Microbiology Graduate Studies Handbook
1. Handbook
This handbook describes and presents the guidelines, rules of operation, and policies of the Graduate Program in Microbiology. It serves as the central source of information for both graduate students and faculty for the operation of the Program.
The Graduate Program in Microbiology conforms to University rules as published in the Graduate School Handbook.
2. Graduate Studies Committee
The Graduate Studies Committee is the executive committee of the Graduate Faculty of the Program. It conducts routine matters related to graduate work and monitors the functioning of the Program. It coordinates graduate work in the program, assists members of the Graduate Faculty and represents the Program in performing specific functions related to operations of the Graduate School as defined in the Graduate School Handbook. Actions proposed by the Graduate Studies Committee are approved by the Graduate Program Faculty.
The Graduate Studies Committee is composed of at least three Graduate Faculty, one of whom serves as Chairperson, and one graduate student. All members are appointed by the Microbiology Department Chairperson, in consultation with the Graduate Faculty, for terms designated by the Department Chairperson.
2025-2026 Graduate Studies Committee:
- Dr. Steve Bell
- Dr. Justin North
- Dr. Darryl Wesener
- Caitlin Wingerd (graduate student representative)
The Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for the Graduate Admissions activities of the department.
Specific duties of the Graduate Studies Committee include:
- Publishes a graduate program handbook containing the policies, rules, and procedures of the Graduate Program
- Establishes rules and procedures for the conduct of the Candidacy Examination
- Establishes rules and policies for the selection of advisory committees
- Determines eligibility of students to hold GTA appointments
- Recommends action on curricula, graduate courses, and program changes
- Specifies criteria and credentials for admission to the graduate program in addition to those required by the Graduate School.
- Reviews applications to the Graduate Program and nominates applicants for admission
- Reviews requests from students for changes in program, registration, and credits
- Nominates faculty to the Graduate School for category P status
- Appoints faculty to the Graduate Program for category M status
Category P Faculty
Qualifications
- The faculty member holds appointment as a tenure-track or research track faculty member
- The faculty member holds a Ph.D., D.M.A, Ed.D., or equivalent
- The faculty member is engaged in an active program of research or demonstrates significant promise of establishing such a program
Process
- The candidate faculty member provides members of the Graduate Faculty with a CV and Summary of Research.
- The candidate faculty member gives a seminar to the department on their research
- The Graduate Program faculty approve nominations to Category P status
- The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson nominates the candidate through Grad Forms using the Graduate Faculty Form
Category M Faculty
Qualifications
- The faculty member holds a tenure-track or clinical faculty appointment
- The faculty member holds a master’s degree or higher, or equivalent
Process
- The Graduate Program faculty approve nominations to Category M status
- The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson notifies the Graduate School of the appointment
3. Advisors and Advisory Committees
The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson serves as a temporary advisor for incoming graduate students and assists the students in choosing courses and in initiating their graduate program during the first year of study.
Only Microbiology Graduate Program faculty are eligible to serve as the Ph.D. dissertation advisor. Ph.D. Advisors must have Category P status within the Microbiology program. A Master’s degree advisor must have at least Category M Graduate Faculty status; Category M Faculty members can serve as Ph.D. Advisors under the supervision of a Category P faculty member. Currently, all Microbiology Graduate Faculty hold Category P status.
3.2.1 Laboratory Rotations and Selection of Advisor
Ph.D. students admitted to the program are required to do three six-week rotations in laboratories of interest. Students are strongly encouraged to contact and/or visit faculty members they are considering for rotations or permanent location to obtain additional information, prior to the faculty agreeing to allow the student to rotate. Rotation assignments are made by the Graduate Studies Committee Chair based on ranked choices submitted by the students and consideration of available space in research laboratories. Students will be required to initiate and complete a Rotation Agreement Form prior to beginning each rotation.
One week prior to the end of the three rotations (and not before), students submit a ranked list of three potential advisors to the Graduate Studies Committee Chair, who will consult with the potential advisors. Funding and the training capacity of a particular lab will also be considered before the Graduate Studies Committee approves final laboratory assignments. Students may inquire of faculty if they have an available position, but faculty and students should not make independent prior arrangements or agreements regarding the student’s dissertation lab.
After rotations, the choice of an advisor must be the result of mutual agreement between student and advisor. The advisor for a Ph.D. candidate makes a commitment to the student to oversee progress of the student's laboratory research and class work. The student makes a commitment as an apprentice scientist to undertake laboratory research on a project to which they mutually agree. This association of student and advisor is a substantial commitment of time and resources by both parties. The obligation between both parties should compel students and faculty to seriously consider their choices in this regard. The advisor has the primary responsibility of overseeing the graduate student's funding, choice of coursework, and provides guidance on the student's conduct of study and research.
In the event a student does not find a laboratory for their dissertation research, the student can complete a fourth rotation to try to find an advisor. If a student has not found a research laboratory for their dissertation research after a fourth rotation, the student will meet with the Graduate Studies Committee chairperson to discuss options for a master’s degree.
3.2.2 Financial Responsibility for Ph.D. Students
Advisors assume financial responsibility for the student after the first year. Funding of graduate students as graduate research associates (GRAs) can be through grant support, fellowships, etc. Support for students as graduate teaching associates (GTAs) is provided to faculty members based on the availability of positions to the department. Salaried, non-tenured faculty are given first priority and positions are subsequently offered to salaried, tenured faculty of the department on a limited basis. If GTA positions are still available, they can be provided to non-salaried, courtesy-appointed faculty of the program. However, there is no guarantee that students advised by non-salaried courtesy-appointed faculty will be provided GTA positions.
3.2.3 Direct Admission
Students who have made contact with an individual faculty member prior to arriving on campus, and only after the faculty member’s approval, can petition the Graduate Studies Committee to waive the rotations and directly join a lab for the dissertation work. In this latter case, both the student and faculty member must write a letter of petition to the Graduate Studies Committee; this is to ensure that all parties are aware of the decision and are in agreement. The Graduate Studies Committee will render approval after reviewing the situation and the student’s qualifications. Advisors who agree to accept a student without rotations (“direct admit”) must provide the first year of support for the student.
