BMOL PhD Student Handbook Advisor Selection
Selection of Major Advisor and Lab Rotations
Students seeking admission into the Biomolecular Sciences Ph.D. Program should familiarize themselves with the research programs of the faculty, which are listed on the program’s web page. Whenever possible, students should contact the faculty members with whom they are interested in working with prior to applying for admission. A current listing of faculty participating in lab rotations can be found on the program’s website in the “Our Faculty” heading. The names of 3-6 faculty members (representing at least two of the following departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Physics) should be ranked and included in the application materials as part of the student’s personal statement. This information will be used to help place students in lab rotations during their first semester of study. Please note that student interest in a particular faculty member does not guarantee a particular lab rotation placement, and lab rotations may need to include a faculty member that was not originally listed in the student’s top-ranking.
Laboratory rotations are a central part of our student’s first year experience. Lab rotations allow students to explore various areas of biomolecular research and experience different research environments before committing to a single lab to conduct their dissertation research. These rotations give students the opportunity to learn new laboratory techniques, experience different mentoring styles, meet other graduate students, collaborate with potential mentors, and identify research areas that are of most interest to them. At the same time, rotations allow faculty to assess the aptitude and interests of students. Ideally, students should find a good match with a dissertation laboratory by the end of the first semester. These rotations must involve faculty from at least two different departments including biological sciences, chemistry/biochemistry, and physics. All students accepted into the program on teaching assistantships will complete three 5-week long rotations (which are typically completed by the end of their first semester) before declaring their Major Professor. Although in the minority, some students enter the program to work with a specific faculty member who commits to support their entire program of study from their research grants. These students are not required to participate in the rotation process, but may choose to take advantage to broaden their expertise in a complementary area provided that their Major Professor supports this.
To initiate the lab rotations, students should first interview prospective faculty mentors to determine who is currently able to take on doctoral students. This information is also periodically updated on the program’s webpage. Typically, a student should rotate in a lab only if there is a reasonable option to join that lab permanently, should the rotation go well. By June 1st, students should submit the name of the desired rotation mentors via the submission of the “Rotation Agreement Form” to the Program Coordinator. To optimize the rotation experience, it is important for both the student and faculty mentor to meet prior to the start of the rotation to discuss expectations, laboratory guidelines, and goals. This discussion should be documented on the “Rotation Agreement Form”. During each of the lab rotations, the student needs to balance their time between teaching, research, and coursework responsibilities. Laboratory rotations should be thought of as “auditions”. Not only is the student trying to decide if the mentor and research environment are a good fit for them, but they are also “trying out” for a position in the lab. After a rotation has been completed, the faculty mentor will file the “Faculty Rotation Evaluation Form” and let the student know whether they support serving as their Major Professor. Only after all the rotations have been completed and the student has met with their intended mentor to discuss long-term expectations, goals, and the overall nature of their dissertation research project should the Major Professor be selected. Students are cautioned against joining a lab that is unlikely to have space or financial resources to support a new student in the near future. Although this is not always an easy topic to discuss, it is an important conversation to have. If a student cannot find a willing Major Professor after the first semester of lab rotations is complete, a fourth, and possibly fifth lab rotation is possible. If a student is still unable to find a Major Professor, they will be dismissed from the program at the end of the semester after they have completed all of their teaching assistant responsibilities.
If a student at any time should find themselves without a Major Professor after joining a lab, they should attempt to find a new Major Professor as soon as possible. Faculty being considered as new advisors will have access to current and past semester progress evaluations. If a new Major Professor is not identified by four weeks time, the student can be dismissed from the program.
Supervisory Commitee
The graduate supervisory committee assumes the responsibility for approving the student’s program, advising dissertation research, and conducting required examinations. The committee consists of the major advisor who serves as chair and holds a tenure-track faculty position in one of the three departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry/Biochemistry, and Physics or is an affiliate faculty member endorsed to chair supervisory committees in the program, plus at least two tenure-track faculty that represent at least one of the other departments, but no more than five members in total. A fourth or fifth committee member may include an otherwise qualified individual (e.g., Ph.D., D.V.M., M.D.) from outside of these three departments, but their expertise relevant to the student’s dissertation project must be documented prior to committee appointment, and a formal request made and approved by the program. All members of the supervisory committee must have graduate faculty status, as appointed by the Graduate College.
Selection of the supervisory committee typically begins with the graduate student and major advisor agreeing on a potential committee membership list based on the student’s dissertation project. The student then fills out an Appointment of Supervisory Committee and submits for approval. This request should be submitted by the beginning of the second year of study. The graduate dean can either appoint the recommended committee or solicit an alternative recommendation from the program. Changes in membership of the committee can be made after its appointment, but only in accordance with program policies and with the approval of the Graduate College.
Students will typically interact with members of the Supervisory Committee on a frequent basis, either individually or informally in classes or working on research. Students should also organize a formal meeting with the entire Supervisory Committee on an annual basis to present a progress report, receive feedback, and discuss future research plans. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule these annual meetings.
In consult with their Supervisory Committee Chair (Major Advisor), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Student is responsible for recommending a Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR) from an Approved Graduate Faculty list to the Graduate College. The GFR at Boise State University serves as a symbol of campus-wide fairness, upholds the rigor of the graduate process, and is an impartial representative of the Graduate College to the doctoral student and their supervisory committee. The GFR serves as a nonvoting member of their Supervisory Committee and, during the defense procedure, is responsible for making sure that each element of the defense is conducted in a way that is consistent with Graduate College guidelines. The GFR must be a member of the Graduate Faculty, cannot be an Affiliate, Adjunct or Emeritus member of the Graduate Faculty, and cannot be a member of the Graduate Program or College (or affiliated programs in the case of an interdisciplinary program) that is granting the doctoral degree. A list of current Graduate Faculty is available on the Graduate College website.