request form, available on the

Marquette Central academic forms website.

WITHDRAWING FROM (DROPPING) A COURSE

A student who wishes to drop a course and/or change to audit must obtain, in writing, the permission

of both their academic adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies. Students granted permission to

withdraw from a course must notify the Graduate School office by completing a Request to Drop a

Course form. See the Graduate School Bulletin for further information.

GRADUATE COURSE EVALUATIONS

A University based online course evaluation system (MOCES) is available for students to evaluate

Department of Biological Sciences graduate courses. All graduate students are encouraged to

participate in these evaluations.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

Doctoral students in the Department of Biological Sciences must be enrolled with full-time status for at

least two consecutive academic years while working under the direction of their advisory committee chair

and advisory committee. The intent of this requirement is to ensure that such students experience the full

meaning of being part of a community of scholars. The period of residency provides the opportunity to

achieve this experience by insisting on the near-total immersion of the doctoral student in academic

intellectual endeavors. Any residency option must be approved by the Graduate School prior to its

completion via the Doctoral Program Planning Form.

There is no residency requirement for students working toward a master’s degree.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Normally no reading knowledge of a foreign language is required for the graduate program in Biological

Sciences. However, at the discretion of the student's advisory committee, proficiency in a foreign

language may be required if it is necessary in the student's research. All new international teaching

assistants must have their English skills evaluated by the Office of International Education during the

mandatory International Teaching Assistant Program run by that department. Based on the evaluation, it

may be required that the student register for ESLP 6021 (American Language and Communication for

Teaching Assistants). The course is for two credits, a letter grade is assigned for this course, and the

student’s tuition scholarship may be used to pay for the course.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

All graduate students in Biological Sciences are required to have two semesters of teaching experience in

partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. or master’s degree. Teaching experience, if properly

documented, may be accepted from another institution.

TIME LIMITATION

Students are expected to complete all requirements for their degrees in the time allowed as stated in the

Graduate School Bulletin: six years for master’s degrees, and eight years for doctoral degrees. The time

period begins with the date of admission to degree status and the start of the time period is not affected

by transfer credit taken prior to admission to Marquette. More information may be found in the Graduate

School Bulletin.

MINI-SEMINARS

To gain experience in oral presentation of their research, each graduate student will deliver an annual

seminar. The first of these will occur in the fall semester of the second year of graduate study and

normally every year thereafter. (Ph.D. students who have formally announced their dissertation defense

date will be excused.) The major responsibility of this presentation is to communicate the rationale for,

and goals of, the student’s research activity. Following a brief introduction, concise methodology and

current data are then given. Approximately 15 minutes are allowed per student, followed by a five-minute

question period. Senior students may request 20 minutes for their presentations, followed by the five

minutes of questions.

Mini seminars will occur approximately every other week (Thursday, 12:00-12:50) with two graduate

student speakers per session. The bi-weekly schedule will be adjusted to avoid conflicts with scientific

meetings and holidays. Students will present in this order: the more junior student will present first. When

both students are in their same year of study, students will present in alphabetical order. Current

schedules are posted on the department’s website. Critiques of the student’s performance are prepared

by the members of the student’s advisory committee and by select members of the audience (see

appendix for rubric). Attendance at these mini-seminars is mandatory for all graduate students.

An abstract (no more than one page) and title should be submitted to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs

Committee for distribution to faculty and graduate students two days prior to the seminar. This abstract

should be understandable to most of the department and thus, may contain more information than a

typical meeting or manuscript abstract.

JOURNAL CLUBS

All students are required to participate in a departmental journal club each semester unless prevented

from doing so by a course teaching conflict, or field research. These journal clubs are organized by M.U.

fellows and overseen by a faculty member of the Graduate Affairs Committee and give students an

opportunity to critically read and present papers from the current literature. Journal clubs will meet

approximately weekly during the semester. In addition to attending the journal clubs, each student is

expected to present a paper in a journal club at least once per year.

STUDENT INVITED SEMINAR

Biological sciences graduate students may select one speaker for the Department Seminar Program

annually. In the spring semester, the Graduate Student Representative(s) will contact third-year students

to arrange a meeting to discuss and nominate a potential speaker for the following academic year. This

meeting must be conducted by spring break. Students interested in inviting a potential speaker must

define, in writing, the speaker’s achievements and the rationales of the invitation. Following the meeting,

all third-year students vote anonymously to select one candidate in an online survey created by the

Graduate Student Representative(s). The speaker will be invited in coordination with the departmental

administrative assistants. All third-year students are expected to help arrange and participate in the

hosting duties when the student-invited speaker visits the following academic year.

RADIOISOTOPE USAGE

No student will be permitted to use radioactive isotopes in a research lab, including lab rotations, before

they have met the radiation worker safety requirements at Marquette University. This consists of attending

a one-hour lecture, viewing two one-hour DVDs, passing a quiz and completing the affirmation statement.

The entire process is described here: http://www.marquette.edu/orc/radiation-safety/become-radiation-

worker.shtml. If students have a previous exposure record, this must be on file at the Office of Research

and Sponsored Programs before they can begin work with radioactive materials.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, such practices as dishonesty in the completion of

class assignments and examinations, the presentation of research done by another as one's own

research, or the presentation of any written material done by others as one's own writing. All graduate

students must complete the Graduate Academic Integrity Tutorial that can be accessed on the D2L

homepage (click on Academic Integrity in the upper right corner) by October 1 of their first year (March 1

for students beginning in January). In addition, graduate students are encouraged to review the

undergraduate tutorial as well if they are teaching assistants or they need further clarification on

plagiarism. Any student who is found to have engaged in academic dishonesty will be reported to the

Academic Integrity Director. Procedures for handling accusations of academic dishonesty may be found

in the Marquette University Graduate School Bulletin. Further information can be found on the Academic

Integrity website. Appeals of academic integrity decisions must be submitted to the Academic Integrity

Director except for cases resulting in University-wide sanctions such as suspension or expulsion, which

must be submitted to the Office of the Provost.

DEPARTMENTAL GRADUATE COMMITTEES - DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

GRADUATE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE

The Graduate Recruitment Committee will be concerned with all areas of recruiting new students to

the Biological Sciences Department.

GRADUATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The Graduate Affairs Committee handles all matters for graduate students once they have entered

either the master’s or doctoral program. Its involvement with each student begins with the orientation

session that all incoming graduate student must attend. This committee evaluates the progress of all

graduate students with respect to coursework, research, and teaching each semester. The committee

members may also serve as reviewers for fellowship applications, travel awards, and research and

academic achievement awards (see Financial Aid section).

GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE

A graduate student representative that serves as a student liaison to the Graduate Affairs Committee

is elected annually by the graduate students to serve a one-year term. The term begins July 1 and is

renewable. The election process should take place in April. In the first week, the outgoing

representative solicits nominations. Nominees are asked to submit a one paragraph written statement

describing why they would like to serve as representative, and the goals they hope to accomplish

during their term. In mid-April, students vote using an online survey created by the current

representative.

If only one student accepts a nomination for Graduate Student Representative, the above voting

procedure should still occur. Students may also choose to run as a team as co-representatives.

DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES

The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) oversees the activities of the Graduate Recruitment and

Graduate Affairs Committee and serves as the department’s liaison to the Graduate School. The

DGS also serves as the temporary adviser for all incoming graduate students in the Biological

Sciences track during their first year. The DGS will offer advice on selection of courses as well as

laboratory rotations. All courses and laboratory rotations must be approved by the DGS before they

begin.

II. STUDENT EVALUATION

The Graduate Affairs Committee conducts regular evaluations to determine if each student is making

acceptable progress toward their degree. This evaluation is based on research performance, grades, and

teaching assistant performance (if applicable). The Graduate Affairs Committee completes its evaluation

by making recommendations to the Department Chair on matters of financial support, retention of

teaching assistantship, probationary status, and dismissal.

If, because of such a review, the Department of Biological Sciences decides that a student is not qualified

to continue in its graduate program, the student will be encouraged to withdraw voluntarily. If the student

chooses not to do so, the Department of Biological Sciences will notify the Graduate School immediately,

and the Graduate School, after consultation with the department, will notify the student that they have

been officially dropped from the program.

RESEARCH EVALUATIONS

LAB ROTATION EVALUATION

Faculty mentors are required to submit an evaluation of the first-year graduate student’s performance

during their laboratory rotation period. In addition, receiving an unsatisfactory “U” rotation grade may

be grounds for placement on probation and any additional “U” rotation grade may be grounds for

dismissal from the program.

ANNUAL RESEARCH PERFORMANCE REVIEW

An annual assessment will track the student’s progress towards achieving the anticipated learning

outcomes for their graduate program. One final assessment form will be completed after the

dissertation defense.

Annual Assessment Form Instructions: The Research Performance Review is to be completed

annually in the spring semester by the major professor and the dissertation/thesis advisory committee

for all students second year and above, who have not yet set a date for their dissertation defense. If a

student rates satisfactory or below expectations in any section, actionable suggestions for

improvement should be included as comments. Each student will be given a copy of this annual

report by their major professor and asked to sign the original. The Graduate Affairs Committee

reserves the right to solicit reviews at their discretion in extenuating circumstances for students not

typically assessed in a given spring.

The student’s mentor should complete Section I of the Research Performance Review and discuss

the contents of the review with the student. The mentor and student should then complete Section II

together. After completion of Sections I and II, the form should be forwarded to the student’s

committee members for comment. These opinions should be based on the student's written and oral

reports to the committee as well as any informal interactions between the student and the committee

members, which bear on the student's progress. A printed final version of the Research Performance

Review that incorporates any comments should be signed by mentor, student, and committee

members, and submitted to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee by the deadline stated on

the form. Any comments submitted must be discussed with the student and reflected in the final

version of this form. Any committee member who feels that their opinion is not adequately

represented in the final prepared summary is welcome to submit an individual report.

COURSE WORK

Graduate students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all course work. The “BC” and

“C” grades indicate only a minimal performance and jeopardize the student’s acceptable progress to date.

Students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will automatically be dismissed from the

program by the University (see the Graduate School Bulletin for further policy details). Students may

appeal this dismissal (see the Graduate School website for further details of this process). The completed

appeal form is submitted to the Graduate School where it will be routed to the appropriate individual

(Assoc. Dean or Dean of the Graduate School). The DGS should be consulted when filling out the appeal

form. The appeal must include a measurable academic plan that addresses how the student’s academic

deficiencies will be remedied. Academic censure appeal deadlines are published in the Academic

Calendar for each semester. Successful appeal of the dismissal will enable the student to be reinstated

in the program, but they will be placed on academic probation. A student who fails to achieve a 3.0 grade

point average during an enrollment period while on academic probation or fails to achieve a cumulative

3.00 grade point average after a second academic probationary period, will normally be dismissed from

the University.

Grade appeals in courses are made to the College, School or Program which teaches the course for the

Graduate School following the rules and procedures of that unit. In units with a departmental structure,

appeals should start in the department responsible for the course. See the Graduate School Bulletin for

details.

EVALUATION OF TEACHING

Faculty who supervise graduate students with teaching assistantships are required to submit an

evaluation of the student’s performance at the end of each semester. Students with teaching

assistantships are required to maintain a satisfactory standard of teaching. If a student is performing

unsatisfactorily as a teaching assistant, the instructor must meet with the student during the semester to

provide constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. This meeting must be documented by the

instructor, signed by the student, and a copy provided to the Graduate Affairs Committee. If at the end of

the semester, a teaching assistant, who had been counseled on unsatisfactory teaching, receives a

teaching evaluation of “unsatisfactory” or “poor”, they will be placed on probation. At this time, the

instructor rating the performance, the student and their academic/research advisor, will have a meeting to

identify weaknesses and draw a plan of action for improving teaching performance. This meeting shall be

documented, and a copy provided to the Chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee and placed in the

student’s file. At the next TA assignment meeting, the administrative assistant to the Graduate Affairs

Committee will make the plan of action available to the assignment committee, and following the meeting,

to the instructor to whom the student was assigned as TA for that semester. A teaching evaluation below

satisfactory in any subsequent semester will, at the discretion of the Graduate Affairs Committee (and

research adviser), make the student ineligible for teaching assistantships.

