Program in Molecular Biophysics · 2018-09-12 · PMB Student Handbook 08/18 5 count as electives. Electives (and third-year requests) must be approved by both the student’s thesis

PMBStudentHandbook08/18

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PrograminMolecularBiophysics2018–2019StudentHandbook

ContentsPMBGraduateStudentMilestonesbyYear.........................................................................................................................3 YearOne............................................................................................................................................................................................3 FallSemester.............................................................................................................................................................................3 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................3 SpringSemester.......................................................................................................................................................................4 Summer........................................................................................................................................................................................4

YearTwo...........................................................................................................................................................................................4 FallSemester.............................................................................................................................................................................4 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................4 SpringSemester.......................................................................................................................................................................4

YearThree........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................5

YearFour..........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................5

Year5toFinalYear.....................................................................................................................................................................5 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................5 SpringSemester.......................................................................................................................................................................5

FinalYear..........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Intersession................................................................................................................................................................................5 SpringSemester.......................................................................................................................................................................5

Administration....................................................................................................................................................................................6 AdministrativeStructure.........................................................................................................................................................6 SchoolandDepartmentalAffiliation..................................................................................................................................6 SummerRegistration.................................................................................................................................................................6 FinancialSupport.........................................................................................................................................................................6 Employment....................................................................................................................................................................................7 UniversityComputerPolicy....................................................................................................................................................7 Leave...................................................................................................................................................................................................7 VacationsandHolidays........................................................................................................................................................7 SickLeave....................................................................................................................................................................................7 ParentalLeave..........................................................................................................................................................................7

AdministrativeContacts...........................................................................................................................................................8 ProgramDirectors..................................................................................................................................................................8 ProgramCoordinators..........................................................................................................................................................8 DepartmentAdministrators..............................................................................................................................................8

StudentAdvising................................................................................................................................................................................8 AcademicAdvisor........................................................................................................................................................................8 FacultyResearchInterests......................................................................................................................................................9

ParticipationinScientificMeetings.........................................................................................................................................9 AnnualRetreat...............................................................................................................................................................................9 TraveltoMeetings.......................................................................................................................................................................9


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ProgramRequirements..................................................................................................................................................................9 GeneralExpectations..................................................................................................................................................................9 CoreCourses................................................................................................................................................................................10 Seminars........................................................................................................................................................................................10 PolicyonGrades........................................................................................................................................................................11 AcademicIntegrityandStudentConduct.....................................................................................................................11 ResponsibleConductofResearch.....................................................................................................................................12 LaboratoryRotations..............................................................................................................................................................12 RotationEvaluations...............................................................................................................................................................13 Biochemistry,CellandMolecularBiologyPlacementEvaluation...................................................................13 SeminarSeries............................................................................................................................................................................14 GraduateBoardPreliminaryOralExamination........................................................................................................14 ThesisProposal..........................................................................................................................................................................15 LeaveofAbsence(HomewoodCampusPolicy)........................................................................................................15 ReturningfromLeaveofAbsence(HomewoodCampusPolicy)................................................................16

LeaveofAbsence(EastBaltimoreCampusPolicy).................................................................................................16 ProbationandDismissalfromtheProgram................................................................................................................17

ThesisRequirements....................................................................................................................................................................17 ThesisAdvisor............................................................................................................................................................................17 AnnualThesisReviews...........................................................................................................................................................17 Third-yearThesisReview(TRC)..................................................................................................................................18 Mid-stageThesisReview(TAC)....................................................................................................................................18 CareerCounselingandIndividualDevelopmentPlan(IDP).........................................................................19 ThesisDefenseCommittee(TDC)andFinalOralExamination...................................................................19 ThesisApproval....................................................................................................................................................................21 ThesisSeminar......................................................................................................................................................................21 GrantingofDegree...............................................................................................................................................................21

