Plan of Study

The Graduate School requires a minimum of at least 30 credits of content course work beyond the baccalaureate (or its equivalent) or at least 15 credits of content course work beyond the master’s degree in the same or a closely-related field of study (exclusive of any required Related Area). The Plan of Study should be completed, signed by the student and advisory committee members, and submitted to the Graduate School for approval when 18 credits of course work have been completed.

Courses elected should be consistent with the student’s objectives and related to the field in which the degree will be taken. Plans of study will consist largely of courses at the 5000′s level or above. A limited number of credits at the 3000’s or 4000′s level (ordinarily not more than six) may be accepted.

The specific courses each student takes will ultimately be determined by the student’s Thesis Committee. You should form a committee as soon as possible and consult with them before registering for courses beyond the first year.

During their first semester, students are required to participate in the departmental rotation program (MCB 6000) and attend the Introduction to Faculty Research series (MCB 5899-002). By the end of the first year, students are expected to establish a committee consisting of a major advisor and two associate advisors. This advisory committee will be available to assist in course planning and provide guidance relevant to the prospectus exam. The student is expected to meet with this committee yearly to keep them updated on scholarly activities.

Throughout the remainder of their graduate work, students will participate in the Departmental Graduate Seminar (MCB 5899-001) to present their research results annually. All Cell and Developmental Biology graduate students are expected to participate in the Graduate Biochemistry Seminar (MCB 5099-339) a weekly, student-led discussion of current topics and techniques. Laboratory group meetings and departmental events, such as the yearly MCB Retreat, provide students with additional opportunities to present their research findings.

After approval of the plan, any request for change must be submitted to the Graduate School on an official form bearing the signatures of the members of the advisory committee and the student. Such requests are subject to approval by the Graduate School. The successful completion of all work indicated on the approved plan of study is a fundamental prerequisite to the conferral of the degree.

Important Items to Note:

• All graduate students are required to maintain continuous registration for the Fall and Spring semesters until the conferral of their degree. Failure to maintain continuous registration will automatically result in the student being discontinued from their academic program. For information regarding the continuous registration requirements, refer to the “Registration” section of the Graduate School Catalog.
• Graduate students should include their seven-digit Student Administration System identification number and name in all communications.
• Please use the current forms listed on the Graduate School website to appropriately update your records and ensure that you do not have to revise/resubmit forms unnecessarily. The forms offered by the Registrar’s office are primarily for undergraduate use and do not necessarily meet the needs of the graduate student.
• Remember that an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 and continuous registration are required to successfully fulfill degree requirements.

Required Courses (semester offered)
MCB 5217 Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids and Proteins (1). This is a core course and should be taken as soon as possible. (3 credits)
MCB 5280 Advanced Cell Biology (2)
MCB 5200 Cell Biology of the Mammalian Secretory Apparatus (2)
MCB 5899-002 Introduction to Faculty Research (1). Presentations by faculty members who have openings in their labs about their research projects. (1 credit)
MCB 5899-001 Graduate Seminar (1,2). This is a seminar series given by graduate students to learn the art of presenting seminars and to hear what other students are doing in the lab. Cell Biology students are required to present once each year. (1 credit)
MCB 6897 Research (1,2). This is the course number for research credit if you have not yet chosen a lab for your thesis work. You should register for 1 credit so that you can begin a research project in a lab even if you are rotating through the lab. Once you are doing thesis research, you should sign up for GRAD 6950 (Ph.D.).

Other Courses
Cell and Developmental Biology:
MCB 5896 Methods in Cell Biology (1)
MCB 5240 Virology (2)
MCB 4219 Developmental Biology (1)
MCB 5255 Cellular Immunology (2)
MCB 5896 Cell Biology of Microbial Infection (2)
MCB 5210 Molecular Endocrinology (1)
MCB 5681 Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenicity (1)
PNB 5347 Electron Microscopy (1)
PNB 5351 Advanced Electron Microscopy (2)

Biochemistry/Biophysics:
MCB 5001 Biochemistry
MCB 5008 Theory of Biophysical Techniques (1)
MCB 5011 Enzyme Structure and Function (1)
MCB 5012 Foundations of Structural Biochemistry (1)
MCB 5013 Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules (2)
MCB 5002 Biochemistry Laboratory (2)
MCB 5025 Structure and Function of Biological Membranes (2)
MCB 5034 Human Disease and Metabolism (1)
MCB 5038 Techniques in Structural Biology (1)
MCB 5896-041 Biochemistry (1, 2)
MCB 5896 Introduction to Mathematical Biophysics (2)
MCB 5896-059 Special Topics: Structure and Dynamics of Cellular Machines (2)