III. MASTER’S DEGREE QUALIFYING EXAM AND THESIS

MASTER’S THESIS OUTLINE

The function of the thesis outline is to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the research problem

being addressed by the student and the experimental approaches being used. The outline will provide the

student’s thesis advisory committee with evidence of the significance of the problem and a justification for

the proposed experimental directions being followed. The thesis outline will consist, in both content and

formatting, of the Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and References sections of an NIH F31 NRSA

fellowship proposal. Students should consult the NIH website for detailed information.

A thesis outline must be submitted to the advisory committee by the beginning of the fourth semester with

the oral qualifying exam taking place during the fourth semester. The committee members will provide

written comments to the student for both the written document and oral exam using established rubrics

(see appendices). Passing of the qualifying exam and approval of the thesis outline must be documented

with the Master’s Comprehensive Exam Report and Outline for Dissertation, Thesis, or Professional

Project forms that can be found on the Graduate School’s web site.

If the research involves human subjects, vertebrate animals, or radioisotopes, the Office of Research and

Sponsored Programs’ forms and related information must be attached to the research plan. The assistant

to the Graduate Affairs Committee submits the thesis outline and accompanying paperwork to the

Graduate School by the end of the last week of the 4

semester. This timeline may be extended in the

case where a student passes the Ph.D. qualifying exam in the 4

semester prior to transferring to the

master’s program.

If a final approved plan with all required signatures is not submitted by the end of the first week of the 6

semester to the Graduate School, financial support may be terminated at the discretion of the

Graduate Affairs Committee. Reinstatement of financial support will be contingent upon submission of

an approved research plan.

MASTER’S QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

The qualifying examination will consist of an oral defense of the master’s thesis outline. A student cannot

pass this examination unless their performance is approved by all three members of their examination

committee. If a student fails the examination, they may repeat it with the approval of the examining

committee. A second failure will automatically drop the student from further consideration for master’s

candidacy. Ordinarily, the qualifying examination should be taken during the fourth semester from the

time of enrollment. In the case of a student transferring from the Ph.D. to the master’s program, if the

student has passed the Ph.D. qualifying exam, that exam may substitute for the master’s qualifying exam

at the request of the student's thesis advisory committee and the department. Students that did not pass

the Ph.D. qualifying exam will be required to undertake and pass the master’s qualifying exam by the end

of the first month of the following semester.

Students should register for thesis research credits (BIOL 6999) starting in their 3

year.

THESIS DEFENSE

Before the thesis defense, the student should obtain a copy of current directives. These may be obtained

from the Graduate School web site.

This examination administered by the student’s thesis advisory committee is designed to allow the

student to demonstrate command of the chosen area of research specialization.

A student's defense will be deemed satisfactory if approved by the examiners with no more than one

dissenting vote.

FINAL SEMINAR

A final seminar is necessary to complete the thesis defense. After the master’s thesis is submitted to the

thesis advisory committee, the student must present the research to the department in a seminar format.

APPROVAL OF THESIS

Approval of the thesis is indicated by obtaining the signatures of all thesis advisory committee members

on the Master’s Thesis/Essay/Professional Project/Publication Approval Form (form may be obtained from

the Graduate School web site) and submitted with the final thesis to the Graduate School. Generally, final

approval will require revision of the thesis after the defense is conducted, to address criticisms and

suggestions from the examining committee. Substantial revisions of the written document may be

required even though the defense itself is deemed successful. This approval usually constitutes the last

requirement for a master’s degree and makes the candidate eligible for conferral of their degree.

IV. DOCTORAL DEGREE QUALIFYING EXAM AND DISSERTATION

PH.D. QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Ph.D. candidates must be able to integrate information learned in courses. They must be able to devise

hypotheses and design experiments to critically test the hypotheses. The qualifying exam will consist of a

written research proposal and an oral defense of this proposal. The oral exam will cover the proposal, as

well as any related basic science material the student has had in their course work. The oral defense of

the qualifying exam must be taken by the end of the student’s fourth semester, unless the student

petitions the Graduate Affairs Committee and is granted an extension.

In the NEURO track, prior to the submission of the written proposal, students must pass an oral exam

covering foundational neuroscience material. Students will be given a list of the material that will be

covered in this exam when they enter the program.

GENERAL TIMELINE OF QUALIFYING EXAM

1. During the second semester or the summer preceding the third semester, the student will

form the qualifying exam committee.

2. In the third semester, the student will identify two potential topics for the qualifying exam.

These topics will be presented to the qualifying exam committee at a meeting before the end

of the third semester. At this meeting one of the two topics will be chosen for the student with

which to proceed.

3. Either late in the third semester or in the fourth semester students will write and provide to the

committee an outline of the qualifying exam proposal. One week after the outline has been

sent to the committee, they will meet with the student to discuss the outline and to give

further guidance on the qualifying exam topic.

4. The student will submit a complete written qualifying proposal one month after the outline

committee meeting. One week after submission of the written proposal, the committee will

meet with the student to administer the oral portion of the exam. As stated above, this

meeting must occur before the end of the fourth semester.

FORMATION OF THE QUALIFYING EXAM COMMITTEE

The qualifying exam committee will be formed in the student’s second semester or the summer

preceding the third semester after the student has chosen their thesis committee. The qualifying

exam committee will be made up of three Marquette faculty members, one of which must be tenured.

The qualifying exam committee members may or may not be members of the thesis committee, but

the committee will not include the thesis adviser. All members will need to be able to participate in all

parts of the qualifying exam either in person or by Skype during the third and fourth semesters. At the

first committee meeting, a chair of the committee will be chosen who must be a tenured faculty

member.

TOPICS AND TOPICS MEETING GUIDELINES

The qualifying exam process begins with the identification of potential exam topics during the

student’s third semester. Students should identify two significant areas of biology for which they are

able to propose questions for further exploration beyond what exists in the published literature. These

questions should be related to the student’s thesis topic but should not overlap with the thesis topic.

For example, a student may choose a similar topic in a different model system or a different topic in

the same model system. It will be at the discretion of the qualifying committee to judge if a particular

topic is too close to that of the thesis and guide the student towards a more appropriate topic at the

first qualifying exam meeting. Furthermore, the qualifying exam topic CANNOT:

1. Be on other projects in their mentor’s research laboratory.

2. Only be investigated using techniques done in their thesis mentor’s lab.

3. Duplicate something done in a different organism.

4. Have a known answer.

Students are encouraged to seek advice from their thesis mentor or qualifying exam committee prior

to the meeting to determine if the topics are sufficiently different from their thesis.

Students will write short summaries of their two proposed topics that will not exceed one single

spaced page, 11 pt Arial, with 0.5” margins. Each summary will include a short paragraph outlining

the background and significance of the topic, a hypothesis being tested, and an outline of the aims to

test the hypothesis. References for 1-2 key research papers should also be provided for each topic.

These summaries are not expected to be fully developed research plans, but they should indicate

how the proposed research fits within the current state of knowledge in the field.

Students will submit the one-page summaries of each topic to the qualifying committee one week

prior to the first qualifying exam committee meeting. This meeting will take place during the third

semester.

At this initial meeting, the committee will discuss the two proposed topics with the student. At the

conclusion of this meeting, the committee will inform the student which of the proposed topics are

viable options for the student’s qualifying exam proposal. If both proposed topics are considered

viable options, the student may choose which topic to pursue.

If neither research topic is found acceptable to the committee at the topic selection meeting, the

committee will work with the student to modify one of the proposed topics to make it acceptable for

the qualifying exam. The student can draft, at most, one additional proposed topic summary.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL OUTLINE AND MEETING GUIDELINES

During the student’s fourth semester, five weeks prior to their qualifying exam, the student will meet

with their committee (30-60 minutes) to present a brief outline of the topic and research proposal they

have chosen to develop for the qualifying exam. The committee will provide feedback on potential

concerns and considerations for the proposal. While free interchange with faculty or peers is

encouraged prior to this meeting, after this meeting the student must work on their own. Except for

technical questions, the student may not receive help from peers or faculty while writing their

research proposal.

Proposal Guidelines. The proposal should be 6 pages single-spaced, 11-point Arial font, 0.5 inch

margins, plus references.

The proposal must address specific hypotheses or questions, i.e., not be strictly of a descriptive

nature. The work proposed must go beyond that which has been previously published.

It will generally not be acceptable to propose the same experiment that has been done previously in

another organism, unless a case is made that certain types of experiments can be done in the new

organism that are not possible in the old one. Those additional experiments should then be described

as part of the proposal.

The student should not propose to do more of something that has been done previously, e.g., genetic

screens for more genes involved in a specific process using the same method that has been used

previously. Such material should be described as background, and the proposal should address the

next step in the research.

The proposal should include a variety of experimental methods, must employ several different

experimental approaches, and must employ some techniques outside of those done in the mentor’s

lab.

Proposal Format:

1. Specific Aims. Outline briefly the significance of the project and fully written out aims of the

proposal (one page maximum)

2. Significance. Written in prose, providing sufficient information for the committee to

understand what is currently known, and what significant gaps in knowledge exist on the

proposed topic (two pages maximum)

3. Proposed Experimental Design. Briefly outline in bullet point format the experiments

proposed for each aim.

QUALIFYING EXAM PROPOSAL AND MEETING GUIDELINES

The student will have one month following the proposal outline meeting to submit their written

qualifying exam proposal to each committee member. Approximately one week later, at a date agreed

upon by the committee at the proposal outline meeting, the student will meet with their committee for

the oral defense of the qualifying exam proposal.

Proposal Guidelines. 10 pages, single-spaced, 11-point Arial font, 0.5 inch margins including figures,

tables and graphs but excluding references. Figures, tables, and/or graphs are strongly encouraged

as they facilitate communication of ideas. Legends should be provided for figures, tables, and/or

graphs. The format will follow the guidelines for an NIH F31 grant including the same sections but the

length of the Research Strategy section will be extended from 6 pages to 9 pages.

Proposal Format: (for section descriptions read pertinent instructions in NIH document SF424, pages

F61-63):

1. Title. Provide a descriptive title that conveys the purpose of the proposal.

2. Specific Aims. (1-page maximum)

a. State a logical hypothesis to be tested in the proposed experiments. The rationale for

the hypothesis must be evident from the background/significance provided.

b. The specific aims should be related but not depend on each other. The specific aims

must relate to the hypothesis.

3. Research Strategy: (9 pages maximum, including Significance and Approach sections (Note:

F31s do NOT include an Innovation section)).

Within the Approach section divide the Experimental Design into sections based on the

specific aims. Main sections can be further subdivided if multiple experimental approaches

(experiments) are used to address one specific aim. For each experimental approach use a

single sentence outlining the experimental question or objective within the aim as a heading.

Experimental Approach and Methods subsection: Proposed experiments must address

the aim; Proposed experiments must be feasible; The experimental methods used should

be appropriate for the objective; and Appropriate controls should be described.

Expected Results subsection: Expected results should be described in detail as well as

their interpretation; and Expected results should be logical given the experiments and

background information. Alternative results should be acknowledged (do not assume that

your hypothesis is correct and you will get the expected result. Possible alternative

results and their implications should be discussed here or in the alternative strategies).