GeneralResourcesforGraduateStudents.........................................................................................................................21 OfficeofKSASGraduateAffairs.........................................................................................................................................21 GraduateRepresentativeOrganization.........................................................................................................................21 GraduateStudentAssociation............................................................................................................................................22 StudentHealth&WellnessCenter...................................................................................................................................22 CounselingCenters...................................................................................................................................................................22 SexualAssaultResponse&Prevention..........................................................................................................................22 OfficeofInstitutionalEquity...............................................................................................................................................22 JohnsHopkinsUniversityCareerCenter,Homewoodcampus.........................................................................22 JHMIProfessionalDevelopmentOffice..........................................................................................................................23


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PMBGraduateStudentMilestonesbyYear

YearOneThefirstyearinPMBhasmanymoreitems,times,anddatesthaninsubsequentyears.Forthisreason,wehavecreatedagooglecalendarthatdisplaystimes,dates,andlocationsofcourses,modules,rotations,andotherimportantitems.We(DougandNicole)willtrytokeepthisfirst-yearcalendarup-todate,althoughsomechangesmaynotmakethecalendar(forexample,ifacourseormoduleinstructormovesalectureormeetingtime,Iwillnotlikelyknowaboutit),soifyouareindoubt,checkwithyourinstructororwithDougorNicole.

Youcaneitheraccessthiscalendarbygivingme(Doug)yourgmailaddress,andIwillgiveyoureadpermissionsthroughyourgooglecalendarapp(thecalendariscalled"PMBFirstyear")oryoucansimplyclickontheURLbelow:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=blf1urcol9i0fu1jj887i8lk84%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York

Hereisasummaryofthefirstyearanddates.

FallSemesterOn-lineSafetyCourse(MyLearning) Aug27–29

On-line"AvoidingPlagiarismcourse(MyLearning) Aug27–29

ComputerBootCampandStatisticsModule Aug30–Oct5

PhysicalChemistryofBiologicalMacromolecules Aug30–Dec7

ProteinsandNucleicAcids1 Sep4–Dec6(FinalDec18)

BiophysicsSeminars Sep–Dec

Rotation1 Oct8–Dec13(rotationtalksonDec14)

Self-studyinBiochemistry,Cell&MolecularBiology

IntersessionSpectroscopyModule Jan3–Jan10

NMRModule Jan14–Jan25

Continueself-studyinBiochemistry,Cell&MolecularBiology


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SpringSemesterProteinsandNucleicAcids2 Jan25–May3

Rotation2 Jan28–Mar15(rotationtalksonMar19)

Rotation3 Mar18–May3(rotationtalksonMay7)

X-rayModule May8,May13–May15

SingleMoleculeModule May20–May24

BiophysicsSeminars Jan–May

Continueself-studyinBiochemistry,Cell&MolecularBiologyforProficiencyevaluation

JoinThesisLaboratory May10

ProficiencyEvaluation May16–17

SummerMDModule May29–June4

RCRCourse TBA

YearTwo

FallSemesterElective*

BiophysicsSeminars

IntersessionRCRWorkshop

SpringSemesterElective*

BiophysicsSeminars

GraduateBoardOralExamination April/May

*Onlyonefullsemesterelective(equivalenttothreeacademicelectives)isrequired,andcanbetakeneitherinthefallorspringsemester.CoursestaughtattheSchoolofMedicinearetypicallyhalfsemestercourse,sotwoofthosecoursesareneededtocompletetheelectiverequirement.Ideally,theelectivewillbetakeninthesecondyear,althoughinextenuatingcircumstances,astudentmaywishtotakeaspecializedelectivecoursethatisessentialtohis/herthesisthatisonlyofferedinthestudent’sthirdyear.Coursesrequiredfromthefirst-yearproficiencyevaluation


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countaselectives.Electives(andthird-yearrequests)mustbeapprovedbyboththestudent’sthesisadvisorandbythePMBprogramdirector,DougBarrick.

