Continuing Student Guide

Doctoral Survival Guide - Winter Quarter and Beyond

Written for students by students

(and some help from faculty and the graduate program coordinator) 

Typical Timeline

• Year one 
• During the first year, a great deal of time is spent taking classes. The core course is designed to cover essential physiologic principles and provide background information needed for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. This is when you will find a permanent research home for the rest of your thesis work. A major professor and permanent laboratory should be chosen by the beginning of Spring quarter, at which time you should begin work on a research project.
• Year two 

• You will complete your course requirements this year, and you should complete the two required quarters as a Teaching Assistant. By serving as a TA, you will develop teaching skills, is also excellent preparation for the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. You not only learn a subject well by teaching it, but also gain confidence in turning complex questions into structured and understandable answers. 

  Before you begin your third year, you should take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. During this examination (three hours), five professors will question you. You may begin by describing your proposed dissertation research. The exam covers basic physiology (based primarily on the core course material) and your ability to solve problems and design experiments.

• After the QE

• After passing your Ph.D. Qualifying Examination, you will form a Dissertation Committee composed of your research advisor and two additional professors. This committee will guide your research. The Dissertation Committee must be approved by your Graduate Advisor and Graduate Studies. It is important that you advance to candidacy as soon as you pass your QE by filing the required forms at the graduate studies office. During the last two or three years, you will devote all your time to your doctoral research (taking a course load of 12 MCP 299 units each quarter). The successful completion of an original, significant research project is determined by the Dissertation Committee. When your dissertation is completed, the three professors sign the cover sheet. You will give an exit seminar for the group on your research (this is not a defense). This is also a great opportunity to put together a slideshow for interviews with potential employers. Then it is time to celebrate! 

  Students have 12 registered quarters from the quarter they pass their QE to submit their dissertation. Students will be notified when they are close to nearing their time-to-degree. Failure to submit their dissertation will result in academic probation. Students will be given a maximum of 3 quarters to rectify and submit their dissertation. 

Overview of Doctoral Requirements

• Complete coursework in Years 1 and 2
• Fall quarter will go by fast and once spring quarter approaches it is time to start thinking about your class schedule for the next 2 years. Keep all class requirements in mind. 
  
  Often, the hardest part of scheduling classes is working in the areas of specialization with other required MCIP courses. 
  
  To keep full-time student status, you will need least 12 units per quarter. Once you are finished with coursework, you will register for 12 research units per quarter. 
• TA for one quarter

• You are required to be a teaching assistant (TA) for one quarters in a physiology related course. The course must be approved by your Graduate Advisor. Most students do not TA until their second year. There is an exception to the requirement for students that attain certain internal and external fellowships; check with your Graduate Advisor for more information. 
  
  It is mandatory that you attend the Orientation for New Teaching Assistants that is only offered in the Fall. 

  You may TA for more than one quarter, if you want. TAing is an excellent way to secure funding for a quarter for those who do not have funding yet. Remember, "full" funding is normally considered a 50% position, but you only need a 25% position for full fee remission. TA positions do NOT cover your out-of-state tuition, if applicable. Out-of-state and international students who would like to TA in their first year should contact their Program Coordinator to discuss out-of-state tuition payment. 
  
  In order to TA, you must first attend the mandatory Orientation for New Teaching Assistants that is only offered in the Fall. You will also need to fill out an application for each of the departments that offer TAships which interest you. Apply early.  Each department has a different application process. 
  
  While individual background will dictate which departments you will feel comfortable teaching for, many MCIP students will teach for Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior (NPB) or Animal Science (ANS) (just to name a few.) The best tip you can get is to personally contact instructors or have someone contact them for you (your mentor for example) you are much more likely to get a TAship if they know who you are.

• Pass your Qualifying Exam before the start of Year 3
• In the first half of your second your, the Program Coordinator will send you a survey to submit a list of professors who you want/do not want on your Qualifying Exam Committee. It is a good idea to get in touch with the other MCIP students as well as talk to your PI about which individuals you want to include/exclude. You may not get all the individuals you request, but the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) tries to accommodate as best as they can. 
  
  After your QE committee is assigned, you should begin trying to schedule a date to take the exam. It is your responsibility to contact your committee members and schedule a date. Keep in mind that this may take several weeks, as professors are busy people. After that, be sure that you submit an official, signed QE application (listing all your committee members) to Graduate Studies.
  