Potential problems and alternative strategies subsection: It is often important to include

an alternative strategies section unless it is completely clear that your experimental

design will work (unexpected results alone would not require an alternative strategy but

rather just a different interpretation or they could actually suggest an alternative approach

should be used). Limitations of the proposed methods should be acknowledged where

relevant.

General Summary: If the specific aims are achieved, how will the results fill the gap in

knowledge that you identified in the background section and how filling that gap will impact

the field?

PROCESS OF EVALUATION

1. The student will be evaluated by all faculty on the committee guided by rubrics for both the

written document and the oral defense (see appendices).

2. Prior to the final defense, the committee members will fill out the rubric for the written portion

of the exam and submit it to the chair at the beginning of the meeting.

3. A second rubric on the oral portion of the exam will be filled out during the exam itself. This

rubric includes an assessment of the student’s command of related basic science

information.

4. To pass the qualifying exam, at least two of the three committee members must have rated

the student’s performance as acceptable on both the written and oral sections.

5. Four potential outcomes are possible:

a. The student is found to pass both the written and oral defense.

b. The student is found to pass the written section but fails to pass the oral exam. At

the discretion of the committee, the student can have one opportunity to retake the

oral exam. The student needs to pass with at least two of the three committee

members rating the student’s performance acceptable on the second chance prior to

start of the fifth semester.

c. The student is found to pass the oral exam but fails to pass the written section. At

the discretion of the committee, the student can have one opportunity to rewrite the

proposal. The student needs to pass with at least two of the three committee

members rating the student’s performance acceptable on the second chance prior to

start of the fifth semester.

d. The student fails to pass both the written or oral sections of the exam. At the

discretion of the committee, the student can have one opportunity to retake the

entirety of the exam. The student needs to pass with at least two of the three

committee members rating the student’s written and oral performance acceptable on

the second chance prior to start of the fifth semester.

6. If passage is not achieved prior to the start of the student’s fifth semester, they will be

dropped from the Ph.D. program. However, with departmental approval, the student may

have the option to pursue work towards an master’s degree

7. After any attempt of the Qualifying Exam, each committee member will indicate a pass or fail

status on the “Doctoral Qualifying Examination Evaluation” form and the chair of the

committee additionally needs to indicate pass or fail on the “Doctoral Qualifying Examination

Committee Chairperson’s Summary” form. These forms are filled out for each attempt

whether the student has passed or failed. If the committee determines that either portion of

the exam, written or oral, needs to be repeated then the forms should indicate a failed exam.

After the student has successfully passed both portions of the qualifying exam, the doctoral

mentor will fill out the “Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy” form. All forms will be obtained

from and filed by the administrative assistant for the Biological Sciences Department in

charge of graduate affairs.

8. In all cases, whether pass or fail, the documents will be turned in. If the student is asked to

re-do some aspect then a second set of paperwork will be turned in.

9. The average ratings on categories of the rubric plus any individual comments will be provided

to the student after the completion of the qualifying exam, both after first and second attempt

if needed. These ratings and comments will also be provided to the research mentor.

OUTLINE FOR DISSERTATION

The function of the dissertation outline is to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the research

problem being addressed by the student and the experimental approaches being used. The outline will

provide the student’s dissertation advisory committee with evidence of the significance of the problem and

a justification for the proposed experimental directions being followed. The dissertation advisory

committee should discuss any specific instructions with the student when they pass their qualifying exam.

The dissertation outline will consist, in both content and formatting, of the Specific Aims, Research

Strategy, and References sections of an NIH F31 NRSA fellowship proposal. Students should consult the

NIH website for detailed information.

A dissertation outline approved and signed by the student’s mentor must be submitted to the other

members of the dissertation advisory committee no later than midterm break of the student’s fifth

semester. A departmental form (“Preliminary Approval of Dissertation Outline by Major Professor/Notice

of Receipt of Dissertation Outline”, obtainable from the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee) is

signed by all committee members at this time and returned to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs

Committee to document that this deadline has been met.

The dissertation outline will be discussed at the student’s advisory committee meeting in the second half

of the 5

semester, and committee members are obligated to provide written comments to the student at

this time using a standard rubric (see appendix). To accommodate the scheduling of this committee

meeting, the mini-seminars of third-year students will be scheduled in the second half of their 5

semester. After receiving comments, an approved copy and the Outline for Dissertation, Thesis, or

Professional Project form (obtained from the Graduate School’s web site) with the requisite signatures

(student’s major professor, a minimum of all but one of the members of the student’s advisory committee,

and the Department Chair) must then be submitted to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee by

the first day of the student’s 6

semester. If the research involves human subjects, vertebrate animals, or

radioisotopes, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs’ forms and related information must be

attached to the dissertation outline. The assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee will submit the

dissertation outline and accompanying paperwork to the Graduate School by the end of the first week

of the 6

semester.

If a dissertation outline approved by the mentor is not submitted by the midterm break of the student’s 5

semester (i.e., of the semester following completion of the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam) to the other members

of the dissertation advisory committee, the student will not be allowed to apply for the next Marquette

University Fellowship and Schmitt Fellowship competitions. If a final approved plan with all required

signatures is not submitted by the end of the first week of the 6

semester to the Graduate School,

financial support may be terminated at the discretion of the Graduate Affairs Committee.

Reinstatement of financial support will be contingent upon submission of an approved research plan.

Students should register for dissertation research credits (BIOL 8999) starting in their 3

year, i.e., in the

semester following completion of their Ph.D. Qualifying exam.

DISSERTATION

The doctoral research program will be carried out under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The resulting

dissertation must represent an original research contribution, demonstrating substantial achievement and

documenting considerable evidence of independent research. In content, thoroughness, and clarity, it

must measure up to the standards of research articles currently being published in critically refereed

professional journals of the field. The student must have at least one first author research paper

submitted for publication before a defense of the dissertation can be scheduled.

Before submitting the dissertation, the student should obtain a copy of current directives from the

Graduate School web site.

DISSERTATION DEFENSE

To set a date for the public defense of a dissertation, students must complete an “Announcement of

Public Defense of the Dissertation” form (available from the Graduate School web site). This completed

form must be submitted to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee at least two weeks prior to

the date of the defense. The student should be aware that this entails having submitted the dissertation

for review to the advisory committee members two weeks before the defense. [NOTE: Since the

completed form submitted to the Graduate School requires the signature of all committee

members, the defense date may be delayed if a complete and carefully edited draft of the

dissertation is not handed to the committee members at the same time. The student is required to

inform the assistant to the Graduate Affairs committee of any changes to the dissertation defense

date or plans.

After the doctoral candidate has submitted the completed dissertation to their dissertation advisory

committee, the student will be eligible to take the final oral examination. This examination, administered

by the student’s dissertation advisory committee, will largely constitute a defense of the dissertation, and

is designed to allow the student to demonstrate command of the chosen area of research specialization.

A student's defense will be deemed satisfactory if approved by the examiners with no more than one

dissenting vote.

PUBLIC SEMINAR

Each doctoral candidate is required to present a formal seminar on their research to the department.

Normally, this presentation constitutes the student's final public defense of the dissertation and is followed

immediately by the final oral examination.

APPROVAL OF DISSERTATION

Approval of the dissertation is indicated by obtaining the signatures of a minimum of all but one advisory

committee members on the Dissertation Approval Form. Generally, final approval will require revision of

the dissertation after the dissertation defense is conducted, to address criticisms and suggestions from

the examining committee. Substantial revisions of the written document may be required even though the

defense itself is deemed successful. Approval of the dissertation usually constitutes the last requirement

for a doctoral degree and makes the candidate eligible for conferral of the degree.

V. FINANCIAL AID

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS

Admitted students are typically supported by teaching assistantships unless supported by an external

grant to the department or an individual faculty member of the department. These assistantships provide

a nine-month (40 week) stipend. Teaching assistants can register for up to nine credit hours of

coursework each semester and carry on full research programs, but pay no tuition or laboratory fees.

Teaching assistants and fellows will be allowed to take graduate courses that fulfill their degree

requirements in the summer sessions free of charge so long as the credits involved remain within the total

of 18 credits awarded with these assistantships during the twelve months beginning each June 1

. If

additional credits are needed, a request for a tuition scholarship should be made to the Graduate Affairs

Committee.

EXTENDED DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT

Graduate students who continue to make satisfactory progress toward the doctoral degree will normally

receive departmental support for five years. After completion of five years, further support will be made on

a case-by-case basis. Students wishing continued departmental support must petition the Graduate

Affairs Committee for a favorable recommendation by the end of the student’s ninth semester.

Students will be notified in writing at the beginning of their tenth semester whether the petition was

approved. Students beyond their sixth year may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee for extended

support for an additional semester provided T.A. lines are available. Prior to submission of the request,

the student's advisory committee must meet to review the student's progress and establish a set of well-

defined research goals for the student to achieve during the support period under consideration.

Contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory evaluation and a list of defined goals, the Graduate Affairs

Committee will consider the student for a teaching assistantship for one semester. Under no

circumstances will a student beyond six years be considered for a M.U. Fellowship. Depending on the

availability of T.A. lines, requests for additional support will be considered on a semester-by-semester

basis. Each subsequent request must be accompanied by a favorable recommendation from the student's

advisory committee. The student must provide the committee with documentation showing that the

previously established research goals have been met. Again, a set of well-defined research expectations

for the period of support under consideration must be forwarded from the student's advisory committee to

the Graduate Affairs Committee. Summer support beyond the sixth year must be requested jointly by the

student and adviser in an application to the Committee on Research by February 15

Normally, master’s students can receive no more than three years of support as a teaching assistant.

Students with full assistantships (teaching or research) are not allowed to accept additional employment

for pay during their award terms. Special permission to accept outside work for pay may be given by the

Graduate School (see item 8 in Rules and Guidelines for Graduate School Financial Aid: Assistantships).

TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships covering tuition are available to a limited number of students who are supported on

fellowships that do not provide tuition support or on external grants. The scholarship requests should be

addressed to the Graduate Affairs Committee. Scholarship holders are expected to carry on full-time

programs of coursework and research.

SUMMER SUPPORT

It is expected that students will maintain active, full-time academic work during the summer. This usually

takes the form of active research involvement but may also include regular or extramural courses.

Financial support is available to all students making acceptable progress. As a general policy, all faculty

members with research grants will make every reasonable effort to support their students. However,

every effort will be made to give some support to students whose mentors do not have extramural grant

support. All students are expected to devote a minimum of 40 hours/week to their academic work during

the summer.

Graduate students who are supported at the maximum level during the summer semester may not accept

outside work without special permission from the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School (see item 8 in

Rules and Guidelines for Graduate School Financial Aid: Assistantships).

INCOME TAX LIABILITY AND WITHHOLDING

All graduate assistants should keep themselves continually informed of all clarifications and/or technical

corrections of the tax laws by the IRS. Assistants are reminded that taxes are ultimately a matter between

themselves and the IRS.

VI. FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

The Department of Biological Sciences and the University have several fellowships that are awarded to

qualified students on a competitive basis. Announcements for the solicitation of applications and

proposals will be made well in advance of deadlines. Generally, a student will be limited to three years of

fellowship support. All applications should strictly follow this guideline. Question should be directed to the

DGS prior to the submission of an application.

MU FELLOWSHIP

The following are the guidelines for preparation and submission of research proposals by graduate

students who are applying for a MU Fellowship.

Eligibility. Students registered in the doctoral program who have completed 15 cr. hrs. of approved

coursework and who are doing their research with a faculty member based in the Department of

Biological Sciences, are eligible to apply for the MU Fellowship. The student must have passed the

qualifying exam before the beginning of the semester for which the fellowship is awarded. Third year

students must have their mentor-approved dissertation outline submitted to their dissertation advisory

committee by the fall mid-term break of their 5

semester.

