What can you expect during your tenure in the MICaB Graduate Program?

• Make novel discoveries and as a result, be the only person on the planet (at least for a little while) who knows a brand new fact.
  
  
• Publish your work and present it at local and national meetings.
  
  
• To be constantly challenged intellectually.
  
  
• To be almost never bored.
  
  
• To receive informal and formal mentoring by your advisor and other MICaB faculty members throughout your tenure in the program.
  
  
• To be paid at least $24,500/yr to do your hobby – science.
  
  
• You are not expected to provide your own funding (e.g. via fellowships). However, we strongly encourage you to apply for your own funding once accepted into the program
  
  

Here are some specifics of your training in the MICaB program.

• 3 x 10 week rotations - These start when you enter the program. Each rotation permits you to get a first hand look at the working environment in a potential mentor’s lab. You spend 10 weeks in each of three labs before making a mutual decision with your new mentor as to where you will perform your thesis research.
  
  
• Coursework - You typically take two doctoral level courses per semester for your first two years.
  
  
• Seminars - You are expected to attend weekly student and faculty seminars throughout your tenure in the program. You will present a 30 minute seminar in the spring semester of your second year and a 50 minute seminar in the fall semester of your fourth year.
  
  
• Data/Journal clubs – You are expected to attend data and journal clubs throughout your tenure in the program.
  
  
• Teaching – You are required to serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters, typically one semester in each of your second and third years.
  
  
• Qualifying examinations - You will submit your written preliminary examination by April 1 in your second year. You will take your oral preliminary examination before the start of your third year.
  
  
• Final thesis examination – Your final thesis defense is open to the public. After this public seminar, you meet privately with your thesis research committee. You will have met with this committee about nine months prior to your final defense to ensure you and the committee were in agreement as to what was required for your successful thesis defense. There should be no unpleasant surprises at your final thesis defense.