Only Microbiology Graduate Program faculty are eligible to serve as the M.S. thesis advisor. A M.S. degree advisor must have at least Category M Graduate Faculty status. Students pursuing a thesis-MS must contact and make arrangements with a research advisor to host them for the thesis research. Once arrangements are made, the student should inform the Graduate Studies Committee.
3.3.1 Financial Responsibility for Thesis-M.S. Students
Thesis-MS students are not guaranteed funding. The thesis advisor can elect to appoint them as a GRA and provide them a graduate student stipend but this is not required of the thesis advisor. Occasionally, MS students can be appointed as GTAs pending availability of positions and such a position should not be expected as the teaching positions are prioritized for the Ph.D. students. In the absence of a GRA or GTA appointment or other funding (e.g., fellowship), MS students will need to provide their own funding for tuition and fees and no stipend is provided.
Students choose an advisor whom they deem appropriate for their specific scientific interests. Despite careful consideration, errors in judgment may be made and the student may wish to change advisors or the advisor may suggest the student find another laboratory.
Students should be aware that changing laboratories will almost always result in lengthening the time before the Ph.D. is completed. Students who passed the Candidacy Exam with a previous advisor and subsequently transfer to a new advisor should be aware that the Graduate School rules require that the student still complete their dissertation requirements within five years after the Candidacy Exam. If more time is required, a second Candidacy Exam will be necessary, and if successfully passed, the student will be granted a maximum of two years following the second candidacy exam to complete their dissertation requirements.
Research projects will not be transferred to another laboratory without the permission of the current advisor. The transferring student's dissertation will be based on experiments performed under the supervision of the new advisor.
3.4.1 Student-initiated Change
In the event that a student wishes to change laboratories, the following protocol will be followed.
The student may wish to first discuss issues with the current advisor.
If a change in advisors is still desired, the student must meet with and explain the situation to the Graduate Program Chairperson. The student must not meet with other potential advisors within the Department. The Graduate Program Chairperson will discuss the concerns of the student with the current advisor.
If BOTH the student and the advisor agree, the Graduate Program Chairperson will arrange a meeting of the student, advisor and Graduate Program Chair or designated representative to see if a solution may be found.
If after consultation of the Graduate Program Chairperson with the advisor and student a solution cannot be found, the student may discuss the possibility of changing laboratories with other faculty members within the Department.
3.4.2 Advisor-initiated Changes
In the event that an advisor wishes to terminate their role as advisor for a student, the following protocol will be followed:
The advisor must document their evidence of dissatisfaction with the student’s performance or progress by a “U” grade in dissertation research, with a written justification of the grade provided to the student and a copy to the Graduate Studies Committee
A meeting with the student’s Advisory Committee and the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson will be held
After consultation with the Advisory Committee, the advisor, and the student, the Graduate Studies Committee will determine if the student should be asked to leave the program or allowed to transfer to a new advisor
If the decision is made to allow the student to transfer to a new advisor, the student will be responsible for finding another advisor who will accept them into their research group. Notice will be given to the Graduate School that the student will be dismissed if a replacement advisor is not found within the current term. Failure to identify a replacement laboratory will result in the student being dismissed from the program at the end of the term. The student will be allowed the option to receive a Master’s Degree (if post-candidacy) or a Master’s Degree can be provided if a new advisor can be found to chair the MS degree advisory committee and the student completes all requirements by the end of the term. Whether continuing with a new advisor or not, the student will remain appointed as a GRA or GTA for the duration of the current term.
3.5.1 Ph.D. Dissertation Committee
- Each Ph.D. student must have a Dissertation Advisory Committee consisting of the advisor and at least three other graduate faculty members, two of whom must be from the Department of Microbiology Graduate Program. Dissertation Advisory Committee members must have P-status either in Microbiology or in their home department. Exceptions to this for the fourth committee member if from a program outside of Microbiology can be made by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee. Students are expected to have formed their Advisory Committee prior to the Summer Semester of their first year and no later than the beginning of the second year of graduate study. The student and advisor select suitable committee members based on the student’s research direction(s). The advisor will be Chair of the Advisory Committee. The student should meet with their Advisory Committee at least once a year, starting at the first semester of the second year of graduate study. These meetings, described more fully in Progress Review, are to aid the student and advisor in evaluating the student's performance and to obtain advice from the Advisory Committee on the research project.
The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson must be notified, in writing, of the composition of the Advisory Committee. If a change in the composition of the Advisory Committee (or Dissertation Committee) is desired, the proposed change must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
3.5.2 M.S. Thesis Committee
- Each M.S. student must have a Thesis Advisory Committee consisting of the advisor and two other OSU faculty members, at least one of which must be from the Microbiology Graduate Program. The student and advisor select suitable committee members based on the student’s research direction(s). The advisor will be Chair of the Advisory Committee. The student should meet with their Advisory Committee at least once a year to aid the student and advisor in evaluating the student's performance and to obtain advice from the Advisory Committee on the research project and coursework.
- The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson must be notified, in writing, of the composition of the Advisory Committee. If a change in the composition of the Advisory Committee (or Dissertation Committee) is desired, the proposed change must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval.
3.5.3 Non-thesis M.S. Students
- Non-thesis M.S. students do not need an advisory committee. Instead, the student will need to assemble an examination committee consisting of three OSU faculty, two of which must be from the Microbiology Graduate Program. The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson can assist in identifying suitable faculty.
When concerns arise or persist, the graduate student ombudsperson is an impartial resource that can help graduate students explore options in resolving their concerns. Generally, graduate students should aim to address and resolve concerns within their department. Graduate students are encouraged to discuss concerns with their advisor first. If concerns remain, graduate students should then reach out to the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson. Further unresolved concerns should be communicated to the Department Chair. If the concerns cannot be resolved internally within the department, the graduate student is encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. In situations where the student believes the issue has not been resolved within the College, they can request further review from the Graduate School.
4. Graduate Degree Programs
The Graduate Program in Microbiology receives applications for entrance to the Ph.D. program. Applicants are evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee and qualified students offered admission to the Ph.D. program for the following Autumn semester. After admission to the Ph.D. program, and under special circumstances, students may transfer to the Master of Science degree program, either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (non-Thesis).