Evaluation. Fellowships will be awarded primarily based on the quality of the research proposal. M.U.

Fellowship applications will be evaluated along the same lines as would a proposal to an extramural

funding agency. In composing the proposal, the applicant should keep in mind that reviewers are

scientifically literate, but most will not be in the applicant's area of expertise. It is incumbent upon the

applicant to explain the significance and rationales of concepts and procedures that may be unfamiliar to

a reviewer. The keys to a successful proposal are to convince the reviewers that the goals are important,

the applicant is capable, and the experimental plan is feasible, well thought-out, and the best way to

achieve the goals. Criteria for the amount and quality of the preliminary data will be higher for students

who have had previous fellowship support, and for more senior students.

Responsibility for Journal Clubs. Students supported by M.U. fellowships will be responsible for

organizing journal clubs for their fellow graduate students. Each M.U. fellow will be expected to organize

(or co-organize with one other M.U. fellow) a journal club for one semester during the fellowship period.

Organizers will be responsible for choosing the overall topic of the journal club, scheduling a meeting

time, signing up presenters, and disseminating information to participants. MU Fellows should consult

with the Graduate Affairs Committee for details regarding the format of the journal club.

Deadline. The deadline for proposals for the M.U. Fellowships is generally set in mid-February. M.U.

proposals will be solicited in January when an explicit deadline date will be established.

Types of Proposal. There are two types of proposal:

1. Original proposals submitted by students who have not previously had fellowship support.

2. Renewals, submitted by students who have previously been supported by any type of full-time

research fellowship (MU, faculty grant, etc.) in the previous year. In addition to the 5-page proposal,

students submitting renewals must submit a separate one-page Progress Report following the main

proposal describing the progress made only during the previous year of support. Overlap between the

progress report and the preliminary data section of the proposal would be permitted and expected.

This appendix must state the specific aims of the previous proposal, progress made toward those

aims, and rationale for any changes in research direction. If their funding required that they perform

tasks unrelated to progress on their dissertation project, they can note the extent of time spent in that

way

Proposal Guidelines. The Graduate Affairs Committee has set the following guidelines:

1. The proposal must be composed by the applicant. The applicant may not take sentences or

paragraphs from other proposals or manuscripts unless they are the first author of those sources.

2. No faculty member or postdoctoral associate may read the proposal prior to submission.

3. Fellow graduate students may read and comment upon the proposal insofar as time, and enthusiasm,

permits. This is for the purpose of pointing out areas that may be unclear to someone who is not

personally involved in the project. Revisions should be made solely by the applicant.

4. The entire proposal (including figures and tables but excluding bibliography) must be no more than 5

pages. Applicants may have an additional title page with only the title of the application and the name

of the applicant. Proposals must be single spaced, 11-point Arial font, with 1” margins on all sides.

Figure legends must be 9-point font to distinguish them from the main text. Figures cannot be in the

margins. Applications that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered for funding.

Proposal Format. The purpose of the proposal format is to provide training in the preparation of proposals

to an extramural funding agency.

The proposal must consist of the following sections in this order:

1. The specific aims of the project. This will be very brief, on the order of a paragraph or a few

sentences.

2. Background and significance. Include in this section a brief critical survey of the pertinent literature,

including data pertaining to the project gathered by other members of the laboratory. Describe the

contribution that the proposed project will make to the state of knowledge in the field.

3. Preliminary results. Include in this section the data obtained by the applicant pertaining to the

proposed project. (In the case of prior recipients, this section may overlap with the required additional

one-page report of progress during year of support.)

4. Proposed research. The experimental design should be described in sufficient detail to convey to

the reviewers your understanding of the principles involved. Describe succinctly enough details

(probe, parameters to be measured, controls, etc.) to demonstrate that you understand how to design

a meaningful experiment, but the emphasis is on the design and its rationale, not methodological

details.

Sections 1-4 constitute the 5-page proposal. This will be followed by the Progress Report for

Renewals.

5. Include a bibliography of full citations (titles included) for literature referred to in the proposal.

6. C.V. Submit a curriculum vitae of approximately 1 page in length.

Due. Proposals must be submitted by email to the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee before

4:00 PM on the deadline date.

Review Committee and Procedures. An ad hoc committee, consisting of three faculty members who are

not the major professor of the applicants, will be established each year to review the M.U. Fellowship

applications. This committee may or may not include members of the Graduate Affairs Committee.

The original proposals and renewals will be reviewed as a single group. Previous successful proposals

will be kept on file and are subject to review by the evaluation committee as part of the fellowship

competition.

Students who submit applications for fellowship support will be provided with a critique of their application

to aid them in the preparation of future applications. The critique will be provided by the fellowship review

committee. It may be either oral or written, at the discretion of the committee.

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

For the most up to date deadlines and information on Graduate School awards, please review the

Graduate School website. Typically, the department will fund the difference between various on-campus

fellowships and Biological Science Teaching Assistantships.

RICHARD W. JOBLING DISTINGUISED RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP

Eligibility. Students enrolled or admitted to PhD. Programs for NSF-defined STEM disciplines.

Deadline. Approximately first week in December.

Duration: Two years, non-renewable.

Application.

1. A written statement by the student that addresses the student’s academic work and research,

its impact on the field and/or greater society, and the applicant’s plan for the future;

2. A curriculum vitae clearly noting whether publications are published, in press, or under

review. Do not list publications in preparation;

3. Three letters of recommendation (1 from the nominator and 2 from other faculty).

Departmental Review Procedures. Ad hoc faculty members may be added to the Graduate Affairs

Committee specifically for the evaluation process, up to two students may be forwarded to the

University committee.

University Review Procedures. Committee with two representatives from the Graduate School and

three representatives from the pool of DGs serving the STEM-discipline programs will review the

applications.

ARTHUR J. SCHMITT LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM

Eligibility. Students registered in the Ph.D. program and who have passed the Ph.D. qualifying

examination, are eligible to apply for the Schmitt fellowship.

Deadline. Approximately mid-November.

Application.

1. A written statement by the student that addresses the student’s academic work and research,

its impact on the field and/or greater society, and the applicant’s plan for the future

2. A curriculum vitae clearly noting whether publications are published, in press, or under

review. Do not list publications in preparation

3. Three letters of recommendation (1 from the nominator and 2 from other faculty).

4. Biographical statement (1 page)

5. Statement of leadership (1 page)

6. Statement of values.

Departmental Review Procedures. Ad hoc faculty members may be added to the Graduate Affairs

Committee specifically for the evaluation process, up to two students may be forwarded to the

University committee.

Graduate School Review Procedures. A committee of three faculty from three different colleges

review the applications.

THE REV. JOHN P. RAYNOR, S.J. FELLOWSHIP

Eligibility. Students registered in the Ph.D. program and who have passed the Ph.D. qualifying

examination and submitted an approved dissertation outline to the graduate school before the

fellowship begins are eligible to apply for the Raynor fellowship. Doctoral students must have a

cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 in graduate studies with no doctoral grade less than a B.

Deadline. Approximately mid-November.

Application.

1. A written statement by the student that addresses the student’s academic work and research,

its impact on the field and/or greater society, and the applicant’s plan for the future;

2. A curriculum vitae clearly noting whether publications are published, in press, or under

review. Do not list publications in preparation;

3. Three letters of recommendation (1 from the nominator and 2 from other faculty).

Departmental Review Procedures. Ad hoc faculty members may be added to the Graduate Affairs

Committee specifically for the evaluation process, only one student from the department can be

forwarded to the University committee.

Graduate School Review Procedures. A committee of three faculty, the dean of the Graduate School,

and a distinguished panelist from the broader MU community will review the applications.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS FROM FACULTY GRANTS

Research assistantships are sometimes available in the Department. The assistantships are funded

through the research grants of individual investigators in the Department and are arranged by mutual

agreement between student and investigator. Assistantships may be continued through the summer

months. Students on faculty grant supported-research assistantships must apply to the Graduate

Affairs Committee for tuition scholarships.

SUMMER RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

Several departmental scholarships are available annually and periodically for use as summer stipend for

graduate students. All available awards use the same application.

Application. Complete the summer research scholarships application form electronically, available from

the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee.

Due. Approximately mid-February.

Award Committee. An ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members with broad areas of

expertise in biology, who are not the major professor of the applicants, will be established to review the

applications. The committee may or may not include members of the Graduate Affairs committee.

Applications will be evaluated based on providing sufficient background for the committee to understand

the significance of the research to the field and the student’s dissertation project while also providing

sufficient detail for the committee to understand the research plan specifically to be carried out over the

summer months.

JOHNSON WAX FELLOWSHIP

Summer stipends of approximately $5000 are awarded on a rotating basis with four other

departments. Announcements of their availability and the application procedure will be made when

appropriate.

DR. CATHERINE GROTELUESCHEN SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR BIOLOGY

Description. The Department of Biological Sciences receives funds from the Dr. Catherine

Grotelueschen Scholarship Fund for Biology to provide financial assistance towards the summer

stipend of the recipient. It is envisaged that this award would be a supplement to any additional

summer support the student may receive from faculty extramural or departmental sources, the sum of

which will not exceed the current maximum summer stipend agreed upon for all graduate students in

the department.

Award. This scholarship typically makes up to two annual awards of approximately $2,500 to

graduate students based in the Biological Sciences department.

Eligibility. To be eligible to apply for this award, graduate students must be in the Department of

Biological Sciences, have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy and have submitted an approved dissertation

outline to the Graduate School by the time of application. Students may apply for and receive these

awards on more than one occasion.

DENIS J. O’BRIEN FELLOWSHIP FOR BIOLOGY

Description. The Department of Biological Sciences periodically receives funding from the Denis J.

O’Brien Fellowship Fund for financial assistance in the form of a summer stipend.

Award. Approximately $2500 and is offered every other year to students in biological sciences.

TRAVEL AWARDS

GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAVEL GRANTS

The Graduate school will award up to $500 on a competitive basis to graduate students with their

program planning form on file to present their research at professional meetings. See the Graduate

School website for guidelines and current due dates.

DEPARTMENTAL TRAVEL GRANTS

Graduate students performing research with a faculty member in the Department of Biological

Sciences may apply to the department for funds to present their work at a scientific meeting.

Students are encouraged to seek other sources of funding as well (professional societies, the

Graduate School). Applications should be directed to the Department Chair and should include (1)

Name, date, and location of meeting; (2) Accepted abstract of the work to be presented; (3) Travel

budget. Availability of funds for graduate student travel will depend on other priorities and the amount

of available funds. Graduate students are urged to apply early. Application for graduate student travel

funds must be signed by the student’s major professor.

RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The following two graduate student awards are for students doing research with faculty based in the

Department of Biological Sciences.

SCHOLL AWARD

Description. The Department of Biological Sciences receives funds from the Dr. Scholl Foundation in

the amount of $1,000 to make an annual award to a graduate student who has performed outstanding

research as demonstrated by the publication or in press status of a first author manuscript in a peer-

reviewed journal. This award is an honorary award and may be received only once.

Award. $1,000 stipend award, individual plaque presented to student, and plaque with all recipients

listed displayed in department.

Nominations. Eligible students or their faculty mentors should submit nominations to the assistant to

the Graduate Affairs Committee at least 1 week prior to the Application due date.

Application.

