Advising

Academic advising by our faculty is a critical component of our graduate students’ education. The Biophysics Program 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 the advisor and the advisee. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

All matriculating students are assigned the program director as a faculty advisor to help them design their academic program. Before advancing to candidacy for the degree, students are expected to identify a group of at least three thesis advisors (also known as the dissertation reading committee), including a primary thesis advisor. The student selects the thesis advisors based on expertise relevant to the thesis project after undertaking two to three rotations of approximately one quarter in length each.

Thesis advisors meet with students at least once each year to discuss students’ Individual Development Plan(s) (IDPs). Additionally, students should meet with their advisor(s) regularly throughout each year for guidance in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

As a best practice, advising expectations should be discussed upon entering an advising relationship and reviewed at least every two years to ensure mutual understanding. Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

More detailed descriptions of the program’s expectations of advisors and students are listed in the Student Handbook, found on the program website. Failure to make academic progress may lead to academic warnings or dismissal from the program.