Fellowships, teaching associateships and research associateships are available for qualified Ph.D. students. Every effort is made to provide financial support to Ph.D. students throughout their graduate programs as long as they remain in good academic standing.
Because each student is required to make reasonable and satisfactory progress toward the graduate degree during each semester of enrollment, any student enrolled in the Microbiology Graduate Program and who holds a Graduate Research Associateship (GRA), Graduate Teaching Associateship (GTA), Graduate Administrative Associateship (GAA), fellowship, or scholarship appointment is prohibited from additional outside employment without the knowledge and written consent of the Dissertation Advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee. Failure to comply with this rule may result in termination of support.
The Graduate Program in Microbiology accepts qualified students into the Master of Science (M.S.) degree program, either Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (non-Thesis), depending on the student’s interests and laboratory opportunities. Typically the M.S. is a terminal degree program. In some situations, students desiring to continue their research as a Ph.D. candidate will be allowed to apply to the Ph.D. program in Microbiology. If admitted to the Ph.D. program, credit for the M.S. degree coursework can be applied to meet the course requirements for the Ph.D.
Students can enroll part-time for the M.S. degree, but this must be specified during the initial application to the M.S. degree program.
A combined B.S./M.S. Degree in Microbiology is an opportunity for qualified undergraduates in Microbiology to receive their BS degree plus a MS degree with only one additional year of study. Students in the combined degree program begin the Masters program in Microbiology during the autumn semester of their undergraduate senior year, and complete the Microbiology Master's degree the following year. This is possible because students who are accepted into the Microbiology B.S./M.S. Program are allowed to take graduate courses their senior year and double count 9 semester credit hours of these classes toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Only courses taken as an enrolled combined program student can be double counted for each degree. The B.S. degree can be awarded separately at the completion of the B.S. requirements or can be conferred in conjunction with the M.S. degree.
Interested students qualify for the B.S./M.S. degree program if they have at least a 3.5 GPA and have completed MICRBIOL 4100, MICRBIOL 4120, and BIOCHEM 4511. Students should discuss qualifications with their undergraduate major advisor as well as meet with the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson to determine if a combined degree is possible and to map out the coursework.
Students in the combined combined degree program can leave at any time and the completed coursework still applied to fulfill the undergraduate degree requirements.
5. The Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. Program is designed to prepare the candidate for a career as a research scientist. For students in the Microbiology graduate program, this training averages 5.5 years. The student works closely with the advisor to develop an individual student's program within the guidelines laid down by the Graduate School and outlined in this handbook. Typical aspects and timeline of a graduate student’s training include:
In the first year, students will complete three rotations in potential laboratories for their thesis research. At the end of the first year, students will have joined a laboratory and should form an Advisory Committee. The student develops a research project and prepares a dissertation under the guidance of the advisor and with the help of the Advisory Committee.
Students will complete a total of at least 80 credit hours. Of these, at least 18 credits must be graded courses (i.e., not S/U grading) in which a B or higher grade is required. These graded credits are typically completed during the first two years with core and elective courses.
The remaining hours are composed of seminar courses and research credit hours. Pre-candidacy students will enroll in 8-12 hours (Autumn and Spring) or 4 hours (Summer) per term, unless the student is on a fellowship in which case they must enroll in at least 12 hours (Autumn and Spring) and 6 hours (Summer). Post-candidacy students enroll in three credit hours per term (Autumn, Spring, Summer). Classes beyond the core and elective courses directly related to the dissertation must be approved by the advisory committee. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are registered for the appropriate number of classes/credits each semester of graduate study.
5.2.1. Microbiology Core Courses
Students entering the Ph.D. program will complete a four-course, 11 credit-hour graded core curriculum during the first year of study.
In the Spring Semester, students will select two from the three course options:
In addition, students must complete MICRBIOL 7600 (1 credit; First-year Student Orientation), typically during the first semester.
5.2.2 Elective Courses
- In addition to the core courses, students are required to complete at least 7 hours of graded electives, typically taken during the second year of study. Selection of electives appropriate to the student’s research are chosen by the student in consultation with the Advisor and the Advisory Committee. A list of approved elective courses is provided here. Students may take other elective courses as appropriate for their dissertation research; these courses must be approved in advance by their Advisory Committee.
- The student’s Advisor, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, will provide guidance for the selection of courses needed to meet the requirements for Microbiology course distribution and the overall credit hour requirements.
Students desiring additional coursework beyond what is required for the Ph.D. degree need approval from their Dissertation Advisory Committee and from the Graduate Studies Committee following petition. As the focus of the Ph.D. is on the generation of new knowledge through research efforts, such requests for expanded coursework are generally denied.
5.2.3 Seminar Courses
All graduate students will enroll in Microbiology seminars each Autumn and Spring semester throughout their time in the graduate program:
- MICRBIO 8899 (1 credit): Seminars in Microbiology (Student Seminars)
MICRBIO 7899 (1 credit): Microbiology Colloquium (Departmental Seminar Series)
- Students are required to attend each seminar class throughout the year in both Micro 7899 and 8899; students failing to do so, and not receiving approval to miss a seminar or making arrangements with the course instructor, will receive a grade of U.
- Ph.D. students are required to complete a minimum of two presentations in MICRBIO 8899.
5.2.4 Research credits
- First year students will do three 6-week laboratory rotations during their first year. For these, students will enroll in MICRBIOL 6789 (Research Principles and Techniques in Microbiology) in the Autumn and Spring semesters of their first year with the Graduate Studies Committee Chair serving as the temporary advisor.
- After joining a laboratory for their dissertation research, students will enroll in either MICRBIOL 7899 Research in Microbiology (pre-candidacy students) or MICRBIOL 8999 (post-candidacy students) each term (including Summer term) under their Advisor.
5.2.5. Transfer credits
Students who are transferring to the program from another institution with their advisor will not be required to participate in rotations. These transfer students are expected to establish their Advisory Committees no later than completion of the first term in the program. This committee, in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee, will determine which core and elective courses are required to supplement the student’s prior coursework. Doctoral students must complete 80 credit hours to qualify for the degree; students transferring to OSU from another university must complete at least 30 credit hours at OSU.