Genetics:
MCB 5434 Molecular Aspects of Genetics
MCB 5621 Molecular Biology and Genetics of Procaryotes (2)
MCB 5427 Laboratory Techniques in Functional Genomics (Lab) (2)
MCB 5426 Genetic Engineering & Functional Genomics (1)
MCB 5449 Molecular Genetics (1)
MCB 5452 Problems in the Genetics of Eukaryotes (1)

Seminars:
MCB 5299 Current Topics in Cell Biology (Journal Club)
MCB 5893 Special Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1)
MCB 5896-051 Seminar in Genetics (1, 2)
MCB 5896-042 Frontiers in Applied Genomics  (1,2)

Typical First Semester Registration
Normal load is 9 credits with no assistantship or 6 credits with an assistantship. There is no need for Ph.D. students to sign up for more than 6 credits. You will have plenty of credits by the time you are ready to graduate. Note that MCB 6897 is for non-thesis research. Once you are in a lab and have a thesis project, you will be registering for GRAD 6950 (Ph.D.) research credit.

A Typical First Year
Fall Semester: Normal load is 6 credits with an assistantship
MCB 5899-001 Graduate Seminar (1 credit) This is a seminar series given by graduate students to learn the art of presenting seminars and to hear what other students are doing in the lab. Cell Biology students are required to present once each year.
MCB 5899-002 Introduction to Faculty Research (1 credit) Presentations by MCB faculty members who have openings in their labs about their research projects.
MCB 6000 Rotations in MCB Laboratories (1 credit)
MCB 5217 Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids and Proteins (3 credits) OR MCB 5896 Methods in Cell Biology (3 credits)

Spring Semester:
MCB 5899-001 Graduate Seminar (1 credit)
MCB 5280 Advanced Cell Biology (3 credits, required)
MCB 5200 Cell Biology of the Mammalian Secretory Apparatus (3 credits, required)

Fill in the schedule with other seminar courses (5099, 5683, 5699) or courses that are of interest for you. Remember that seminar/journal club courses can be taken multiple times since topics change from year to year. Find out what the topic is for this semester from the instructor.

Other course numbers you need to know
GRAD 6960- The course number for Ph.D. students registering for credits in the summer in order to get work-study funds.
GRAD 6950- The normal course number for Ph.D. thesis research

In addition to the required courses included in the Plan of Study, satisfactory completion of at least 15 credits of GRAD 6950 – Doctoral Dissertation Research or GRAD 6960 – Full-Time Doctoral Dissertation Research is required.

 

Candidacy, Dissertation Preparation, and Final Oral Defense

Upon approval of the plan of study, passing the general examination, and approval of the dissertation proposal by the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty Council, the student becomes a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

A dissertation representing a significant contribution to ongoing research in the candidate’s field is a primary requirement. The preparation of the dissertation is under the immediate and continuous supervision of the advisory committee, and it must meet all standards prescribed by the committee and by the Graduate School. It must be acceptable in literary style and organization. Specifications for its preparation may be obtained at the Graduate School or from the Graduate School website. It is the student’s ultimate responsibility to be certain that the dissertation conforms to the specifications.

No restrictions that limit or delay the accessibility, use or distribution of the results of a doctoral candidate’s research are acceptable if such delays are inconsistent with an embargo period requested by the student or if they interfere with the timely completion of a student’s academic program.

Preliminary Exam

Ph.D. students are required to pass a preliminary exam by the end of their third year in the program. A committee composed of three members of the student’s permanent committee plus two examiners will conduct the exam. If reexamination is required, this must be completed by the end of the semester following the original examination. Students must pass this preliminary exam two years before their Ph.D. thesis defense.
The exam comprises two parts:

Written Proposal:
Students must defend a thesis-related proposal. The proposal should be written in the general style of an NIH application including specific aims, background and research plan. The document should be a maximum of 12 pages, double spaced, 1 in. margins, including figures but not references. The major advisor may provide consultation, but the student must write the entire proposal. The proposal will be distributed to the members of the examining committee two weeks prior to the oral examination. Students should be prepared to defend in detail both the scope of the research and the proposed methodologies. The committee will evaluate the scientific content and clarity of writing in the proposal. No preliminary data from the student’s research are required for either the written proposal or oral presentation. This written document will serve as the student’s prospectus.

Oral Examination:
The candidate will present a short public seminar describing the proposal and answer questions from the general audience. Immediately following the seminar, a formal examination will be given that includes questions on the proposal and tests the candidate’s general knowledge of biochemistry, structural biology, and biophysics. Members of the examining committee and any other faculty who wish to remain will administer this examination. The student must arrange for a formal announcement of the oral examination one week prior to the presentation and make available a written copy of the proposal in each MCB office and place an electronic version online.