YearThreeFallSemester

ThesisProposal Oct–Dec


YearFourFallSemester

ThesisAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting Nov


Year5toFinalYearFallSemester

ThesisAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting Nov


SpringSemesterThesisAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting May

FinalYearFallSemester

ThesisAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting Nov(asapplicable)

IntersessionRCRWorkshop(asapplicable)

SpringSemesterThesisAdvisoryCommitteeMeeting May(asapplicable)

Privatethesisdefensetothesiscommittee

SubmitfinaldissertationtoMSEL

Thesisseminar(mandatoryone-monthwaitingperiodfromdateofprivatedefense)


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Administration

AdministrativeStructureDr.DougBarrickistheDirectorofthePrograminMolecularBiophysics(PMB).Dr.JulietteLecomteistheCo-director.Theyarejointlyresponsiblefortheday-to-dayoperationsoftheprogram.MajorpolicyquestionsandseriousissuesconcerningthestatusofindividualstudentsareaddressedbythePMBSteeringCommittee,astandingcommitteewithPMBfacultyrepresentativesfromallfourschools.

SchoolandDepartmentalAffiliationAlthoughthefacultymembersofPMBcomefrommanydepartments,allstudentsintheprogramareenrolledinoneofonlytwodepartments.

• Allfirst-yearstudents(exceptMD/PhDcandidates)areenrolledintheThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysicsintheSchoolofArts&SciencesontheHomewoodCampusandregisterthere.

• Ifastudentchooses(usuallyinMayofthefirstyear)afacultythesisadvisorattheSchoolofMedicineortheSchoolofPublicHealth(theEastBaltimoreCampus),thatstudentmustregisterinandtransferenrollmenttotheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistryintheSchoolofMedicine.

ThereareafewimportantissuesthatarisebecauseofPMB’sinterdivisionalcharacter.

• Thehealthinsurancecarriersforstudentsatthetwocampusesaresimilarbutarenotidentical.StudentswhoregisterintheSchoolofMedicinemustmakesurethattheirinsuranceistransferred.

• TheEastBaltimoreCampushasasystemofIDbadges.Itisdifficulttogetintothebuildingsatoffhourswithoutabadge.StudentsdoingrotationsinEastBaltimoremustrequestabadgefromTeriPenningtonintheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistry,WBSB608E.ThisbadgeisneededevenifastudenthasaHomewoodphotoIDbadge.

SummerRegistrationTomaintainfull-timestudentstatus(fortaxandundergraduateloandefermentpurposes)studentsmustregisterforresearchduringthesummersession.

FinancialSupportItisexpectedthatfinancialsupportcoveringlivingcostsandtuitionwillbemadeavailabletoallacceptedstudentsthroughouttheireducation,providedthatsatisfactoryprogresstowardsthedegreeisbeingmaintained.MostPMBstudentsareprovidedwithstipendandtuitionsupportfortheirfirsttwoyearsbyanNIHtraininggrant.Fromthestartofyearthreetocompletionofdegree,stipendandtuitionexpensesarebornebyresearchgrantstothestudent’sthesisadvisor.Iffinancialemergenciesshouldariseduringastudent'sthesisresearch(duetointerruptioninexternalfundingtothethesisadvisor,forexample),everyeffortwillbemadebytheprogramto


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helpsupportstudentexpenses,althoughinsuchsituations,itisexpectedthatsupportwillprimarilybeprovidedatthedepartmentallevel.

EmploymentPre-doctoralfellowshipsareregardedasfull-timeemployment.NeitherdepartmentalnorNIHrulespermitadditionalemploymentofanykind.

UniversityComputerPolicyTheUniversity’spolicyforstudentuseofsharedinformationtechnologyresourcesisavailableonline.ThispolicyhasbeenofficiallyadoptedbyJohnsHopkinsUniversity.SimilarcriteriaapplytoallstudentsaffiliatedwithHopkinsbiophysicsgraduateprograms.Consultthefollowingwebsiteforadditionaldetail:

http://it.jhu.edu/policies/

LeavePMBfollowsNIHpoliciesforvacations,holidays,parental,andsickleave.Seesection11.2.13.1of

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2013/

VacationsandHolidaysTraineesandfellowsmayreceivethesamevacationsandholidaysavailabletoindividualsincomparabletrainingpositionsatthegranteeorsponsoringinstitution.Traineesandfellowsshallcontinuetoreceivestipendsduringvacationsandholidays.Atacademicinstitutions,thetimesbetweensemestersoracademicquarters(e.g.,winter,spring,andsummerbreak)areconsideredanactivepartofthetrainingperiod.