All graduate students are required to gain teaching experience through undergraduate classroom/laboratory instruction by serving as a Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) for a minimum of one semester. As soon as the appointment is made, each GTA should check with the instructor in charge of the course for instructions on their teaching assignments and duties prior to the beginning of the semester. A GTA position is a 50% appointment. In most instances, students will fulfill the teaching requirement during their first year. For students transferring from another institution, teaching for a minimum of one semester at their previous institution will fulfill this requirement.
The student must have one or more primary research publications in peer-reviewed journals before applying for graduation with a Ph.D. At least one of the student’s publications must list the student as first author or formally designated in the publication as an equally contributing co-first author. The paper must be published, in press, or formally accepted. Submitted manuscripts, manuscripts in revision, and manuscripts “in preparation” will not be counted. Review articles, even if peer-reviewed, will not fulfill the publication requirement for the Ph.D. degree. Although a minimum of one first-author publication is required by the Microbiology Graduate Program, individual labs may require more.
Students are not permitted to schedule their Final Oral Examination until the requirement for publication has been met. It is the responsibility of the student and the advisor to assure that this policy is followed.
In addition to written publications, students are expected to develop skills for oral presentation and communication of scientific results. This training is accomplished by enroll in MICRBIO 8899 (Seminar in Microbiology), in which students develop presentations on their research and receive feedback and critique for improvement. Students must present in MICRBIOL 8899 at least twice during their PhD training.
To assist the development of each student, a review of progress will be made by the student's Advisory Committee. These reviews should occur at least annually. It is the responsibility of the student and his/her advisor to plan review meetings and to ensure that reports of the meetings (Annual Review Form) are sent to the Program Coordinator (micro.grad@osu.edu) for placement in the student's file each year.
5.6.1. First Year Review
- The First Year Review, which should occur before the start of the second year, provides the first official opportunity for the student to meet with the Advisory Committee. The student should bring a summary of his/her coursework and grades, and prepare a short oral presentation of his/her research project, including any progress made to date. The committee will review the academic record and will approve the planned elective coursework to be completed in the second year. The advisory committee will also provide advice on the design and implementation of the student’s research.
- The student will submit the completed and signed Annual Review Form to the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson; if the advisor feels there are deficiencies, a letter addressing these deficiencies will be provided to the Graduate Program Chairperson and the student. The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson reviews these summaries, and if necessary, discusses any problems with the advisor, the student, and the Graduate Studies Committee.
5.6.2. Second Year Review
- After the end of the second year, graduate students are required to schedule a committee meeting. This Second Year Review serves as an evaluation of the student’s progress toward the degree and as a planning meeting for the Candidacy Exam proposal. As such, the timing of the Second Year Review revolves around completion of the Candidacy Examination timeline.
5.6.3. Reviews after the Second Year
- Students are required to have annual committee meetings, to provide updates on research progress and modifications of the research plan, and to obtain input from the Advisory Committee. Students should prepare a short progress report (1-2 pages) which should be given to the Committee members before the meeting. This document should be placed in the student’s file as an appendix to the Annual Review.
An Advisory Committee meeting will be held approximately one semester before the anticipated semester of graduation. During this meeting, the student will summarize the research accomplished to date. The committee members will review the material to be included in the Dissertation and will make specific recommendations concerning the completion of the Dissertation.
Advancement to candidacy requires successful completion of a written proposal (the Candidacy Document) and an oral defense (the Candidacy Examination). The Advisory Committee becomes the Candidacy Examination Committee. The Candidacy Exam must be taken by the end of Autumn Semester of the third year of enrollment; students who fail to meet this requirement will be denied further enrollment (exceptions are by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee, and will be granted only under extenuating conditions such as serious illness).
The major components of the candidacy examination include (1) the Second Year Review during which the Candidacy Exam proposal is outlined, (2) the Written Examination, and (3) the Oral Examination. The student will have four weeks to prepare the written document (described below). After passing the written portion, the student will defend their document in the Oral Examination, which normally occurs two to three weeks after passing the written portion. Timing for completion of these elements is shown in the table below. It is the student’s responsibility to plan for the completion of the candidacy examination by the Autumn semester deadline. The process takes a minimum of 7 to 8 weeks, but students should plan for at least 10 weeks to allow for any required revisions of the written document if allowed by the committee. Submission of the written proposal must occur by the end of October, and notification of submission should be sent by the student to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Students are cautioned to be aware of their candidacy members’ availability during this process (especially faculty that travel extensively) and plan accordingly (i.e., initiate the process earlier in the semester).
Candidacy Examination Timeline
As OSU faculty serve on many candidacy examination committees within and outside of the Microbiology department, students should provide their committee members information on Microbiology practices and policies regarding Candidacy (i.e., by providing them with a copy of section 5.7.1. through 5.7.4. describing the Candidacy Examination procedures).
5.7.1 Pre-Candidacy / Second Year Review Meeting
- The Second Year Review is intended to be an interactive discussion of student’s research progress and his/her plan for the Candidacy Exam proposal. The student should provide a summary of his/her coursework and grades, which will be reviewed by the committee to ensure that the coursework and credit hour requirements have been adequately met. Then, the student will present his/her research progress and an outline of the proposed Aims for the Candidacy Exam document. The student should plan an approximately 30-minute oral presentation and be prepared for an active discussion.
- The Candidacy Exam proposal should include three Specific Aims. Two of the Aims will focus on research that is planned for the dissertation. The remaining Aim (the independent Aim) can be on a related topic, but cannot address a question currently under investigation in the advisor’s laboratory. The student is required to come to the Second Year Review meeting with 2-3 suggestions for the independent Aim. Ideas for this Aim must originate from the student and may be discussed with the advisor prior to the meeting. It is helpful if the student submits a Specific Aims-style page with the 3rd aim possibilities.
- By the close of the Second Year Review, the Specific Aims of the proposal should be agreed upon (by the committee members and student). The advisor will submit an Annual Review form to the Graduate Program Chairperson that summarizes the meeting and includes a list of the 3 Specific Aims decided upon.