Thesis

To complete the Ph.D. degree, the student must write a thesis based on his/her original research, following the specifications as described by the Graduate School and with guidance from his/her advisory committee. A presentation of the original research will be part of the examination. The committee must approve the thesis and final oral examination.

The oral defense of the dissertation must be announced publicly by means of the university events online calendar at least two weeks prior to the date of the defense. At this time, electronic tentative approval of the dissertation and an electronic working copy of the entire dissertation must be filed with the Graduate School. Not fewer than five members of the faculty, including all members of the candidate’s advisory committee, must participate in the final examination unless written approval for a lesser number has been secured in advance from the Dean.

The decision regarding whether a candidate has passed, conditionally passed, or failed the examination rests solely with the advisory committee, which will take into account the opinions of other participating faculty members and other experts. The vote of the advisory committee must be unanimous. Following the examination, the major advisor communicates the results to the student and verifies that the official report has been completed and signed for submission to the Graduate School.

The abstract and dissertation must be dated as of the calendar year in which all requirements for the degree are completed. The Graduate School requires the electronic submission of the dissertation though Digital Commons, a university repository for public access. The final copy must meet all specifications outlined on the Graduate School Website. The Dissertation Submission Checklist must be submitted to the Graduate School once it has been signed by a Homer Babbidge Library designated staff member together with an approval page bearing original signatures of all members of the advisory committee. Once a dissertation is bound, it becomes the property of the Homer Babbidge Library. No restrictions that limit or delay the accessibility, use or distribution of the results of a doctoral student’s research are acceptable if such delays are inconsistent with an embargo period requested by the student or if they interfere with the timely completion of a student’s academic program.

EXAMINATIONS:

Written General Exam:
Students seeking a Ph.D. in the area of Cellular and Developmental Biology MUST take the written exam at the time it is offered in the Spring semester of their second year. To take the exam, the student MUST have formed an Advisory Committee and have the Written Exam Permission Form signed by the committee, with whom they should have already met.

If a student’s performance on any part of the written exam is deficient, this information will be transmitted to the Advisory Committee. It is the expectation of the Program that remediation of such deficiencies will be addressed by the Advisory Committee prior to the Related Proposal.

Related Research Proposal Exam:
The examination committee will consist of the 3 members of the student’s Advisory Committee plus two Examiners. It is recommended that one Examiner is from outside the department. The exam must be completed within the first 3 years in the Ph.D. program. No preliminary data are necessary to write the proposal. The proposal should be written as if the student were proposing a three-year project and include a timetable.

A. Prepare one page of Specific Aims for the proposal and have it approved by the exam committee: The specific aims briefly describe the rationale for the proposal and outline the hypotheses to be explored and the methods/experiments to achieve the aims. The student should prepare this document with some input from the advisor. The student will then meet with the full committee to discuss the breadth and depth of the aims so the committee can provide guidance.

B. Prepare the full proposal: The student will then prepare a 15-25 page single spaced (excluding references) Research Proposal following the general guidelines of an NIH R01 grant proposal including the Face page, Specific Aims, and Research Plan. An estimated budget for supplies, reagents, equipment, etc. should be provided.

The written portion will then be distributed to the members of the examining committee at least 2 weeks before the oral defense. The proposal will be evaluated by the committee in terms of both scientific content and clarity of writing style. The committee will have the discretion to reject the proposal (the equivalent of a study section “triage”) or accept it for continuing to Part 3.

C. Oral Defense of the Proposal: The candidate will present the proposal to the committee and any other interested faculty, describing the Background and Research Plan. One member of the committee (not the major advisor) will serve as the chair of the examining committee. It is the job of this person to make sure that the candidate is examined and not the advisor and to generally keep the process moving along so the entire proposal is discussed. There will be no general audience presentation preceding the defense. Committee members may ask questions at any time rather than waiting until the entire proposal has been presented.

Each part of this exam will be evaluated independently and the student is expected to pass all sections. The student may be asked to repeat either part of the exam.

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL:

Ph.D. THESIS DEFENSE:

The thesis should be submitted to the committee at least 3 months before the expected finishing date. The committee will read the proposal at this time and determine if it is generally acceptable in terms of both the writing and the science and whether there are additional experiments that need to be performed. Once the student has received feedback from the committee, the student can proceed to schedule a defense date.

SAMPLE GRANTS

http://funding.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/grant/pages/appsamples.aspx
http://nccam.nih.gov/grants/resources/grantwrite-advice.htm
http://www.research.vcu.edu/vpr/resources/grant_proposal.htm#sample  This link doesn’t work.

 

FORMS AND LINKS

Full SF424 proposal instructions 
Research Plan instructions (form SF424)
Ph.D. FormsGraduate School
Registration, Fees, Etc.