Specialization Requirements

The Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Specialization in Multi-Scale Biology adds only fairly modest additional requirements beyond the home Ph.D. program requirements that should not prolong your time to graduation at all. Moreover, these program requirements are designed to be consistent and compatible with the home department degree requirements. Here we summarize these specific Specialization requirements.


Qualifying Exams
The Interdisciplinary Specialization in Multi-Scale Biology does not have additional qualifying exam requirements or senate candidacy exam requirements over and above the home program requirements. We only require that students submit a copy of a written thesis proposal to the Steering Committee for confidential review, so that the relationship between student research plans and the specialization theme can be monitored and feedback can be provided. Students advancing to candidacy during the current academic year will also be invited to make a brief overview of their research progress and plan at the annual Winter Retreat.

Doctoral Committee
Constitution of the doctoral committee is determined by University and home program regulations. The specialization requires that students have dual mentors who will serve as doctoral committee chair and co-chair when eligible, with at least one of the dual mentors being a faculty member of the specialization.

Ph.D. Specialization Course Requirements
Students in the Interdisciplinary Specialization in Multi-Scale Biology will be required to enroll in at least three of the six interfaces laboratory courses, usually during the first two years of graduate study. Most participating graduate programs have confirmed that at least two of these lab courses will qualify for course credit towards home program degree requirements. During the initial phase-in period of the degree specialization, Ph.D. students who are already in their second or later years of study at the time they enter the specialization may petition to have this laboratory course requirement decreased to two or fewer.
 
Special Preparation for Careers in Teaching
The Ph.D. specialization includes one quarter of half-time (10 hour per week) service as a TA (typically in the third or fourth year) for academic teaching credit in one of the six lab courses. Participating graduate programs have agreed to allow their students to participate in this teaching activity, and those with academic teaching requirements have agreed to give teaching credit for TA service in the specialization courses wherever possible.

Events
Students will be expected to participate in special events of the Interdisciplinary Specialization such as monthly seminars, the annual program retreat and the annual student research symposium.

 

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