1. First Author Paper published or in-press in a peer reviewed journal

2. Letter of support from faculty mentor highlighting significance of the work to the field, and

detail the relative contribution of the nominated student (i) design and execution of the

research and (ii) the writing and compilation of the manuscript

3. Student Statement: 1 page explaining significance of work/contribution to research and

preparation of the manuscript

Due. Approximately mid-April

Award Committee. An ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members, including members of

the Graduate Affairs Committee who are not the major professor for any of the applicants, will review

the applications. The award will be determined based on the significance of the work, and the

student’s contribution to the research and manuscript.

OLIVER H. SMITH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Description. This annual award is sponsored by the Oliver H. Smith Memorial Fund, to recognize

exceptional academic achievement by a graduate student in the Ph.D. program of the Department of

Biological Sciences. This award is an honorary award and may only be received once.

Award. $1,000 stipend award, individual plaque presented to student, and plaque with all recipients

listed displayed in department.

Nominations. Eligible students or their faculty mentors should submit nominations to the assistant to

the Graduate Affairs Committee at least 1 week prior to the Application due date.

Application.

1. Student statement: 1 page detailing scholarly activities during dissertation studies (research

contributions, publications, conference/poster presentations, mentoring activities, community

outreach and/or service activities.)

2. Cumulative GPA

3. Letter of support from faculty mentor

Due. Approximately mid-April.

Award Committee. An ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members, including members of

the Graduate Affairs Committee who are not the major professor for any of the applicants, will review

the applications. The award will be determined based on cumulative GPA, research activity, and

student’s scholarly achievements as described in application.

VII. GRADUATE STUDENT WELFARE

VACATION POLICY

Vacation in excess of two weeks within a 12-month period requires permission from the student’s major

advisor. University holidays are in addition to vacation time.

LEAVE POLICY

For temporary withdrawal policy please refer to the University Graduate Student Bulletin. Students

seeking short term leaves of absence should consult with their faculty mentor and thesis/dissertation

advisory committee in conjunction with the Graduate Affairs Committee.

TRAVEL POLICY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

For students traveling outside of the United States that will need to renew their visa for re-entry:

1. Before your departure you are required to contact the Office of International Education to acquire any

paperwork that is needed to facilitate your re-entry.

2. As a Biological Sciences student, there is a very high likelihood that you will be subject to

“administrative processing”, which can take several weeks.

3. Before administrative processing can begin you must schedule an appointment with the embassy,

again a process that can take several weeks.

4. If you are being supported by a teaching assistantship and given that your re-entry may be delayed

by as much as six weeks, you are strongly advised to avoid international travel during late summer

and winter break as untimely delays may prevent you from fulfilling your teaching obligations.

5. If you choose to travel during times that may impact on your ability to perform your TA duties:

a. You must inform the assistant to the Graduate Affairs Committee, the Chair of the Graduate

Affairs Committee, the Department Chair, your TA supervisor for the forthcoming semester, as

well as your faculty research mentor before you leave. You must also keep the aforementioned

individuals informed of any changes in your planned re-entry date.

b. You should expect deductions from your stipend that are commensurate with the time you are

unable to perform your TA duties.

OFFICE SPACE

First-year graduate students will be assigned office space wherever accommodations are available.

Students who have been accepted for graduate work (i.e., lab rotation) by a faculty member will be

reassigned office space in or near the faculty member's laboratory.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Marquette University Medical Clinic is in the Walter Schroeder Health Sciences and Education

Complex on the ground floor, southeast corner. Hours are posted on the clinic door (phone: (414) 288-

7184). The Medical Clinic is an urgent-care facility available to all graduate students identified as full-time

by the Graduate School. Office visit charges may be applied if the student does not carry the graduate

student insurance policy. A student's spouse or immediate family is not eligible.

When the University Medical Clinic is closed (after Medical Clinic hours during the week or on weekends

and holidays), call Public Safety at 8-1911.

Since the Marquette University Medical Clinic is not responsible for any expenses involved when a

student consults a physician who is not a member of the Medical Clinic staff, graduate students should be

advised to provide for their own health and medical emergency insurance coverage.

All work-related medical emergencies’ (illness/accidents) should be reported to the Department Chair.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Health insurance information can be found on the Graduate School website. Graduate students are

responsible for obtaining their own insurance but will receive a supplemental stipend of $750 per year to

help defray the cost. Students should go to the healthcare exchange at healthcare.gov for information on

available independent policies. Graduate students may utilize the Marquette University Medical Clinic on

campus for core services if they pay a semester fee of $160 and $70 for the summer session. Additional

services are available at reduced cost for fee paying students.

PREPARING FUTURE FACULTY & PROFESSIONALS

The mission of the Preparing Future Faculty & Professionals (PFFP) Program is to enrich Marquette

graduate students by providing distinctive personal and professional development opportunities to set

them apart as leaders in their fields.

Throughout the academic year, PFFP sponsors colloquia and workshops which are open to all graduate

students from all disciplines. These events focus upon creating an awareness of issues affecting the

future of higher education and upon developing the knowledge and skills necessary for success on the

job market. The event calendar is developed by students and receives support from faculty members

from Marquette and from our cluster institutions, including UW-Milwaukee, Alverno College, Cardinal

Stritch University, Carthage College, Carroll University, and UW-Parkside. The diversity of our cluster

allows graduate students to explore other learning environments, and to make valuable contacts at other

universities.

Participants will create an Individual Development Plan, attend at least 15 workshops, and develop a

portfolio in their respective track. Workshops will cover core concepts, skills, technology, funding, career

development, and personal development. Upon completion and submission of all the program

requirements an official notation will be added to a participant's transcript.

For more information on PFFP, and its sponsored events e-mail: mupff@marquette.edu or visit their

website at: http://www.marquette.edu/pffp/

CONDUCT

Refer to the Graduate School Bulletin to read the University’s code of conduct.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE POLICY

Marquette University is committed to maintaining a drug-free work environment in which the safety and

well-being of its community members are of utmost importance. The abuse of licit drugs and/or the use of

illicit drugs directly interfere with the development and performance of the individual, and the effects of

that use/abuse diminish the working environment for all. It is a policy of the University that drugs in the

workplace will not be tolerated. Employees must abide by this policy as a condition of employment.

The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance is

prohibited at the University. The controlled substances prohibited in the workplace include, but are not

limited to, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, LSD, barbiturates, narcotics or other drugs not

prescribed by a licensed physician for the treatment of a current medical disorder.

Violations of this University policy, which includes unlawful conduct, will be subject to corrective action, up

to an including suspension or termination for all classifications of employees, depending upon the severity

and/or frequency of the violation. Corrective actions will be progressive and applied equally to all

employees, except for those employees whose actions necessitate immediate and decisive disciplinary

measures including suspension or discharge.

Corrective action normally will be administered in the following order:

1. Verbal Warning

2. Written Warning

3. Final Written Warning or Suspension

4. Suspension or Discharge

If an employee is convicted under a criminal drug statute for conduct in the workplace, the employee must

report the conviction to their immediate University supervisor no later than five calendar days after the

conviction. An employee so convicted may be subject to additional University action depending upon the

individual circumstances.

VIII. WEHR LIFE SCIENCES BUILDING RULES

1. Do not enter classrooms or laboratories where you have no specific business.

2. Under no circumstances are equipment or materials to be taken from a research or teaching

laboratory without permission of the faculty member responsible for that area.

3. Lock all laboratories when they are unattended.

4. When entering or leaving the building be sure that the entrance doors have closed behind you.

5. When leaving the building, turn off the lights in all areas where you have been working.

6. Students should never leave purses or wallets exposed but should always put them in a drawer or

cabinet (preferably locked). If you leave the laboratory or classroom, take your valuables with you.

7. Those using the lunchroom on the third floor are responsible for keeping it clean.

OFFICE/SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT

Office equipment may not be used by graduate students without consent of the office staff. Use of the

photocopier are permitted for work related to research or teaching assignment. Please ask before using.

Any shared department scientific equipment will require training before access will be granted.

PERSONAL PHONE MESSAGES

The department office phone number (414-288-7355) may be given out as an emergency contact

number. Should there be an emergency at your home, every effort will be made to contact you

immediately.

ISSUANCE OF KEYS AND SWIPE CARD

Each graduate student will be issued keys/card access for those areas in which they have a legitimate

reason to have access. All requests for keys/swipe access are authorized by the Department Chair. Key

authorization forms may be picked up in the Department Office. Students requesting access to faculty

offices and laboratories must also have approval of the faculty member. Keys issued to instructional

areas for teaching assistants must be returned at the end of each semester.

AFTER-HOURS ACCESS

Students (graduate and undergraduate) who must be in the Wehr Life Sciences Building after 5:00 p.m.

and on Saturday or Sunday are required to carry their MU ID card and show it upon demand to Public

Safety. Public Safety will take the ID and verify with their office that you have permission to be in the

building.

Summary of Ph.D. Requirements and Timetable at Marquette University

Selection of major professor

Before the end of the second semester

Appointment of advisory committee

Before the end of the second semester. If a non-MU member is appointed, a CV

must be provided.

Program planning form

Soon after the advisory committee is constituted and before the end of the 2nd

semester

Qualifying examination

Topics submission and meeting during the third semester

Research proposal outline submitted in the fourth semester, five weeks prior to

exam date.

Taken before the end of the fourth semester and passed prior to the start of the

fifth semester.

Submit dissertation outline

Submit copy no later than midterm break of the student’s fifth semester.

Approved copy with signatures must be submitted no later than the start of the

sixth semester to Graduate School

Mini-Seminars

Normally annually after the first year

Journal Clubs

Annual participation

Dissertation public seminar

Two weeks after submission of Announcement of Public Defense of the

Dissertation form to Graduate School

Dissertation defense

Passed by committee members with a maximum of one dissent

Dissertation

Approved by committee members with a maximum of one dissent

Time limitation

Six years

Residency requirement

PhD students in the Department of Biological Sciences must be enrolled with

full-time status for at least two consecutive academic years while working under

the direction of their advisory committee chair and advisory committee.

Language requirement

None

Coursework

Course selection is individually tailored to the student’s specific career goals and

prior academic background. Ph.D. requirements include a core of ~24 credit

hours of coursework (a minimum of 5 seminar credits, a minimum of 7 lecture

graduate courses offered during fall and spring semesters, 5 research credits,

and 12 dissertation research credits.

Graduate students are required to have taken at least 2 seminar classes before

the end of the 4th semester (1 of which will be BIOL 6005, ideally taken in the

fall of the second year), and at least 2 seminar courses taken after the

completion of the qualifying exam.

Enrollment

Each semester until the final submission and approval of dissertation

Teaching

Two semesters

Summary of Master’s Program Requirements and Timetable at Marquette University

Selection of major professor

Before the end of the second semester

Appointment of thesis advisory committee

Before the end of the second semester. If a non-MU

member is appointed, a CV must be provided.

Program planning form

Soon after the thesis advisory committee is constituted

and before the third semester (during the 5

semester

for the students transferred from the PhD program)

Thesis outline

Submitted to committee by the beginning of the fourth

semester

Qualifying examination

During the fourth semester (during the 5

semester for

the students transferred from the PhD program)

Final Seminar

After the master’s thesis is submitted to the thesis

advisory committee

Thesis

Approved by all committee members

Mini-Seminars

Normally annually after the first year

Journal Clubs

Annual participation

Time limitation

Six years (financial support is limited to three years)

Residency requirement

None

Language requirement

None

Coursework

Course selection is individually tailored to the student’s

specific career goals and prior academic background.

Master’s requirements include a core of ~30 credit

hours of coursework including a minimum of 12 credits

at 6000 or above, 5 credits of research,3 credits of

seminar courses, and 6 thesis credits.

