The First Two Years

Coursework

• First-year students are required to take three courses each term. The laboratory rotation (see below) counts as the fourth course. In addition, students must complete a scientific ethics course by the end of second year of study.
• Courses are selected primarily from Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) department offerings. In addition, students are free to enroll in courses offered by affiliated training program departments and Harvard Integrated Life Sciences (HILS) programs. Students may cross-register in courses offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• Students select courses in consultation with executive committee members from one of three training programs. The Molecular, Cellular and Chemical Biology Program (MCCB) is composed of faculty members from MCB and the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. The Genetics and Genomics Training Program (GGTP) includes faculty from MCB and the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. The Engineering and Physical Biology Training Program (EPB) includes faculty from MCB and the Department of Physics and the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Laboratory Rotations

• During their first term, students spend about 30% of their time conducting experimental research in the laboratories of faculty members. Each rotation is for a month, and there is an option for a fourth rotation in the second term. Students select the laboratories in which they wish to rotate; however, program directors make final decisions. Some students pursue an additional rotation during the summer preceding their first year. During the laboratory rotations, students are able to interact with individual faculty members and explore possible subjects for future dissertation research.

Foreign Languages

• There is no foreign language requirement for the PhD degree.

Dissertation Research

• Each student arranges for a permanent faculty dissertation advisor by mid-January of the first academic year and begins dissertation research during the second term.

Master of Arts (AM)

• Conferred as a non-terminal degree only.

Teaching

• Each student is required to serve as a teaching fellow for two terms, usually one term in each of the second and third years. In one of these terms, the student must teach in one of the major undergraduate courses required by their particular training grant program.
• Once required teaching has been completed, a student may, with the approval of the director of graduate studies, teach for an additional term.

Advising

• In the third year, students select a dissertation committee in consultation with their faculty advisor and members of their training grant committee. The dissertation committee consists of two FAS faculty members, one of whom must be a senior MCB faculty member. The third member may be chosen from another department or school. At least one member of the committee must be affiliated with the student’s particular training grant program. The faculty advisor may be present at all committee meetings and at the dissertation defense meeting, but may not be part of it. An ombuds committee composed of two faculty members is in place should problems arise between student and advisor.

Candidacy Examinations and Evaluation

• A faculty committee that meets with the student to discuss his or her dissertation proposal evaluates MCB students in the spring of their second year. Students accepted to candidacy arrange to meet annually with their dissertation committee and must hold a formal presentation in year four to discuss the progress of their research.

Dissertation

Dissertation Defense

• Three to four years of full-time research are usually required for completion of the PhD degree. Students are expected to complete the program in their fifth year of study. Support is not provided beyond the sixth year.
• Completed research is presented for approval as a written dissertation. Candidates will submit a copy of their dissertation to each member of their dissertation committee at least three weeks prior to their defense.
• Granting of the degree requires the approval of the candidate’s dissertation committee members, who review the dissertation and examine the student on the contents of the dissertation. Candidates will also be called upon to demonstrate the ability to formulate and defend original ideas on scientific topics not directly related to the subject of the dissertation.

Dissertation

• The dissertation should include an abstract of not more than 350 words, stating the purpose, main results, and research conclusions.
• Procedures and requirements for the final dissertation manuscript are described in The Form of the PhD Dissertation that is available at the Registrar’s office or online.

Vacation Policy

• Predoctoral training is considered a full-time endeavor during the academic year, including fall, spring, and summer terms. Students are entitled to official holidays observed by the university or the institutions at which their dissertation laboratories are located. Additional vacation days must be negotiated with the dissertation advisor in accordance with laboratory policy and receive final approval of the program director.