5.7.2 Candidacy Written Document
- After the Second Year Review, the student will have four weeks (28 days) to prepare the written Candidacy Exam proposal. The advisory committee will specify which federal grant agency (e.g., NIH, NSF, DOE) the candidacy proposal will follow. The proposal must have the following sections: Abstract, Specific Aims, Research Strategy, and References. The Research Strategy section should include Significance, Innovation, and Approach sections. The document must not exceed one page each for the Abstract and Specific Aims, and 12 pages for the Research Strategy. The scope of the proposal should include sufficient work to occupy the full-time efforts of a single researcher for a two-year period. It is suggested that roughly half of the Research strategy be on the two aims of the student’s dissertation research and half be on the independent Aim. The References section does not count toward any page limits. The pages are single spaced with font and margin limits as described in the NIH, NSF, or DOE instructions.
- At the end of the four weeks, students send a copy of the candidacy document and a proposal evaluation form to each member of the Advisory committee for their evaluation and feedback.
- Within one week of submission of the document, each committee member will complete the proposal evaluation form and submit it to the advisor and student. The proposal will be graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. An overall evaluation of Satisfactory is is required from all committee members before the student can schedule the oral portion of the exam. If any committee member finds the proposal to be unsatisfactory, the student will have two weeks to revise and resubmit the document to the committee. The revised document will need approval from the Committee, but will not be regraded (no evaluation form completed) and the student must defend this document in the oral exam.
In the circumstance where the Committee decides that the revised proposal is unacceptable, the student may waive taking the oral portion of the examination (per Graduate School rules) by submitting a written statement requesting the waiver to the Committee. The results of the Examination are recorded as “unsatisfactory” with the Graduate School. The Committee will then decide whether the student will be permitted to later take a second Candidacy Exam and must record the decision on the Candidacy Examination Report form.
5.7.3 Oral Candidacy Examination
- Two to three weeks after approval of the written document, an oral examination will be conducted in which the student defends the proposal. The Advisory Committee selected for the Second Year Review will evaluate the student in this exam. The advisor serves as the chair of the Examination committee and coordinates questioning during the examination.
- At the beginning of the oral exam, the student may give a BRIEF overview (3-5 slides) of the goals of the proposal, which will be followed by the question and answer period. The student should be prepared to answer questions on the rationale, design, and implementation of the experiments as well as his/her general knowledge of the field. All committee members, including the Advisor, are expected to participate in the questioning of the student. The Advisor is allowed to clarify questions or re-phrase things, but is not allowed to help the student with any answers. It is expected that the committee will be self-policing so that one committee member does not dominate, or that any committee member’s involvement does not affect the impartiality of the exam. As with the Candidacy document, it is suggested that roughly half of the examination cover the independent aim. The entire exam cannot last more than two hours.
- The discussion and decision about the outcome of the candidacy examination is done in the absence of the student (i.e., the student is asked to leave the room while the committee reaches their decision). The committee must unanimously agree that the student's performance was satisfactory for the student to pass. The Advisor participates in the deliberation and the voting. It is recommended that the Advisor allow other committee members to discuss and voice their decisions first before rendering his/her decision. Committee members’ approvals will be entered at Grad Forms (email links are sent to the committee members). The student is brought back into the room and informed of the committee’s decision. Students who pass the written and oral portions of the Candidacy Exam will be advanced to Candidacy.
- If the Candidacy Exam is deemed unsatisfactory by the examining committee, the committee may choose one of four options:
- Recommend that the student retake the oral defense portion of the exam, based on the original written proposal (5.7.4 below)
- Recommend that another written proposal and oral examination be given, at a time suggested by the Committee (5.7.4 below)
- Recommend that the student transition to the Master’s program and not be advanced to candidacy
- Recommend that the student withdraw from the graduate program
5.7.4 Second Candidacy Exam
- The second attempt at the candidacy examination includes both a written and oral defense. As determined by the advisory committee, the original written document may suffice or the examination committee may require a new written document. If a new written document is required, the proposed three aims need to be approved by the committee and the examination procedure timing will follow that of the original attempt (i.e., 4 weeks to complete the written proposal, etc.).
- The examination committee for the second candidacy exam is the same as constituted for the first exam unless a petition is made to the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate School. The Graduate School will assign a Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR) to serve on the second candidacy examination. Once assigned, the student will need to provide the GFR a copy of the written document and a copy of the Microbiology handbook guidelines for the candidacy examination format, policies, and procedures at least one week before the oral exam.
- The timing of the second candidacy examination will be determined by the examination committee, but should be completed by the end of the next semester/term following the unsuccessful attempt unless a petition is made to the Graduate Studies Committee.
- A student who fails the candidacy examination twice is not allowed an additional examination. After two unsatisfactory attempts at the candidacy examination a student is not permitted to be a PhD candidate in the same or in any other graduate program in the affiliated college at this university. Such students can seek to transfer to a MS degree program obtaining permission from the Graduate Studies Committee and utilizing the Graduate School’s transfer of graduate program procedure.
After completion of the coursework and publication requirements, graduation with a PhD involves three components:
- The Written Dissertation
- The Final Oral Examination
- A public seminar
The Graduate School at OSU requires a Ph.D. student complete their degree requirements within 5 years of successfully passing the Candidacy Examination. A one-time, one-semester extension can be requested by petition of the graduate school.
In most cases, the student’s Advisory Committee will become the Dissertation Examination Committee for the Dissertation and the Oral Examination. In the event that a member of the Advisory Committee has recently left the program (e.g., taken a position at another university), the student can request that the faculty continue to participate as a faculty member in the Final Examination by completing a “Committee and Examination Petition” on Grad Forms and providing an explanation and justification for the request. Additional members of the Final Oral Examination Committee are permitted within the rules of the Graduate School.
Students should pay particular attention to deadlines for: the submission of the Application to Graduate (Item 1 below) and Application for Final Exam (Item 4 below) forms to the Graduate School via GradForms. Students and advisors should be aware of deadlines for the dissertation and final exam approvals:
5.8.1 Application to Graduate
- Following successful completion of the required elements for the degree, students must apply to the Ohio State University Graduate School for graduation (http://gradforms.osu.edu). The application must be completed no later than the third Friday of the term in which graduation is expected.
- Students who will complete all degree requirements after the end of classes but before the first day of classes for the following semester can select the “End of Semester” option. Transition to the End of Semester option can occur at any point during the semester by submission of notification through GradForms. Students who will not complete the degree requirements by the first day of the following semester will have to graduate in the next semester. Applications are good only for one semester.