Teaching

Two semesters

Suggested Biological Sciences track Ph.D. curriculum

Fall semester 1

year Spring semester 1

year

2 “elective” courses (2 cr. each) 2 “elective” course (2 cr. each)

BIOL 6096 #1 (1 cr.) BIOL 6096 #2 & #3 (2x 1 cr. each)

0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.) 0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.)

= 5-6 credits = 6-7 credits

Fall semester 2

year Spring semester 2

year

2 “elective” courses (2 cr. each) 1 “elective” course (2 cr.)

BIOL 6097 (1 cr.) BIOL 6097 (1 cr.)

BIOL 6005 (1 cr.) Qualifier Exam: expected to be taken by May 15th

= 6 credits = 3 credits

Fall semester 3

year Spring semester 3

year

Dissertation credits (6 cr.) Dissertation credits (6 cr.)

0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.) 0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.)

= 6-7 credits = 6-7 credits

& 5

years

A minimum of 2 seminar courses taken after the completion of the qualifying exam (to a total of 5 seminar credits)

Curriculum requires a total of 24 course credits minimum: 7 “elective” courses (at a minimum of 2-credits each and); 5

seminar courses (includes the BIOL 6005 course to be taken in fall of 2nd year); and 5 research credits; + 12

Dissertation Research Credits (start taking in semester following completion of Ph.D. qualifier exam)

Suggested Neurosciences Sciences track Ph.D. curriculum

Fall semester 1

year Spring semester 1

year

1-2 required courses (2 cr. each) 2 “elective” courses (2 cr. each)

0-1 “elective” courses (0-2 cr.) BIOL 6096 #2 & #3 (2x 1 cr. each)

BIOL 6096 #1 (1 cr.) 0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.)

BIOL 8504 (1 cr.) = 6-7 credits

= 6 credits

Fall semester 2

year Spring semester 2

year

1-2 required courses (2 cr. each) 1 “elective” course (2cr.)

0-1 “elective” courses (0-2 cr.) 0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.)

0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.) BIOL 6097 (1 cr.)

BIOL 6097 (1 cr.) Qualifier Exam: expected to be taken by May 15th

= 5-6 credits = 3-4 credits

Fall semester 3rd year Spring semester 3rd year

Dissertation credits (6 cr.) Dissertation credits (6 cr.)

0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.) 0-1 seminar course (0-1 cr.)

= 6-7 credits = 6-7 credits

4th & 5th years

A minimum of 1 seminar course per year (to a total of 5 seminar credits)

Curriculum requires a total of 24 credits minimum: 7 x 2-credit courses (at a minimum of 2-credits each and not

including BIOL 6001); 5 seminar courses (includes the BIOL 8504 course to be taken in fall of 1st year); 5 research

credits; and 12 dissertation research credits (start taking in semester following completion of Ph.D. qualifier exam). All

students are required to take BIOL 8501, BIOL 8502, and BIOL 8506 towards their 7 x 2-credit course requirement. A

minimum of two of the 2-credit “elective” courses should be from the group selections of Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell

Biology, Microbiology, or Physiology. With the permission of the student’s advisory committee any course described

in the graduate handbook may be used to fulfill the remaining two 2-credit “elective” course requirement.

IX. COURSE INFORMATION

GRADUATE RESEARCH COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BIOL 6096 – Laboratory Rotations in Biology (1 cr.) is designed to help first-year graduate

students choose a Ph.D. advisor (major professor) and, vice versa, to help the faculty member decide

on the student. The lab experience is totally up to the student and faculty member. It is meant to be

informal and based on mutual preferences of the student and faculty member. It can include attending

lab group meetings, literature research, bench work, and presentation of findings and/or research

plans to the lab members.

All first-year students are required to do three lab rotations during their first two semesters. The first

two rotations will be split evenly with the first rotation starting the 2

week of the fall semester and the

second rotation ending at the start of the University holiday/New Year break. The third rotation would

begin when the University re-opens after the Holiday/New Year break and continue for the same

length of time as the first two rotations. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will serve as a

temporary advisor for all incoming students in the Biological Sciences track. All courses and

laboratory rotations must be approved by the DGS before they begin.

Students who register for BIOL 6096 will register for a different section number for each professor

with whom they wish to rotate. (This is to avoid any difficulties in assigning a grade if a student

performs satisfactorily in one rotation but not in another.) Students should sign up for one BIOL 6096

credit for fall semester and two BIOL 6096 credits for spring semester. S/U grade assessment.

Prerequisite: consent of Department Chair.

This course is specifically not meant for learning a given technique, doing a prescribed amount of

readings in a given area, or resolving a specific research problem. Courses BIOL 8931 (Topics in

Biology) and BIOL 8995 (Independent Study) should be used for these purposes.

BIOL 6097 - Laboratory Research in Biology (1 cr.). Independent research of second year

graduate students based in their dissertation/thesis research laboratories, including lab group

meetings, literature research, bench work, presentation of findings and/or research plan to lab

members. Each professor will have a different section number. Students should sign up for BIOL

6097 in both the fall and spring semesters. S/U grade assessment. Prerequisite: BIOL 6096, or

consent of Department Chair.

BIOL 8995 – Independent Study in Biological Sciences (1-3 cr.). Investigations in selected areas

of biology. Taken primarily to acquaint a student with a technique or area of expertise outside of their

own area of concentration, but of value to their thesis research. This course may normally not be

taken more than once except when completed under different instructors. BIOL 8995 courses may

not be taken with the major professor. A student must give a descriptive title, which has the

approval of the course instructor, each time they register for this course. The student must use the

approved form (available in the Biological Sciences Department office) for each BIOL 8995 course

taken. The student must list the subject matter, title and name of the instructor on this form. This

procedure will insure that their record will show that repeated registrations do not mean repetition of

the same subject matter. Written documentation of successful completion of these courses is

required. Ordinarily this will take the form of a short paper adhering to accepted formats for published

scientific papers. Prerequisite: consent of instructor and Department Chair.

BIOL 6999 – Master’s Thesis (1-6 cr.). S/U grade assessment. Prerequisite: consent of Department

Chair.

BIOL 8999 – Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 cr.). S/U grade assessment. Prerequisite: consent of

Department Chair.

DEPARTMENT SEMINAR PROGRAM

BIOL 6952 – Colloquium. In addition to regular courses, the Department of Biological Sciences

sponsors a seminar program. These seminars, usually held on Friday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. during

the fall and spring semesters, are given by eminent biologists invited to the department to speak

about their specific research interests. The talks provide graduate students with an opportunity to

meet notable scientists and to obtain scientific information in greater detail than is normally presented

in regular courses. Information on dates, times and topics will be distributed to all graduate students

each semester. Attendance at these seminars is mandatory for all graduate students, and failure to

attend on a regular basis will result in a grade of “U”. Graduate students in the Neuroscience specialty

shall be required to attend all seminars in their track and must attend the same number of seminars

as students in Biological Sciences but are free to choose seminars from either department’s seminar

series.

GRADUATE LECTURE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Note: Below is a list of potential courses. Most courses are usually offered at most every other year.

Biochemistry Selections

BIOL 5102. Experimental Molecular Biology. 3 cr. hrs. Purification, characterization and molecular

analysis of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other biomolecules with emphasis on standard

techniques widely used in research laboratories. 1 hr. lec., 4 hrs. lab. Prereq: BIOL 3101 or equiv.

CHEM 5530. Biochemistry 1: Macromolecular Structure and Function. 3 cr. hrs. Chemistry and

biology of the component molecules of living cells, with an emphasis on the structure and function of

proteins, nucleic acids and biochemical cofactors. Underlying principles include bonding, kinetics,

thermodynamics, biochemical transformations, molecular recognition, protein folding, enzyme

catalysis, protein-nucleic acid structure and function and evolution at the biochemical level.

BIOL 5532. Biochemistry 2: Bioenergetics and Metabolism. 3 cr. hrs. An exploration of the

thermodynamic, cellular and molecular features contributing to the organization and regulation of

major metabolic pathways in plants and animals. Major topics focus on the thermodynamic and

mechanistic principles governing pathways associated with carbohydrate, nucleic acid, lipid and

amino acid metabolism. The integration, regulation and origins of these metabolic systems are

explored in the context of biotechnology and disease.

BIOL 8101. Protein Structure and Function. 2 cr. hrs. Advanced protein biochemistry stressing

methodology and primary literature. Topics include: structural and chemical properties of amino acids,

peptides and proteins; protein folding and assembly; protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions;

enzyme kinetics and regulation; and the determination of protein structure. Uses examples from

glycolytic and gluconeogenic metabolic pathways to highlight the structural basis for catalysis and

regulation. Prereq: BIOL 3101 or equiv.; or cons. of instr.

BIOL 8102. Biochemistry and Function of Nucleic Acids. 2 cr. hrs. The biochemistry of RNA and

DNA with emphasis on biological function and evolution. Specific topics include: nucleic acid

structure, biophysical properties, biosynthesis, and molecular function. Prereq: BIOL 3101 or cons. of

instr.

Cell Biology Selections

BIOL 5806. Immunobiology. 3 cr. hrs. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of the immune

response. Nature of antigens and antibodies and their interactions. Special topics include

complement, immediate and delayed hypersensitivity, transplantation and tumor immunobiology,

immunosuppression, and immunological tolerance. 3 hrs. lec., disc.

BIOL 8301. Imaging and Cytoskeletons. 2 cr. hrs. Discusses the principles of cytoskeleton and

molecular motors and modern imaging tools developed for the studies of cellular mechanisms.

Prereq: BIOL 2301 or equiv.

BIOL 8302. Protein Trafficking and Organelle Identity in Eukaryotic Cells. 2 cr. hrs. An in-depth

analysis of protein trafficking and organelle identity in eukaryotic cells. Discusses, in detail,

mechanisms of protein translocation across biological membranes and the genetic and biochemical

analysis of protein sorting to diverse organelles. Prereq: BIOL 3301 or equiv.

Developmental Biology Selections

BIOL 8601. Stem Cell Biology. 2 cr. hrs. Examines fundamental principles of developmental biology

as they relate to embryonic and adult stem cells. Includes: origin of stem cells, regulation of stem cell

niches, pluripotency and differentiation, relationship to cancer and experimental approaches to stem

cell research. Also includes discussion of recent advances in stem cell biology. Prereq: BIOL 2301 or

equiv.; or BIOL 3601 or equiv.

BIOL 8603. Cell and Molecular Biology of Early Development. 2 cr. hrs. Study of the cellular and

molecular mechanisms underlying the specification of cell fate in a variety of model organisms

including fruit flies, nematodes, mice and zebra fish. Emphasizes genetic, biochemical and molecular

techniques used in studying these complex systems. Prereq: BIOL 3301or equiv.; or BIOL 4601 or

equiv.

Genetics Selections

BIOL 5201. Genomics and Bioinformatics. 3 cr. hrs. The analysis of the structure, organization,

function and evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Students gain an understanding of

how recent technological advances have revolutionized the field of genomics and of how large

genomic datasets are generated, analyzed and visualized.

BIOL 8201. Epigenetics. 2 cr. hrs. Focuses on the molecular biology of epigenetic gene expression

states of eukaryotic model organisms and introduces molecular and genetic approaches to the

analysis of epigenetic problems. In particular, the course addresses DNA methylation, RNA

interference, chromatin structure, transposable elements and gene silencing.

BIOL 8202. Principles of Eukaryotic Genetics. 2 cr. hrs. Genetics of eukaryotic model organisms

with a focus on genetic approaches to the analysis of contemporary biological problems. Eukaryotic

chromosome structure and function. Prereq: BIOL 3201 or equiv.