  In general, QEs consist of two parts: ~20 minute research plan presentation with ~40 minutes of Q&A; and 1-2 hours of general physiology Q&A (based on the MCP 210 material). All information and answers will be presented in "chalk talk" format at a board with chalk or dry erase marker. 
  
  In order to prepare for the QE, it is a common practice to schedule mock QE with other MCIP students. Don’t limit your reach to only senior MCIP students. Although those who passed their QE can give you tips based on their experience, new students are usually better in terms of their memory of general physiology. Try to schedule more than one mock meeting and do it in advance - this also helps you motivate and organize your studying.
  
  There are three possible outcomes to your Qualifying Exam: Pass, Retake , or Fail. Pass means you may advance to candidacy. Retake means you must retake part or all of your exam; you only get one retake. Fail (extremely rare) results in a disqualification from the PhD program. 
• Advance to candidacy 
• Once you pass your Qualifying Exam and complete all coursework, the QE Committee Chair will file the Pass report with Graduate Studies. Once processed, Graduate Studies will email you with confirmation that you have passed, along with instructions on advancing to candidacy and steps towards completion. Advancement to Candidacy signifies that you have met all the coursework requirements of a doctoral candidate, and have only to submit your dissertation. 
• Present your research
• Students are required to present at the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Group Research Colloquia at least once before graduation. This is great practice for presenting at national meetings and conferences. You will also have the opportunity to win poster or oral presentation awards.
• File your dissertation and present your exit seminar
• Your dissertation committee will consist of three (or four) faculty members, including your major professor. You are required to meet with them at least once a year following advancement to candidacy. Be sure to check with Graduate Studies for important dates for filing your dissertation. You will also be required to present your dissertation at an exit seminar. 
• (Optional) Volunteer in student leadership positions!
• Volunteering to help with various MCIP committees and events is a great way to learn how the university works and what faculty do. It is also a great way to get to know the faculty and network with them for jobs and advice. 

Nice Things to Know

• Core Courses

• This series of classes is designed to cover the basic principles of physiology, including essential aspects of cellular and systemic physiology, and to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This is a team-taught series, meaning that each class will have several different instructors who cover their own specialties. The 210A course (Fall quarter) covers cellular and membrane physiology. It also introduces the core principles of neurophysiology and muscle physiology. The 210B course (Winter quarter) overlaps with the end of 210A and continues neurophysiology. It also covers cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory physiology. Depending on instructor availability, basic immunology may also be covered. Spring quarter (210C) includes endocrinology, metabolism, reproduction, and gastrointestinal and comparative physiology. 

  *Note: The workload and amount of material will change when transitioning from MCP210A to 210B. As you begin to wrap up the 210A class, expect approximately 2x the material per week in 210B. This is mainly due to covering systems and having lecture Monday-Friday as opposed to Mon, Wed, Fri (in 210A). Accounting for this will help you plan research/rotations and study hours more appropriately. 

• Area of Specialization
• You are encouraged to consult with your major professor regarding specialization courses that will best suit your personal project or lab work you will be performing. Your Graduate Advisor is also an excellent resource if you need any help with clarifications regarding any of these courses. The offerings of courses may change year to year, so you are advised to look them up at the beginning of the year on schedule builder and plan your yearly course schedule accordingly. It is also a good idea to have backup courses in mind in case a course you planned on taking is not offered in a specific year. 
• Statistics 
• It is highly recommended that you talk to senior students and ask about statistics courses. They differ dramatically in what they offer, time requirement, and difficulty. 
• Designated Emphases
• MCIP students often join the Biophotonics and Bioimaging, Biotechnology, or Reproductive Biology DEs. You should decide if you want to join a DE as soon as possible. You CANNOT add a DE after you take your QE. 
• General tips for a rewarding graduate school experience
• Keep open and clear communication with your Major Professor (this usually evolves as your graduate career advances) and Graduate Advisor.
  
  Schedule your time wisely, especially in your second year when classes, researching, teaching, and studying for your QE all overlap. 
  
  Keep an open mind and learn from mistakes. Experimental failures, constant writing, and imposter syndrome are common obstacles that encompass graduate school. You are not alone. 
  
  Stay in touch and involved with the MCIP graduate group, and especially your peers! The impact of obstacles feels less burdensome when shared with other graduate students and friends.