The application to graduate must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee Chair and the Dissertation Committee. Before approval from the Graduate Studies Committee, the student must schedule an interview with the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson in which the program requirements for graduation will be reviewed. Students should come prepared with information regarding:
- Coursework and Grades
- Scientific publication(s) including the required first-author primary research publication
- Course(s) in which they have served as a GTA
- Completion of the MICRBIOL 8899 presentation requirement
5.8.2 Dissertation Document
- A student must complete a written dissertation describing their research and following the format and rules established by the Graduate School. The composition of the written document is determined in consultation with the Advisor and the Advisory Committee. The student is responsible for distribution of electronic or paper copies of the Dissertation to the Dissertation Committee members. The Dissertation Committee must have at least one week to review the written Dissertation. Committee member approval of the written document and advancement to the Final Oral Examination is done through GradForms, a link for which is sent to the faculty upon the student’s submission of the Application for Final Exam in Grad Forms. The Dissertation Committee must agree unanimously that the dissertation (draft) is satisfactory before the student may proceed to the Final Oral Examination. Dissertation approval and completion of the Application for Final Exam must be completed at least two weeks before the Oral Examination date. This means that the written document must be given to the Dissertation Committee at least three weeks before the anticipated Oral Examination.
5.8.3 Final Oral Examination
- The Final Oral Examination (“Dissertation Defense”) is an oral examination evaluating the candidate’s knowledge and research performance. The Final Oral Examination is conducted by the Dissertation Committee plus a Graduate Faculty Representative (arranged by the Graduate School). Upon approval of the dissertation document by the Dissertation Committee, students should submit the Application for Final Exam to the Graduate School via GradForms. The Graduate School requires at least 2 weeks from submission to the scheduling of the final exam. No less than one week before the Final Oral Examination, the student must provide the Graduate Faculty Representative with a copy of the Dissertation. The student’s Advisor serves as the chair of the Final Oral Examination Committee.
- The time and place of the examination is determined by the advisor in consultation with the student and members of the Advisory Committee. The Final Oral Examination should occur between two and four weeks after the Dissertation document has been approved. The Final Oral Examination can not be formally scheduled with the Graduate School until the publication requirement for the degree has been met. The advisor and/or student has the responsibility to ensure this policy is followed.
- The examination lasts no more than two hours. All members of the Dissertation Committee must be present during the entire examination or on video conference, adhering to the Graduate School’s guidelines for video conferencing. All Committee members are expected to participate fully in questioning during the examination and discussion of the Exam result. The Graduate Faculty Representative reports their judgment regarding the quality, the fairness, and conformity of the examination to the Graduate School rules. The Committee must unanimously agree that the student’s performance is satisfactory to pass. The Advisor votes last. Committee members report the Oral Examination outcome on Grad Forms.
5.8.4 Public Seminar
- Students are required to present a public lecture on their research before graduation. Often, students will give a public seminar on their dissertation immediately prior to the Final Oral Examination. If the public seminar is formally part of the final examination (the typical situation), the seminar should only last 30 minutes to allow for at least 1 hour for the oral examination with the examination committee (i.e., the entire examination, including public seminar can only be a maximum of 2 hours). Alternatively, although not common, the public seminar can be held independently of the final examination. If held separately, the Graduate Faculty Representative does not need to attend the public seminar (although can be invited to attend).
6. Master of Science Program
Students enrolled in the M.S. program and Ph.D. students who leave the Ph.D. program can receive the Master of Science (M.S.) degree after fulfilling the requirements for one of two M.S. degree programs (Plan A or Plan B).
6.1.1 New students
- Students admitted to the M.S. program can choose either plan, but it is the responsibility of the student to identify and arrange research with a lab willing to sponsor their thesis work if pursuing the Plan A (thesis) M.S. degree. If the student can not find a lab in which to do research, they can still complete the Plan B M.S. degree.
6.1.2 Students transferring from the Ph.D. program
- Transfer of a Ph.D. student into the M.S. program usually occurs at one of two time points: end of the first year (Plan B (non-thesis) M.S. degree) or before or after the completion of the Candidacy Examination (Plan A or Plan B M.S. degree). Some Ph.D. students may decide after completing the first year coursework and laboratory rotations to pursue a non-thesis M.S. degree (Plan B). Alternatively, some students will have selected a doctoral thesis advisor and completed their coursework under the guidance of their Advisor and Advisory Committee, but leave the program before or after they have completed the Candidacy Examination. This latter group of students has often completed substantial research in their first two years and they are expected to complete a M.S. thesis (Plan A). They may also choose the non-thesis M.S. option; however, the student and the advisor must agree upon this decision since granting agencies will require documentation of the student’s work. In all cases the student’s Advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee must approve the transfer from the Ph.D. program into one of the M.S. degree programs. It is important to note that transfer from the Ph.D. program to a Master’s program may result in termination of departmental support at the end of the semester in which the transfer occurs.
- Students transferring to a M.S. degree from the Ph.D. program may not apply for either new or continuance to a Ph.D. degree in the Department of Microbiology. M.S. degree students can apply to other Ohio State University graduate programs. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Graduate School and obtain the proper documents and applications for the M.S. exam. Students in the Plan B option must request reinstatement in the Program if they fail to enroll in courses for 1 or more semesters. The Graduate Studies Committee will decide upon the request for reinstatement.
The Plan A M.S. degree is based on research performed by the student as well as their coursework completion. The degree requires an oral defense and a written thesis. The M.S. advisory committee is comprised of three faculty (at least category M), at least two of which are from the Microbiology Graduate Program. The committee members are chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor and the Advisor serves as Chairperson. Students have an annual meeting with their Advisory Committee to aid in the development of their programs and to evaluate their progress. These meetings follow the format of the annual meetings as described for the doctoral program. Students in the Plan A Master’s program may also transfer between Plan A and Plan B Master’s programs.
