Advising

The Department of Biology is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee.

Graduate students are expected to select a thesis advisor before the start of summer quarter of their first year.If a lab is not selected by summer quarter, the student may be dismissed. Students who have not selected a lab by summer quarter, should meet with the DGS immediately to discuss their options. 

Graduate students are expected to meet with their PhD thesis advisor(s) at least once each year to discuss and help develop the students' Individual Development Plans (IDP). Additionally, advisers and students should meet on a regular basis throughout the year to discuss the student's professional development in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship. They should proactively seek academic and professional guidance and take responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for the Biology PhD program.

Advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism, integrity, and clear and open communication. Graduate students are expected to meet certain standards of professional behavior. These standards include being present on campus to meet the academic and research expectations of the School or Department, communicating in a timely, respectful, and professional manner, complying with institutional policies and procedures, and participating appropriately in the program’s community. Failure to meet these standards may be grounds for dismissal.

Academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones are monitored by the Directors of Graduate Studies (DGSs) and staff, and are discussed annually by faculty devoted to assessing graduate student progress. A detailed description of the program's requirements, milestones, and advising expectations are listed in the Biology PhD Student Academic Handbook, found on the program website.

The Directors of Graduate Studies (DGSs) are available by appointment. In addition, each year the DGSs meets with each cohort of graduate students to discuss  the PhD program and hear feedback on what could be improved

Students must meet with their PhD advising committee in the autumn quarter each year (years 2-4), and both spring and autumn quarter thereafter (years 5+).