Chemical Biology Requirements

Ph.D. Requirements: Chemical Biology

First Year

Fall

• Faculty advising for course selection (end of August)
• Take Chemical Biology (Biochem 704) - Required major course for fall
• Select one Chemical Biology Methods course from the following (if offered): Chem 606, 621, 622, 627 (formerly 630), or 860 (some courses offered in alternate years)
• Additional coursework (minor courses)
• Rotations
• Research group selection (by Nov. 15)
• Begin thesis research

Spring

• Take a Biophysical/Bioanalytical Methods course from the following (Chem 606, 621, 622, 627 (formerly 630), or 860) if one was not taken in fall semester. - Required major course for Spring (preferred timing)
• Additional coursework (minor courses)
• Assemble a committee of three faculty members (one is your thesis adviser)
• Research

Second Year

• Research
• Finish required coursework (minor courses in Fall and Spring semesters; preferred timing)
• Preliminary Exam - oral and written defense (submitted by end of January; defended by end of March)
• File Minor Agreement Form (Obtain from Chemistry Graduate Office and submit halfway through coursework.)

Third Year

• Research
• Original research proposal - oral and written defense (submitted by end of March; defended by end of May)
• File Request for Preliminary Warrant to request dissertator status. (Obtain from Graduate Office and submit one month prior to defense.)

Fourth Year

• Research
• Thesis planning meeting (1 year prior to anticipated defense, at student and adviser's discretion)
• Fourth-year seminar on thesis research at "Seminar Day" in May

Fifth (and Subsequent) Year(s)

• Research
• Assemble your Ph.D. thesis committee (augment current committee with two additional faculty members)
• Write and defend Ph.D. thesis
• File Ph.D. Final Oral Committee Approval Form (Obtain from Graduate Office and submit one month prior to oral exam.)