6.2.1 Plan A M.S. degree course requirements
- A minimum of 44 credits of graduate level work must be completed within six (6) calendar years. Plan A M.S. students are required to complete the 11 hour core described for the doctoral program, and seven (7) hours of graded electives. As with the PhD students, Plan A M.S. students will enroll in Microbiology seminars (MICRBIOL 8899 and MICRBIOL 7899) throughout their time in the program and must make at least one presentation in MICRBIOL 8899. A maximum of six (6) credits may be transferred from other programs to satisfy the 44 minimum credit requirement. Students deciding to complete the Plan A M.S. will enroll in MICRBIOL 7999 (Research in Microbiology – M.S. Thesis). Decisions concerning transfer of credits are the responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee.
- A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained and a grade of B or better must be received in each class to be counted toward the course requirements. Students receiving 2 Unsatisfactory (U) grades in MICRBIOL 7998 or 7999 are denied further registration in the Program.
6.2.2 Plan A M.S. Degree Examination
M.S. Written Thesis
- A Plan A Master's program requires a written Thesis based on the student's research. The format and composition of the Thesis is determined in consultation with the Advisor and Advisory Committee. The student’s M.S. Advisory Committee must have at least one week to review the Thesis and the committee must agree unanimously that the dissertation is satisfactory before the student may proceed to the Oral Examination.
M.S. Oral Examination
The final examination is an oral examination lasting approximately two hours. It is an oral defense of the student’s Thesis but questions may be asked both in the student's area of interest and in more general aspects of Microbiology and related areas. The committee must unanimously agree that the student's performance was satisfactory for the student to pass. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Graduate School and obtain the proper documents and applications for the M.S. exam.
The Plan B M.S. degree is a non-thesis degree as the student will not have completed a research project. These students meet with the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson, or an Advisor recommended by the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson, to plan the completion of the M.S. requirements. The Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson also assembles an examination committee consisting of three faculty members (category M or P faculty which includes the M.S. advisor) for the student’s exit examination when all program requirements have been met. At least two of the three faculty must be from the Microbiology Graduate Program.
6.3.1 Plan B M.S. Degree Course Requirements
- A minimum of 44 credits of graduate level work for PhD students transferring to the M.S. program or a minimum of 30 credits for students enrolling in the M.S. program must be completed within six (6) calendar years. Plan B M.S. students are required to complete the 11 hour core curriculum described for the doctoral program and at least seven (7) hours of graded electives. Plan B M.S. students will enroll in Microbiology seminars (MICRBIOL 8899 and MICRBIOL 7899) throughout their time in the program. If research or study credits are desired, Plan B M.S. students can enroll in MICROBIOL 8193. A maximum of six (6) credits may be transferred from other programs to satisfy the 30 minimum credit hour requirement. Decisions concerning transfer of credits are the responsibility of the Graduate Studies Committee.
6.3.2 Plan B M.S. degree examination
- The student must pass a final Written Examination and a one- to two-hour Oral Examination for the Plan B M.S. degree. The advisor for a Plan B student is appointed by the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson and is a Graduate Faculty member of at least Category M Graduate Faculty status in the student's area of interest.
Written Examination
The Written Examination usually takes the format of a mini-review on a topic area identified by the student’s advisor. The document will have a minimum length of 12 single spaced pages with font and margin limits as described in the NIH grant submissions (see Candidacy Examination section). Students may also petition the Graduate Studies Committee Chairperson and their advisor requesting an alternative Written Examination in the form of a comprehensive examination on topics related to the student’s interests and general subject of Microbiology. This exam will be generated by the student’s Advisor and will be a minimum of four (4) hours in duration.
Oral Examination
The oral examination will cover topics presented in the Written Examination and may include questions dealing with more general aspects of Microbiology and related areas. The Master’s Examination Committee consists of the student's advisor as Chairperson and two other faculty (Category M or Category P Graduate Faculty), of which at least one is a member from the Microbiology Graduate Program. The committee must unanimously agree that the student's performance was satisfactory for the student to pass.
7. Registration, Satisfactory Progress, and Academic Probation
The number of credit hours attempted each semester is mutually determined by the student and the advisor and reflects faculty and student effort and the extent to which University resources are utilized. Course loads for full-time students can vary, as noted below. A student may not enroll for more than 18 credit hours per semester (Autumn and Spring), or 8 hours in Summer Session, without Advisor and Graduate School approval. This includes audited courses.
It is the students responsibility to ensure they are registered for the appropriate number of classes/credits each semester of graduate study.
Ph.D. and M.S. (Plan A) students desiring additional coursework beyond what is required for the degree need approval from their Advisory Committee and from the Graduate Studies Committee following petition. As the focus of the research tracks (Ph.D. and Thesis-M.S.) is on the generation of new knowledge through research efforts, such requests for expanded coursework are generally denied.
7.1.1 Pre-candidacy and M.S. Student Graduate Associates (GA)
- Graduate associates, either graduate teaching associates (GTAs) or graduate research associates (GRAs), holding 50 percent or greater appointments must register for at least eight (8) credit hours per semester, except in summer when the minimum is four credits. (Microbiology pre-candidacy students are encouraged to register for 12 credit hours per semester, four in summer session). GAs holding a 25 percent appointment must register for at least four credit hours per semester, two credit hours in summer session. M.S. students are not required to enroll in summer term, but can do so if desired.
7.1.2 Post Candidacy Graduate Associates (GAs) & Continuous Enrollment
All students who successfully complete the doctoral Candidacy Examination (“post-candidacy”) are required to be enrolled in every semester until graduation. Graduate associates, either graduate teaching associates (GTAs) or graduate research associates (GRAs) enroll for 3 credits per semester:
- Autumn and Spring semester: MICRBIOL 8999 (1 credit), MICRBIOL 7899 (1 credit), MICRBIOL 8899 (1 credit)
- Summer term: MICRBIOL 8999 (3 credits)
7.1.3. Fellows (Students on Fellowships)
- Pre-candidacy doctoral students holding the title of graduate fellow, regardless of the source of the funds, must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester the appointment is held (six credit hours during Summer Session). Graduate fellows who are post-candidacy doctoral students must register for at least three credit hours per semester, including Summer Semester.
Funded graduate students requesting to take time off must complete a short-term leave form; this does not apply to weekend-only travel or holiday breaks during which campus is closed. Any absence during academic breaks (e.g., Spring break or Winter break) requires completion of a short-term leave form. Short-term leave must be approved in advance by the student’s advisor and the student’s TA supervisor (if the student is a GTA) and the form turned into the into the Graduate Studies Committee.
