Recruitment and Interviews

We're Excited to Meet You!

The faculty and students of the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) Graduate Group are looking forward to your visit! During your visit, you will have an opportunity to learn more about us—the people, the interdisciplinary research, the extensive research facilities, and the collaborative academic environment that make UC Davis a great place to undertake graduate studies. We hope this event will help you ascertain whether study at UC Davis is a good fit for you, and vice versa.  

This page contains a lot of information. Please read fully and carefully to ensure you are prepared for your visit!

Schedule of Events  Travel Information  Other Details  After Your Visit FAQ

UC Davis drawing

Program of Events

This schedule is tentative and subject to change!

Sunday, March 1st

Arrive to Davis by 5:00pm (ideal flight arrival to Sacramento Airport by 4:00pm). Check in to hotel, unless you are local to the Davis area. Informal dinner with current graduate students at Woodstock's Pizza at 6:00pm.

If you end up having to choose a flight that gets you here before hotel check-in time (3:00pm) on Sunday, or have some down time between the end of our event (1:30pm) and your outgoing flight on Tuesday, this is a great thing to consult with your student host about when you are introduced to them via email. If one of your preferred faculty is not able to formally interview you, perhaps they can meet with you in the downtime you have between arriving in Davis and checking in to the hotel. Your student host can also provide you with restaurant suggestions!

Monday, March 2nd

7:45am: A small team of students will meet you at the hotel and walk you to the UC Davis Conference Center
8:00 - 9:15am: Breakfast and welcome remarks from Mark Winey, Dean of the College of Biological Sciences
9:15 - 10:00am: Orientation presentation by Keith Baar, Chair of the MCIP Graduate Group
10:00 - 10:15am: Break
10:15 - 11:45am: Faculty research presentations
11:45am - 1:15pm: Lunch with faculty and resource fair
1:15pm: A student will meet you at the Conference Center and walk you to your interviews
1:45, 2:45, and 3:45pm: Faculty interviews (30 minutes each)
4:45 - 5:45pm: Student Q&A session
6:00 - 7:30pm: Dinner with faculty and students at Great Bear Winery
7:30pm: Optional social downtown, or your student host will walk you back to the hotel

Tuesday, March 3rd

9:00 - 10:30am - Breakfast at the Hyatt Place

Miscellaneous Tips

These are just little things about the faculty you will be interviewing with; if I were in your shoes, I would've wanted to avoid these faux pas...es if possible. You might (not) be comfortable addressing faculty by their first names; there's no right or wrong way to proceed, feel free to stick with what's most comfortable for you!

-Alyssa Parsons, graduate program coordinator

  • Crystal Rogers still wears a mask whenever she is in the lab/office, and would like people who are interviewing with her to wear a mask as well. Please be considerate of her preferences, thanks!
  • My name rhymes with Marissa.
  • Daniah Beleford's name is pronounced "DAY-nee-uh."
  • Johannes Hell's name is pronounced "yo-HAN-ness."
  • Elisa Zhang's name is pronounced "ah-LEE-sa."
  • Aldrin Gomes' surname rhymes with "palms."
  • Mark Huising's surname sounds like "housing," with a bit of a sharper s. Think "housssing."

Travel Information

Please note that we are only able to provide travel reimbursement to prospective PhD students at this time! 

It is your responsibility to arrange all travel between your home to/from UC Davis. Depending on your current physical address, the program may be able to provide payment to offset the cost your lodging and travel expenses. Please check you email for specific travel payment limits.

If you are booking travel, it is recommend you select tickets with some flexibility. UC Davis is unable to reimburse incomplete travel (i.e. cannot reimburse flight if student cannot attend event due to illness). 

Travel payment checks are typically received 6-8 weeks after your visit to campus. 

Travel Reimbursement Limits

We are offering the following reimbursements for travel:

  • $100 for students traveling to and from the Bay Area
  • $250 for students traveling to and from Southern California, Nevada, or Oregon
  • $500 for students traveling to and from out-of-state

Hotel Accommodations

Students travelling from beyond Sacramento, Solano, or Yolo County will be provided a hotel room at the Hyatt Place for the nights of March 1st and 2nd. 

Your hotel room will be shared with another prospective student. You will be given an opportunity to let us know any additional needs or preferences for your hotel stay, although we cannot guarantee that we can accommodate all of them. 

Getting to Campus

UC Davis policy requires students to select the most cost-effective method to getting to campus, which usually entails taking a flight, train or bus. You will find some travel options below:

Amtrak: This is the most cost-effective option for prospective students travelling from the Bay Area, Northern California, or Reno, Nevada. The Amtrak station is conveniently located in Downtown Davis, approximately 5 minutes away from the hotel on foot.

