Revised 4/2008

Student Advising and Evaluation

A member of the MCB faculty advises first-year students. The first-year advisor is responsible for overseeing the activities of individual first-year students including course registrations, lab rotation selection, and selection of the student's permanent lab and Supervisory Committee. Students will meet with their first-year advisor at least once each quarter prior to registration to discuss the best course of study and plan their schedules.

The Director reports on the progress of the first-year students to the MCB Steering Committee. This report is based on the student's performance during lab rotations and course work. At the end of the first year, the student selects a permanent advisor who will be the Chair of his/her Doctoral Supervisory Committee. The student informs the MCB Office when a permanent advisor is selected.

Laboratory Rotations

Laboratory rotations are designed to provide first-year students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the theoretical and technical approaches to research that are practiced in different laboratories. Laboratory rotations also allow students to select a permanent lab based upon extensive contact with several research groups. Students spend one quarter in each of three different research groups. To gain maximum exposure, students are encouraged to participate in at least one rotation at each campus.

At the completion of each lab rotation, students write a brief report describing the objectives, results and conclusions of their research and present a 10-minute research talk to fellow students and program faculty. After the rotation talk, the rotation advisor provides the MCB Office with a written evaluation of the student’s performance in the lab and the rotation talk. The student receives a copy of the evaluation which forms a part of the director's report on student progress to the MCB Steering Committee. Laboratory rotations typically occur during the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters of the first year. Students may arrange for an additional rotation during the Summer Quarter prior to or immediately following their first year of study. In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the MCB Steering Committee to reduce the number of laboratory rotations required.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee

Students select a Doctoral Supervisory Committee as soon as possible after their choice of a permanent lab. This committee consists of a minimum of five members at least two of whom (including the Graduate School Representative or GSR) must be outside the committee chair's department at the university or unit of the FHCRC. At least three members must be members of the MCB Program. For a detailed description on choosing a committee, read MCB Doctoral Supervisory Committee document [16k PDF*].

In forming their Supervisory Committee, students are urged to select members from both participating institutions in order to promote productive scientific interactions across the program. The committee must meet by the end of June of the student's second year to informally discuss plans for dissertation research and additional course work. When committee members have been selected, the student notifies the MCB Office. Confirmation of the committee is returned within 3-4 weeks. A report of the first committee meeting is provided to the Program Director on the form entitled "Annual Doctoral Supervisory Committee Meeting Report" (under “forms” on the MCB website – www.mcb-seattle.edu).

First Year Course and Activity Listing

The Conjoint series is offered in modules of 5 weeks, some at the University, and some at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Students must complete 6 modules in their first-year, and the selection of these modules should be made in consultation with the first year faculty advisor. As students may elect to take more than two of the 1.5 credit modules per quarter, the schedule below is just an example of how a typical course schedule may appear.

AUTUMN QUARTER

2 of the CONJ Modules
(1.5 credits each)
Graduate level lecture courses emphasizing current research topics.

MCB 514 Molecular and Cellular Biology Literature Review
(2 non-graded credits)
Graduate student seminar which emphasizes critical evaluation of original literature orally and in writing. Course open only to first-year students in the program.

MCB 599 Introduction to Research in Molecular and Cellular Biology
(Min. 2, max. 9 non-graded credits)
Laboratory rotations with faculty participating in the program. Students carry out individual research projects and participate in the scheduled research and journal club meetings of the chosen lab. Students present oral and written reports of their research project at the end of the quarter.

Electives
Students take at least one graded elective course selected from the list of approved MCB Program electives. A sample list of appropriate electives is listed on the MCB web page.

Program and Departmental Activities
In addition to formal courses, students attend at least one departmental research seminar per week which would typically be within the department in which the lab rotation is occurring. Students also attend the evening student/faculty special events sponsored by the MCB Program.

2 of the CONJ modules
(1.5 credits each)
Graduate level lecture courses emphasizing current research topics.

MCB 515 Molecular and Cellular Biology Literature Review
(3 graded credits)
Graduate student seminar which emphasizes critical evaluation of original literature orally and in writing. Course open only to first-year students in the program.

MCB 599 Introduction to Research in Molecular and Cellular Biology
(min. 3, max. 9 non-graded credits)

Program and Departmental Activities
As previously described.

Electives
Students take at least one graded elective course selected from the list of approved MCB Program electives.

SPRING QUARTER

2 of the CONJ modules
(1.5 credits each)
Graduate level lecture courses emphasizing current research topics.

MCB 516 - Molecular and Cellular Biology Literature Review
(2 non-graded credits)
Graduate student seminar which emphasizes critical evaluation of original literature orally and in writing. Course open only to first-year students in the program.

MCB 599 Introduction to Research in Molecular and Cellular Biology
(min. 3, max. 9 non-graded credits)

Program and Departmental Activities
As previously described.

Electives
Students take at least one graded elective course selected from the list of approved MCB Program electives.

SUMMER QUARTER

MCB 600 Research
(1-10 non-graded credits)

Biomedical Research Integrity Lecture Series
Students attend 3 lectures and 1 discussion section.

Program and Departmental Activities
Students choose their Doctoral Supervisory Committee and schedule its first meeting.