During the first year, students focus on coursework, exploring research opportunities, and completing laboratory rotations to prepare for selecting a thesis lab. Students in the Biological Sciences Division must complete nine credits of coursework during the PhD program.
FORMAL COURSEWORK
GGSB offers two training tracks:
Empirical Track - Designed for students seeking strong quantitative experimental training.
Requirements: 4 required courses + 3 electives + 2 lab rotations
Computational Track - Designed for students seeking strong quantitative experimental training.
Requirements: 4 required courses + 3 electives + 2 lab rotations
Both tracks share the goal of applying genetic, genomic, and systems biology approaches to address fundamental biological questions, while tailoring training to individual research interests.
ROTATIONS: Students are required to rotate through at least two different laboratories before selecting a thesis lab. Most students begin rotations in the Autumn Quarter and complete the required two (or more) rotations by the end of the Spring Quarter, allowing them to match with a lab and begin planning their thesis research by the start of the Summer Quarter.
Summer Quarter rotations are an exception, intended only for students who have already completed at least two rotations but have not yet secured a lab match by the end of Spring. In these rare cases, students may use the summer to rotate in one or two additional labs, structured either as two 5-week full-time rotations or one 10-week full-time rotation, depending on lab availability and mutual interest. Students who have not matched with a lab by the end of the Summer Quarter are placed on academic probation and have one additional quarter (Autumn Quarter of Year 2) to secure a match. Failure to do so will result in administrative withdrawal from the program.
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH: All first-year students in the Molecular Biosciences Cluster participate in Introduction to Research (“AllStars”) during the Autumn Quarter. This course introduces students to the breadth of research opportunities available within the program and provides guidance for selecting rotation labs.
ETHICS COURSE: All first-year students are required to complete the Responsible, Rigorous, and Reproducible Conduct of Research (R3CR) course. This training:
- Promotes awareness of ethical and responsible research practices.
- Responsible, rigorous, and reproducible conduct of research: R3CR (Ethics) Explores challenges scientists may face throughout their careers.
- Responsible, rigorous, and reproducible conduct of research: R3CR (Ethics) Emphasizes the importance of reproducibility, rigor, and transparency.
- Responsible, rigorous, and reproducible conduct of research: R3CR (Ethics) Provides practical guidance on BSD policies and procedures.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION: Before the end of the first year, students take the Comprehensive Examination, the first step toward PhD candidacy.
There are several overlapping sets of policies governing PhD graduate students in the Biological Sciences Division, including those from university, divisional, and program-specific sources, as well as the Office of Research Safety.
- University of Chicago Policies
- Biological Sciences Division policies governing graduate students
- Office of Research Safety
HOW TO APPLY TO THE UCHICAGO BIOSCIENCES PROGRAM
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- GGSB Handbook - Coming Soon
- GGSB Course Descriptions – Empirical Track - Coming Soon
- GGSB Course Descriptions – Computational Track - Coming Soon