BIOL 8801. Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics. 2 cr. hrs. Basic principles of bacterial genetics and

regulation of gene expression. Points of emphasis: 1) how genetics and regulation shape and are

shaped by the biology of the organism, 2) principles that are important to all biologists, including the

manipulation of bacteria in genetic cloning and protein production, 3) application of genetics to

elucidate cell physiology and biochemistry. Prereq: BIOL 3101 or BIOL 4801 or BIOL 8102 or an

equiv. of any of these; or cons. of instr.

Ecology and Environmental Biology Selections

BIOL 5401. Advanced Ecology. 3 cr. hrs. Studies the interactions of organisms with each other and

their abiotic environments beyond the introductory level. Both mathematical models and the

evolutionary genetics involved in ecologically important traits are emphasized. Ecological concepts in

current and classical scientific literature are explored. Mathematical and computer models are used to

analyze and understand ecological interactions and processes in population, community, ecosystem

and evolutionary ecology. These are combined with advanced concepts in population and ecological

genetics. 3 hrs. lec, disc.

BIOL 5410. Conservation Biology. 3 cr. hrs. The goals of conservation biology are to understand

the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss – from genes to populations to species to

ecosystems – and to develop tools and techniques to conserve biodiversity. Reviews what is known

about the causes and consequences of current biodiversity loss, established and emerging strategies

and tools to conserve biodiversity, and the ecological and evolutionary theory underlying these

strategies. Includes population-modeling approaches such as population viability analysis, life-history

tables, and sustainable harvest models, and conservation techniques such as species recovery

plans, reserve design, habitat suitability models, seed banks, and restoration ecology. Focuses on the

implications of biodiversity for ecosystem function and services, as well as the implications of

conservation for policy, economics, and society. Builds essential skills for a career in biology, natural-

resource management or conservation, including critical review of evidence and scientific literature,

quantitative and conceptual modeling and practical decision making.

BIOL 5403. Tropical Ecology in Panama. 3 cr. hrs. Tropical Ecology is the study of the biotic and

abiotic interactions that shape the origin, maintenance and consequences of species diversity in the

tropics. The incredibly high species diversity found in tropical forests has intrigued biologists for

centuries, including such luminaries as Darwin and Wallace and continues to engage biologists today.

Explores a variety of different forest types within the Republic of Panama to gain an appreciation for

the basic patterns and processes of tropical forests and the mechanisms believed to be responsible

for them. Modeled after the Organization for Tropical Biology’s Tropical Ecology Field Course.

BIOL 6401. Molecular Evolution. 2 cr. hrs. Covers introductory topics in molecular evolution based

on readings from the literature. Topics include: online sequence databases; sequence alignment;

detecting natural selection; building phylogenetic trees; testing alternative phylogenetic hypotheses;

molecular clocks; reconstructing ancestral sequences; and gene duplication and loss. Students learn

to use several software packages to perform these analyses. Prereq: Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8802. Microbiology in the Environment. 2 cr. hrs. The detection of microbial diversity,

activity, growth and abundance in the environment using molecular methods. Involves examples from

literature. Prereq: BIOL 4801 or equiv. or cons. of instr.

BIOL 8803. Microbial Diversity and Ecology. 2-3 cr. hrs. Study of microbial phylogenic and

physiological diversity underlying the ecological interactions in natural communities. Emphasizes

quantitative molecular techniques and sequencing used in studying microbial communities in the

environment. Develops critical thinking and writing skills in determining research objectives and

testing hypotheses.

Neurobiology Selections

BISC 5140. Functional Neuroanatomy. 3 cr. hrs. Examines the basic structure and function of the

central nervous system from spinal cord to cerebral cortex. Material is presented within both clinical

and basic contexts. Based on the understanding of the normal circuitry and function of the brain,

students progress towards developing the preliminary skills to diagnose or explain clinically relevant

neurological disorders. Laboratory included. Applies toward the Anatomy and Systems Content Area.

Prereq: BISC 3135 or BISC 7130; or enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences Post Bacc Program.

Physiology Selections

BIOL 5703. Exercise Physiology. 3 cr. hrs. Study of the effects of acute and chronic exercise on

selected organ systems. Particular emphasis is placed on muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory and

environmental physiology.

BIOL 8702. Muscle Biology. 2 cr. hrs. Topics covered include: skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle

relative to their regulation, structure and function. Emphasizes similarities and differences between

these three muscle types with regard to structural organizations, composition, mechanics and

kinetics. In addition, covers development, regulation and disease states. Emphasizes critical reading

of primary scientific literature. Prereq: BIOL 3701 or equiv.

BIOL 8704. Cellular Homeostasis. 2 cr. hrs. Detailed study of the proteins and pathways involved

in the maintenance of cell volume, pH, and ionic balance, including the analysis of the function of

plasma membrane transporter and channel proteins. The emphasis will be on eukaryotic cells, but

prokaryotic cells will also be covered. Prereq: BIOL 2301 or equiv., or cons. of instr.

Statistics Selections

COSC 5610. Data Mining. 3 cr. hrs. Techniques for extracting and evaluating patterns from large

databases. Introduction to knowledge discovery process. Fundamental tasks including classification,

prediction, clustering, association analysis, summarization and discrimination. Basic techniques

including decision trees, neural networks, statistics, partitional clustering and hierarchical clustering.

MSSC 5720. Statistical Methods. 3 cr. hrs. Probability, discrete and continuous distributions.

Treatment of data, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing. Large and small sample method,

regression, non-parametric methods. An introduction to the basic understanding of statistical

methods. Applications-oriented.

MSSC 5740. Biostatistical Methods and Models. 3 cr. hrs. Introduction to the statistics of life

science and the use of mathematical models in biology. Data analysis and presentation, regression,

analysis of variance, correlation, parameter estimation and curve fitting. Biological sequence analysis,

discrete and continuous mathematical models and simulation.

PSYC 8101. Advanced Statistics and Design 1. 3 cr. hrs.

Covers inferential statistics commonly used in psychological research. Topics include: probability and

hypothesis testing; t-tests; one-way, two-way, and repeated measures analysis of variance; post-hoc

and planned comparisons; correlation; bivariate regression; nonparametric statistics; power and effect

size. Emphasizes identifying the appropriate statistical model for a research question, understanding

the assumptions underlying the tests, and being able to compute and interpret the test statistics

accurately. Use of statistical packages. Prereq: Admission to clinical program or cons. of dept. ch.

OTHER COURSES OFFERED

BIOL 6005. Scientific Writing Workshop. 1-3 cr. hrs. Designed to teach basics of clear and

effective scientific writing with emphasis on preparing and evaluating research manuscripts and

proposals. Students learn editing techniques through deconstructing and revising others' work.

Prereq: Second year grad. student or cons. of instr.

BIOL 6011. Advanced Concepts in Genetics and Cell Biology. 3 cr. hrs. Introduces students to

genetics and cell biology at an advanced graduate level. Topics cover foundational and cutting edge

science across a variety of topics, including: DNA and RNA structure, Mendelian genetics,

transcription and translation, regulation of gene expression, DNA mutation and repair, genomics and

proteomics, membrane structure and function, membrane transporters and channels, membrane

potential, protein transport within the cell and cellular signaling.

BIOL 6012. Advanced Concepts in Cell Biology and Biochemistry. 3 cr. hrs. Introduces students

to cell biology and biochemistry at an advanced graduate level. Topics cover foundational and cutting

edge science across a variety of topics, including: carbohydrate and protein structure, protein folding,

protein-ligand interactions, enzyme function, bioenergetics, the cytoskeleton, molecular motors and

membrane compartments.

BIOL 8931. Topics in Biology. 1-3 cr. hrs. Subject matter variable as determined by needs of

biological sciences graduate students. Students may enroll more than once as subject matter

changes. Prereq: Cons. of dept. ch.

BIOL 8953. Seminar in Biochemistry and Genetics. 1-3 cr. hrs. Topics of current interest in

biochemistry and genetics. Prereq: Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8954. Seminar in Plant Molecular Biology. 1-3 cr. hrs. Topics of current interest in plant

molecular biology. Prereq: Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8955. Seminar in Neuroscience. 1-3 cr. hrs. Topics of current interest in neuroscience.

Prereq: Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8956. Seminar in Cell and Developmental Biology. 1-3 cr. hrs. Topics of current interest in

cell and developmental biology. Prereq: Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8957. Seminar in Physiology. 1-3 cr. hrs. Topics of current interest in physiology. Prereq:

Cons. of instr.

BIOL 8958. Seminar in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 1 cr. hr. Topics of current interest in

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology are studied. Prereq: Cons. of instr.

COURSES TAKEN AT OTHER MILWAUKEE AREA INSTITUTIONS

Marquette University has agreements with both the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and with the

Medical College of Wisconsin. The course being taken at the host institution must not be available at

Marquette. Normally, no more than six credits taken at UWM or MCW can be counted toward degree

completion at Marquette. The students must apply for admission to the host institution as a special

student; the application fee is waived. A Marquette student must complete the appropriate registration

form, found online on the Graduate School forms website, then get their adviser’s approval, and

finally submit the completed form to the Graduate School. This will register the student for the course

GRAD 6933 (UWM course) or GRAD 6945 (MCW course), both of which are variable title and

variable credit courses that reflect the title and number of credits of the course at the host institution.

The student must also register for the course at the host institution. Tuition is only paid at the home

institution for the GRAD 6933 or GRAD 6945 course. Interested students should contact the

Graduate School office for additional information and enrollment forms.

X. APPENDIX

MINI-SEMINAR RUBRIC

ANNUAL REVIEW

WRITTEN QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC

ORAL QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC

DISSERTATION OUTLINE RUBRIC

ORAL DISSERTATION RUBRIC

MINI-SEMINAR RUBRIC: Please return this form to Kirsten Boeh by the end of the day

1 2 3 4 5 6

Presenter Year Date Reviewer

This rubric is intended to give students a comprehensive and calibrated assessment of their presentation skills. It does NOT determine if a student passes or fails their

mini-seminar. Please review to a high standard -imagine that a 4 represents the best presentation you have ever seen. Examples of what a “2 – Satisfactory” may look

like should be used as a calibration for scoring each category.

0 - Unacceptable 1 – Marginal 2 – Satisfactory 3 – Very Good 4 -Outstanding

Section I - Nonverbal Skills

Score

Eye Contact

2 - Satisfactory: Some use of eye contact with portions of audience, but still returns to screen frequently

Poise

2 - Satisfactory: Makes minor mistakes, but quickly recovers from them; displays little or no tension.

Body language/ posture

2 - Satisfactory: Mostly faces audience but has little movement or descriptive gestures

Section II - Verbal Skills

Score

Enthusiasm

2 - Satisfactory: Demonstrates some interest in topic presented

Elocution

2 - Satisfactory: Voice is clear and most words pronounced correctly. Audience can mostly hear presentation

Delivery

2 - Satisfactory: Describes some content in their own words, but often reads directly from slides.

Speed/Cadence

2 - Satisfactory: Speaks at an appropriate speed for audience to follow, but may speak too slow or fast at times.

Section III - Presentation Quality

Score

Clarity of Slides

2 - Satisfactory: Mix of text and graphics that relate to the presentation

Organization

2 - Satisfactory: Student presents information in a mostly logical sequence that can be followed with little difficulty.

Timing

2 - Satisfactory: Presentation is kept close to time allotted (18-20 min or 13-15 min for 2

years), allowing time for questions

Section IV - Science

Score

Introduction

2 - Satisfactory: Highlights pertinent points of background information, but may not include all rationale for specific study

Knowledge of methods

2 - Satisfactory: Explains methods, but may not be able to answer all questions regarding these methods

Significance

2 - Satisfactory: Explains significance of each experiment but may not relate them to the rest of the study

Conclusions

2 - Satisfactory: Conclusions are given without explanation of potential alternative conclusions

Future Directions

2 - Satisfactory: Future directions proposed with little explanation or rationale

Question Answering

2 - Satisfactory: Can answer some questions but uncomfortable or confused by other questions

Comments:

Biological Sciences Graduate Program

Annual Research Performance Review

Please use Adobe Acrobat to complete this form

This review is to be completed annually for all students second year and above, who have not yet set

a date for their dissertation defense. All fields are required. If a student rates satisfactory or below

expectations in any section, please include actionable suggestions for improvement as part of your

comments.