Part time registration is permitted only with approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. Students are expected to complete all required graded coursework (core and electives) within 5 semesters of initial enrollment.
Graduate students who take a leave of absence or who do not enroll in the Graduate School for longer than one year, at any time during their Ph.D. program, are considered to have left the Program and are not eligible for any financial support. Students who elect to take a leave of absence for extenuating personal circumstances should meet with the Graduate Studies Committee Chair to discuss the situation and establish expectations to be done during the leave of absence. Students must petition the Graduate Studies Committee for re-enrollment, unless prior arrangement has been made with the Advisor and Graduate Studies Committee.
Satisfactory progress toward completion of the Plan A Masters (Thesis-Masters) and the Ph.D. degrees requires evidence of sustained progress in research, as measured by Satisfactory (S) grades in MICRBIOL 7899, MICRBIOL 8899, and MICRBIOL 7998 or MICRBIOL 8999, and completion of the required course work. Graduate students in all programs must maintain an overall B (3.0) average. Only those courses in which the student has earned a grade of B or better are counted toward the program requirements.
7.5.1 Academic Probation
- If a student's GPA falls below 3.0, the student is considered to be on academic probation even if formal notification has not been received from the Graduate School. As outlined in the Graduate School Handbook, the Graduate School formally places a student on academic probation when the student has a cumulative point hour ratio (CPHR) of less than 3.0 and the student has attempted nine or more hours of graduate credit. However, the Department of Microbiology considers a student to be on academic probation when the student's CPHR is below 3.0, regardless of the number of credit hours attempted by the student. At the beginning of the first semester of academic probation the record of the student will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee and the student informed of the actions which will be taken if the student does not attain a 3.0 CPHR by the end of the semester.
- In the situation a grade below B is received for any of the core or elective courses, the student will be required to repeat the course or receive a B or higher grade in a suitable alternative course that must be previously approved by the student’s Advisory Committee.
- During each semester of academic probation the Graduate Studies Committee will review the student's record. The student's advisor should attend these meetings. If the committee feels that sufficient progress has been made in restoring the student's CPHR to 3.0, the student will be allowed to continue in the program. In accordance with the Graduate School Handbook, the Graduate Program will deny GTA support to students on probation. A letter to the Graduate School will be required from the Advisor or the Graduate Studies Chair to justify continued funding of the student during the probationary time (as a GTA or GRA, Fellow, etc.). Reinstatement of support may be approved when the student attains a CPHR of 3.0 or better.
- Most importantly, students who have not returned to good standing after one semester will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee. The student will also be notified by the Graduate School if they are not making “reasonable progress” towards their degree. Further, a student may then be dismissed from the graduate program if they fail to restore their CPHR to 3.0 within two semesters of being placed on probation, or if they are placed on probation for any two semesters before completing the Candidacy Exam. More information on academic probation may be found in the Graduate School Handbook.
8. Admission to the Graduate Program
Coursework
- A four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree or its equivalent is required, with at least a 3.0 GPA. The following courses, offered at OSU, or courses offered at other institutions that are equivalent in content, are prerequisites to enter the program:
- Calculus (e.g., MATH 1156)
- General Physics (e.g., PHYSICS 1200 & 1201)
- General Chemistry (e.g., CHEM 1210 & 1220)
- Organic Chemistry (e.g., CHEM 2510 & 2520)
- Biochemistry (e.g., BIOCHEM 4511)
- General Biology (e.g., BIOL 1113 & 1114)
- An undergraduate General Microbiology (e.g., MICRBIOL 4100) is preferred but not required The Graduate Studies Committee decides if academic deficiencies exist at the time of a student's admission. Courses assigned to remedy deficiencies are an additional part of a student's program and do not replace other course requirements.
Graduate Record Examination
- Applicants are no longer required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE scores or GRE subject test scpores can be optionally submitted to demonstrate a sufficient foundation of knowledge. MCAT scores for students applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) who desire to perform their Ph.D. dissertation research under the guidance of a Microbiology faculty member can also be submitted by applicants.
English Proficiency
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all students whose native language is not English. For full consideration, applicants generally need to score 28 or higher on the TOEFL iBT Speaking section due to University requirements for any who teach undergraduate students (i.e., a GTA).
- After admissions, the Oral Proficiency Assessment (OPA) is required for students whose native language is not English as well as students from Puerto Rico, other non-English-speaking U.S. territories, and some Caribbean countries not required to take the TOEFL, e.g., Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. A passing grade in the OPA is required for a student to receive support as a GTA. Students with lower OPA scores must take courses for improvement and have their spoken English ability certified by the OSU Spoken English Program.
Applicants must submit a formal application to be considered for admission to the program. Application materials and submission can be completed online (preferred) at http://gpadmissions.osu.edu/ or packets can be obtained from the Graduate Admissions Office, First Floor, SAS Building, 281 Lane Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
Completed applications should be received by November 30. Applications received after this deadline are not guaranteed review and will not be considered for any University fellowship opportunities.
Required Application Materials
A Formal Application Consists Of:
- The nonrefundable application fee (paid to the graduate school by credit or debit card)
- A completed online application
- Certified copies of transcripts or record of marks for each university-level school attended.
- Include English translations of all foreign documents.
- Official TOEFL scores, if applicable
- A statement of intent (statement of purpose - up to 2 pages)
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty written on recommenders' original letterhead stationery, accompanied by completed Ohio State Reference Forms.
Items 2 to 6 are uploaded or sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Items in 7 (Letters of Recommendation) should be uploaded by the recommenders through the online application, but can also be sent to the Microbiology Graduate Coordinator at Micro.grad@osu.edu.
All application materials are made available to faculty of the Graduate Program. Applications are formally reviewed by members of the Graduate Studies Committee. Applications are evaluated comprehensively, without any one criterion forming the basis of review. In addition, personal interviews with applicants may be conducted either in person or via video conferencing with members of the Graduate Studies Committee.
Selection of applicants for admission is based on evaluation of all application materials and majority opinion of the members of the Graduate Studies Committee. In addition, input from graduate students and faculty members of the department will be considered.
The number of applicants admitted varies each year based on availability of positions in the faculty members’ laboratories and funding resources.