  • Non-reimbursable:
    • Train points, redeemed miles, or gift cards
    • Business and first-class train tickets
    • Rental cars
  • Reimbursable (with receipts):
    • Train/bus tickets paid for with credit/debit card

Flying: This is usually the most cost-effective option for students traveling from Southern California or other states (see Travel FAQ below). Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the closest airport. You will be responsible for securing a rideshare or taxi from SMF to Davis; we take this cost into consideration when offering you a reimbursement limit.

  • Non-reimbursable
    • Airline points, redeemed miles, or gift cards
    • Business and first-class airlines tickets
    • Flight upgrades (priority boarding, additional leg room, etc.)
    • Rental cars
  • Reimbursable (with receipts):
    • Flights paid for with credit/debit card
    • Upgrades made specifically for the purpose of getting a refundable flight, such as Southwest Airlines' Wanna Get Away Plus; proof required
    • Baggage fees
    • Rideshares to and from the airport

Driving: The current mileage reimbursement rate is $0.67 per mile* for people driving a personal vehicle to campus.

  • Non-reimbursable:
    • Gas
    • Rental cars
    • On-campus parking
  • Reimbursable:
    • Tolls (with receipt)
    • Mileage

Travel Reimbursements

All reimbursements are up to the limit stated in your personal invitation email. Costs beyond the stated reimbursement limit are non-reimbursable. Receipts are required for all reimbursable expenses EXCEPT gas.

Reimbursement checks will be mailed to the address you provided in your original RSVP. Checks may take up to 6 weeks to arrive after the recruitment event. Please let the Graduate Program Coordinator know as soon as possible if this is a significant financial burden to you. 

Travel FAQ

  • I have family/friends in the Davis area. Can I stay with them?
  • Absolutely! This is a common occurrence, especially given that many UC Davis alumni apply to MCIP. Please let the Graduate Program Coordinator know if you plan to do this.
  • I live in Southern California. Can I drive to Davis and still get reimbursed?
  • It depends on how far south you are! University policy dictates that we can't reimburse you for driving when it would have been less expensive to fly. 

    Anywhere south of the Grapevine is too far to drive. San Luis Obispo is not too far to drive, but Santa Barbara is. Bakersfield is not too far to drive, but the high desert is. 

    If you are unsure about the most affordable way to travel to Davis, email the Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • I cannot get a flight to Sacramento that will get me to Davis in time for the Sunday evening social. What should I do?
  • Don't panic! It's only a very informal hangout that you're missing, and we will have a small dinner for you, likely sandwich and side salad, ready for you at your hotel.
  • I'm in the opposite situation; I can only get to Davis before the check-in time to my hotel. How should I proceed?
  • This is a great thing to consult with students about, and it demonstrates interest in MCIP labs if you reach out to the students in those labs. You can explore Davis, or arrange extra meetings with faculty you aren't scheduled to meet as part of the recruitment event. If you prefer a more cost-effective means of getting to Davis than Uber, the Yolobus Route 42A goes to the Memorial Union on campus.
  • I want to extend my time in Davis. Can I do that?
  • You may stay extra days in Davis at your own expense. Lodging, food, parking, etc. for dates beyond the recruitment event will NOT be reimbursed. Your return travel is still reimbursable; make sure to follow the guidelines and limits listed above.
  • I'm getting to Davis early. Can I do that?
  • Sure! Same policy as staying late - we will still reimburse you for travel in and out of town, but finding (and, if applicable, paying for) lodging is up to you until Sunday afternoon.
  • Can I be reimbursed if I rent a car?
  • No. All events for the recruitment are within walking distance from your hotel, so rental cars are not recommended and will not be reimbursed if purchased.
  • I will be traveling to Davis from City A but traveling from Davis to City B. What do I do?

  • This is a common situation when students are traveling from one recruitment event to another, and we are still happy to cover the costs. The same reimbursement guidelines and limits are in place: you must select the most cost-effective travel to/from each location, and all reimbursements require receipts. 

Other Details

Upload your most recent curriculum vitae (CV) here! 

Dress

East Coasters: Feel free to adhere to your own comfort level, of course, but California "business casual" is moderately more relaxed than what you're used to. Google has some good examples. 

There will be considerable walking, so comfortable shoes are highly encouraged; nobody will judge you for wearing sneakers, especially if they're going to make your day walkable! (Interviewees with significant mobility-related concerns can be accommodated; you will have an opportunity to let us know your needs when you RSVP to the event.)

Weather

In early March, rain is always a possibility, so bring an umbrella or rain jacket. Day-time temperatures are usually in the mid-50s to low-60s. 

Faculty Interviews

You will have three scheduled interviews with MCIP faculty. You will receive your interview schedule ~3 days before your visit. These interviews are designed to gauge your preparation for graduate education and, specifically, for the MCIP program. Therefore, you can expect questions related to your interests in the program and your previous research/academic experience. We recommend you briefly learn about the faculty you are interviewing with via their Faculty Profiles. However, you are not expected to have a deep understanding of the faculty's research.