After completion of Sections I and II, please forward this form electronically to the student’s committee

members for comment. These opinions should be based on the student's written and oral reports to the

committee as well as any informal interactions between the student and the committee members,

which bear on the student's progress. Any comments submitted must be discussed with the student

and reflected in the final version of this form. Any committee member who feels that his/her opinion is

not adequately represented in the final prepared summary is welcome to submit an individual report.

After comments from the committee are incorporated into the final version of this report, please print

and obtain the following signatures.

RETURN WITH SIGNATURES TO KIRSTEN BOEH BY MAY 24, 2019

My signature acknowledges discussion and receipt of this final version of this report.

Committee Members:

Name:

Signature:

Report Prepared by: Date:

(Major Professor)

Date:

(Graduate Student)

SECTION I: To be completed by the graduate mentor.

1. Work at the bench

Check one:

below expectations satisfactory above expectations exceptional

Comment on the student’s proficiency at research, including skills (or deficiencies) at the bench,

attention to detail and ability to trouble-shoot. Do they put in the time necessary to achieve research

goals?

Check one:

below expectations

satisfactory

above expectations

exceptional

Time management

Comment on the student’s ability to multitask and to use time efficiently.

unacceptable

3. Intellectual command of subject matter

Check one:

below expectations satisfactory

above expectations

exceptional

Comment on the student’s understanding of their research project and related literature. Do they

appreciate the subtleties of the research problem or the significance of potential experimental

outcomes? Are they confident in discussing the research, participating in lab meetings, etc?

4. Embracing the research project

Check one:

below expectations satisfactory

above expectations

exceptional

Comment on how the student has taken possession of the project. Are they innovative in tackling

research questions? Do they suggest new experiments? A driving force in their development?

unacceptable

Check one:

below expectations satisfactory above expectations exceptional

Please initial to indicate that you have discussed the content of Section I of this document.

Stu

dent: Mentor:

Research progress

Comment on research accomplishments in the past year and how they relate to the goals set. Are

there extenuating circumstances that prevented reaching these goals?

unacceptable

SECTION II: To be completed jointly by graduate student and mentor.

6. Goals for next year

Comment on research goals. Additionally, are there plans to i) attend science meeting; ii) present

research talk; iii) write up/submit a manuscript?

Please initial to indicate that you have jointly completed and discussed the content of Section II of this

document.

Student: Mentor:

After completion of Sections I and II, please forward this form electronically to the student’s committee

members for comment.

Page 1 of 2

WRITTEN QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC

Student Date Reviewer

ADAPTED FROM ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND TEXAS WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY

Instructions: For the written qualifying exam, please fill in the following rubric prior to coming to the oral exam.

This sheet must be turned in at the beginning of the exam to the QE committee Chair. For each item, a

description of what constitutes “outstanding” is given. For each of the categories, assign a score of 0 through 4.

4 - Outstanding 3 – Very Good 2 – Satisfactory 1 – Marginal 0 – Unacceptable

Enter scores in the rightmost column. For scores less than outstanding, provide reasons under Comments.

Section I – Aims (16 points possible)

1. Introduction

Outstanding: First sentence describes what the proposal is about. Current state of knowledge as well as gaps

are described. Significance is briefly described.

Score_____

2. Goals and hypothesis

Outstanding: Overall hypothesis and proposal objectives are clearly described.

Score_____

3. Specific Aims

Outstanding: Measurable aims are described in a single sentence that address the hypothesis followed by a

brief description of rationale and approach.

Score_____

4. Expected outcomes and impact

Outstanding: Expected outcomes and impact of the study are clearly described.

Score_____

Comments:

Section II – Significance and Background subsection of Research strategy (12 points possible)

1. Introduction/significance

Outstanding: Makes a compelling case for the importance of the problem and the potential impact of the study.

Score_____

2. Background and literature review

Outstanding: Provides a focused synthesis of the literature that demonstrates a comprehensive, discriminating

knowledge of the relevant literature. Provides sufficient background for the reader to put the proposed studies

in context.

Score____

3. Rationale and hypothesis

Outstanding: Question/theme is clear; develops a concrete rationale for the question; guides the reader

directly to the hypothesis; Hypothesis is imaginative, taking into account the complexities of an issue.Limits of

hypothesis are acknowledged. Others' points of view are synthesized within position hypothesis

Score____

Comments:

Page 2 of 2

Section III – Experimental Approach section of Research Strategy (16 points possible)

1. Experimental design

Outstanding: Describes the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to accomplish the specific aims of the

project. Appropriate, inventive, clear; describes procedures with sufficient and relevant detail, including how data

will be collected, and analyzed.

Score_____

2. Relevance of proposed experiments

Outstanding: Proposed experiments clearly address the aims and are feasible.

Score_____

3. Data expectations and interpretation

Outstanding: The expected results are described in detail and their interpretation is given. The expected results

should be logical given the experiments and background information. Alternative results are acknowledged.

Score_____

4. Potential problems and alternative strategies

Outstanding: Discusses potential problems and limitations of the proposed experiments and how these

moderate the conclusions; offers alternate strategies.

Score_____

Comments:

Section VI - Writing (32 points possible)

1. Writing Style

Outstanding: Uses excellent grammar, punctuation, and spelling; written at an appropriate level aimed at a

fellow scientist not necessarily familiar with the topic.

Score_____

2. Abbreviations

Outstanding: All abbreviations are explained the first time that they are utilized. When appropriate,

abbreviations are the standard ones used in the discipline.

Score_____

3. Organization

Outstanding: The flow is well organized within paragraphs and throughout the document allowing the reader to

follow the thought process of the writer.

Score_____

4. Citation format/Bibliography

Outstanding: Format follows the guidelines provided by NIH including all authors, article title, journal name,

volume, number, page numbers and publication year.

Score_____

5. In-line citations

Outstanding: Data and ideas from others are properly cited throughout the document.

Score_____

6. Format

Outstanding: 10 pages (including figures but excluding references), 11 point Arial font with 0.5 inch margins

including figures, tables and graphs but excluding references. Includes a descriptive title, specific aims (not to

exceed 1 page), research strategy (significance and approach not to exceed 9 pages).

Score_____

7. Figures

Outstanding: Figures illustrate relevant information needed to understand the text. All components are

appropriately labeled. Lines and fonts are appropriately sized and resolution is of high quality.

Score_____

8. Figure Legends

Outstanding: Figure legend provide sufficient information to understand the figure without reading the text. All

abbreviations are given, N’s, format of data (i.e., mean ± sem) and statistical analyses are identified when

appropriate.

Score_____

Comments:

Page 1 of 2

ORAL QUALIFYING EXAM RUBRIC

Student Date Reviewer

ADAPTED FROM ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND TEXAS WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY

Instructions: For the oral portion of the qualifying exam, please fill in the following rubric based on how the

student responds to questions from the committee. Students should be prepared to begin the qualifying exam

with an overview of their proposal but all aspects may not be addressed depending on questions posed by the

examining committee. If a particular item was not addressed during the oral exam, it is sufficient to state NA for

not addressed rather than putting a score for that item. This sheet must be turned in to the QE committee Chair

at the end of the exam. For each item, a description of what constitutes “outstanding” is given. For each of the

categories, assign a score of 0 through 4.

4 - Outstanding 3 – Very Good 2 – Satisfactory 1 – Marginal 0 – Unacceptable

Enter scores in the rightmost column. For scores less than outstanding, provide reasons under Comments.

1. Proposal overview

Outstanding: Effectively and insightfully develops a set of testable, supportable and impactful study

hypotheses.

Score_____

Comments:

2. Justification for hypotheses

Outstanding: Provides a cogent overview of conceptual and theoretical issues related to the study

hypotheses including appropriate evidence to support the hypotheses.

Score_____

Comments:

3. Experimental design

Outstanding: Demonstrates a clear understanding of the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses

needed to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Appropriate, inventive, clear; describes procedures

with sufficient and relevant detail including how data will be collected and analyzed.

Score_____

Comments:

4. Relevance of proposed experiments

Outstanding: Proposed experiments clearly address the aims and are feasible.

Score_____

Comments:

Page 2 of 2

5. Data expectations and interpretation

Outstanding: The expected results are described in detail and their interpretation is given. The expected

results should be logical given the experiments and background information. Alternative results are

acknowledged.

Score_____

Comments:

6. Potential problems and alternative strategies

Outstanding: Discusses potential problems and limitations of the proposed experiments and how these

moderate the conclusions; offers alternate strategies.

Score_____

Comments:

7. Expected outcomes and impact

Outstanding: Expected outcomes and impact of the study are clearly described.

Score_____

Comments:

8. Ability to think on their feet

Outstanding: Demonstrates the ability to follow the questioning of the committee and incorporate

suggestions into their studies to expand their project.

Score_____

Comments:

9. General background knowledge

Outstanding: Demonstrates a clear understanding of major biological concepts that are discussed during

the oral qualifying exam even when outside the general area of the proposal.

Score_____

Comments:

ORAL DISSERTATION PRESENTATION RUBRIC

Student Date Reviewer

This rubric is intended to give students a comprehensive and calibrated assessment of their presentation skills. It does NOT determine if a student passes or fails their

defense. Please review to a high standard -imagine that a 4 represents the best presentation you have ever seen. Examples of what a “2 – Satisfactory” may look like

should be used as a calibration for scoring each category.

0 - Unacceptable 1 – Marginal 2 – Satisfactory 3 – Very Good 4 -Outstanding

Section I - Nonverbal Skills

Score

Eye Contact

2 - Satisfactory: Some use of eye contact with portions of audience, but still returns to screen frequently

Poise

2 - Satisfactory: Makes minor mistakes, but quickly recovers from them; displays little or no tension.

Body language/ posture

2 - Satisfactory: Mostly faces audience but has little movement or descriptive gestures

Section II - Verbal Skills

Score

Enthusiasm

2 - Satisfactory: Demonstrates some interest in topic presented

Elocution

2 - Satisfactory: Voice is clear and most words pronounced correctly. Audience can mostly hear presentation

Delivery

2 - Satisfactory: Describes some content in their own words, but often reads directly from slides.

Speed/Cadence

2 - Satisfactory: Speaks at an appropriate speed for audience to follow, but may speak too slow or fast at times.

Section III - Presentation Quality

Score

Clarity of Slides

2 - Satisfactory: Mix of text and graphics that relate to the presentation

Organization

2 - Satisfactory: Student presents information in a mostly logical sequence that can be followed with little difficulty.

Timing

2 - Satisfactory: Presentation is kept close to time allotted (50 minutes), allowing time for questions

Section IV - Science

Score

Introduction

2 - Satisfactory: Highlights pertinent points of background information, but may not include all rationale for specific study

Knowledge of methods

2 - Satisfactory: Explains methods, but may not be able to answer all questions regarding these methods

Significance

2 - Satisfactory: Explains significance of each experiment but may not relate them to the rest of the study

Conclusions

2 - Satisfactory: Conclusions are given without explanation of potential alternative conclusions

Future Directions

2 - Satisfactory: Future directions proposed with little explanation or rationale

Question Answering

2 - Satisfactory: Can answer some questions but uncomfortable or confused by other questions

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