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Laboratory Rotations

Faculty Curricula Vitae

Selecting Your Research Adviser

Appointment of Graduate Committee

The graduate adviser will be the student's primary source of instruction and advice. Until a student selects a permanent adviser, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will serve as interim adviser. To assist in the selection of a research problem and a research adviser, several activities have been arranged:

A. Laboratory Rotations

The exposure to new laboratory techniques and participation in active research projects during the rotation allow the opportunity to become acquainted with current research interests of individual faculty members. There will be 4 laboratory rotations, each lasting ½ a semester (approximately 7 weeks). For a more complete description of laboratory rotations, see the requirements page.

B. Faculty Curricula Vitae

A collection of the complete curricula vitae and bibliographies of the faculty is available for consultation in the program office. Short descriptions of each faculty member's research can be found in the program brochure and on the Neuroscience Program's website: http://www.neuroscience.umn.edu/faculty/faculty.html

In addition, attending seminars (especially the weekly Neuroscience Colloquium) is a good way to become acquainted with faculty research interests.

C. Selecting your Research Adviser

1. Students are expected to use the laboratory rotations as the major basis for choosing their research adviser. The actual selection will take place during Spring Semester, to allow students time to collect as much information as possible before making a decision. Students should begin work in their chosen labs at the beginning of the summer.

2. Factors to consider when choosing an adviser include: laboratory research interests, laboratory space and equipment, rapport with adviser, and funding availability.

3. Once an adviser has been chosen, both the student and adviser must sign the following contract. http://www.neuroscience.umn.edu/CurStu/contract.pdf

D. Appointments of Graduate Committee:

The formal Graduate Committee is initially appointed in conjunction with the filing of the Degree Program Transmittal (Form GS 89abc) no later than one term prior to your Preliminary Oral Exam. Students, in consultation with their advisors, should submit to the DGS a list of suggested faculty for these committees. This committee will generally serve as part of the preliminary oral examination and final defense committee. In addition, this committee will participate in the student's annual research reviews, to monitor progress and provide advice about the thesis project. Degree Program Forms are available in the Program office or can be downloaded from the Graduate School website at www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/gs89a.pdf

Each Ph.D. committee is composed of a minimum of four members: three members (including student's adviser) from the major field, and one representing the minor or supporting program fields. The chair of the committee cannot be the student's adviser. The minor or supporting program member must have a graduate faculty appointment outside of neuroscience (but can also have appointment in neuroscience - in other words, he or she cannot have a graduate appointment only in neuroscience).