We do our best to pair students and faculty with similar research interests. However, this may not always be possible due to scheduling conflicts; we hope you will still be able to connect with your preferred faculty during other program events. MCIP is a rotation-based program, so students will have amble opportunities to meet and work with their preferred faculty before committing to a laboratory. 

After your visit, the program will be busy at work processing travel reimbursements, evaluated interviews, and drafting offer and financial letters. Please be patient with us! 

Travel Payment

All travel payments are up to the limit stated in your personal invitation email. Costs beyond the stated reimbursement limit are at your own expense. 

Travel payment checks will be mailed to the address you provided in your original RSVP. Checks may take up to 6 weeks to arrive after the recruitment event. Please let your graduate program coordinator know as soon as possible if this is a significant financial burden to you. 

Admission and Financial Offers

Admission and financial offers are typically extended between March 15th and March 21st, though there are sometimes delays due to administrative factors. If you have not heard back from the program by March 30th, please reach out to your graduate program coordinator. 

UC Davis is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), and per the Council of Graduate Schools Resolution, you are under no obligation to accept financial offers from UC Davis prior to April 15.

FAQ

  • What exactly is a graduate group?
  • It's a non-departmental PhD program, where faculty from all over campus can apply and leave voluntarily. 

    Faculty are often affiliated with more than one graduate group (the average for MCIP-affiliated faculty is 2-3); they need to be in the graduate group in order to become PI to a student in that graduate group, which is a moderately common reason for faculty to join. More often, it's simply because their research interests are a good match for more than one graduate group. 

    Faculty often have students from different graduate groups in their lab at the same time; graduate groups have slightly different requirements of students and faculty, program cultures, etc., but their common characteristic is that any faculty member can join or leave a graduate group without it affecting their status in their home department.
  • I'm not getting information in as timely of a manner as I hoped. Who do I contact?
  • First and foremost, please double-check the information in your invitation; for example, if the recruitment itinerary will be sent to you "in the week of February 23rd," please do not email requesting follow-up until February 27th. 

    For most questions, you will likely contact the Graduate Program Coordinator. Please allow at least 4 business days for a reply, as immediate replies are seldom feasible at this time of year.
  • I have another commitment and can’t attend, but I would still like to be considered for the program.  
  • Unfortunately, the likelihood of our ability to accommodate these requests is slim. We don’t say this to be discouraging; it’s merely logistically difficult to schedule the requisite number of interviews over Zoom without sufficient notice. 

    If you cannot attend but still want to be considered, please email the Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • I have a question specific to my own circumstances that the Graduate Program Coordinator hasn't answered. Who can help me if that happens?
  • Unless it's an emergency that would put your attendance of recruitment in jeopardy, please give the Graduate Program Coordinator at least three business days to respond. Then email the Recruitment Committee Chair as well as the Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • Meeting (name of my scientific idol) is important to me, and I'm not scheduled to meet with them when I visit the campus. Why is that?
  • The most likely explanation is that the person you're interested in is unavailable. It's also in our best interest to connect you with the people you want to meet the most, but if they're not free, we will introduce you to prospective mentors who share similar strengths.
  • I am interested in faculty who are not affiliated with MCIP. Can I meet them?
  • Possibly! We aren't comfortable asking non-members to help a graduate group they're not part of; faculty already do plenty of service for the groups they are affiliated with, let alone others. That being said, if you end up joining MCIP, you are totally welcome to rotate with non-members, and if there is a mutual interest in you joining the lab, they can accept you as long as they are willing to join MCIP. (That's a UC Davis rule, not ours.) 

    An interview with a non-member is, unfortunately, impossible for us to schedule as a program. However, you are totally welcome to set up a meeting with them on your own, perhaps by arriving early on Sunday the 1st or staying late on Tuesday the 3rd. If you are contemplating this, the hotel check-in time is 3:00pm!
  • I don't have any interviews scheduled with my preferred faculty. Can you schedule additional interviews for me?
  • The program does not have the administrative capacity to schedule additional interviews. However, students are highly encouraged to reach out to their preferred faculty for informational interviews. Most faculty are happy to discuss their research with applicants. Admitted students will have additional opportunities to connect with faculty prior to committing to a laboratory during Fall and Winter Quarter rotations.
  • My partner and/or family would like to join this event. Is that allowable?
  • This program is for invited applicants only. If partners/families join your visit, they must book and pay for their own travel accommodations and may NOT join any graduate group events.
  • I’m sick (or there’s been some other unexpected emergency) and I can’t make it. What should I do?
  • Tell the Graduate Program Coordinator. Since the faculty have your interviews in their schedules already, we will pivot to Zoom if possible, and we have an array of virtual resources about the campus we can share with you.