Assuch,studentsaretoreceive10daysofvacationeachyear,plusnormalUniversityholidays,suchasThanksgivingwhiletheyareonthetraininggrant.SpringandfallbreakarenotconsideredUniversityholidays.Oncestudentsareoffthetraininggranttheirvacationsarenegotiatedwiththeirfacultyadvisors.

SickLeaveTraineesandfellowsmaycontinuetoreceivestipendsforupto15calendardaysofsickleaveperyear.Underexceptionalcircumstances,thisperiodmaybeextendedbytheNIHawardingofficeinresponsetoawrittenrequestfromtheProgramDirector,countersignedbyanAuthorizedOrganizationRepresentativeintheJohnsHopkinsSponsoredProjectsOffice.Sickleavemaybeusedformedicalconditionsrelatedtopregnancyandchildbirth.Inrarecases,studentsrequireextendedmedicalleave.Theleave-of-absencepolicyisdescribedindetailonpage16.

ParentalLeaveTraineesandfellowsmayreceivestipendsforupto60calendardays(equivalentto8workweeks)ofparentalleaveperyearfortheadoptionorthebirthofachild.


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Eitherparentiseligibleforparentalleave.Thisleaveisavailabletonewparenttraineesregardlessofwhetherleaveisavailabletotheirspouse/partner.TheuseofparentalleavemustbeapprovedbythetrainingProgramDirector.

Studentsshouldnotifytheiradvisorinatimelymannerwhenrequiringsickleaveandshouldprovidemedicaldocumentationwhenappropriate.Studentsshouldalsonotifytheiradvisorswellinadvancewhenplanningparentalleave.

AdministrativeContacts

ProgramDirectorsDr.DougBarrick,Director Dr.JulietteLecomte,Co-DirectorThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysics ThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysics216JenkinsHall 116MergenthalerHallSchoolofArts&Sciences SchoolofArts&Sciencesphone:(410)516-0409 phone:(410)516-7019fax:(410)516-4118 fax:(410)[email protected] [email protected]

ProgramCoordinatorsNicoleGoode CaseyJacobsPMBOffice Biophysics&BiophysicalChemistry101JenkinsHall 607WoodBasicScienceBuildingSchoolofArts&Sciences SchoolofMedicinephone:(410)516-5197 phone:(410)955-8712fax:(410)516-4118 fax:(410)[email protected] [email protected]

DepartmentAdministratorsJessicaAppel TeriPenningtonThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysics Biophysics&BiophysicalChemistryDept103JenkinsHall 608EWoodBasicScienceBuildingSchoolofArts&Sciences SchoolofMedicinephone:(410)516-7243 phone:(410)955-5032fax:(410)516-4118 fax:(410)[email protected] [email protected]

StudentAdvising

AcademicAdvisorStudentsareadvisedtodiscussquestionsabouttheprogram,minoracademicproblems,andotherissuesthatmayarisewiththePMBacademicadvisor.Dr.DougBarrickwillserveasacademic


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advisorforfirst-yearPMBstudentsforthe2018–2019academicyear.Dr.BertrandGarcía-MorenowillserveasacademicadvisorforallotherPMBstudents.

FacultyResearchInterestsItisimportantthatnewstudentshaveanopportunitytolearnaboutcurrentfacultyresearchinterests.AnannualretreatfortheHopkinsbiophysicscommunityisheldinthefall,givingfirst-yearstudentsafullpictureoftheresearchtakingplaceinPMBlaboratoriesandachancetothinkaboutrotationpossibilities.StudentsshouldidentifyPMBfaculty/researchprogramstheyareinterestedinandsetupone-on-onemeetingstodiscussresearch,thesismentorship,androtationpossibilities.Studentssetuptheirownrotations,withthefirstrotationbasedontherotationschedulegivenonpage3.

ParticipationinScientificMeetings

AnnualRetreatTheannualretreatissponsoredbytheInstituteforBiophysicalResearch(IBR)andbringstogetherIBRlaboratoriesfromdepartmentsthroughouttheSchoolsofArts&Sciences,Engineering,Medicine,andPublicHealth.Bothplatformpresentationsandapostersessionarescheduled,andstudentsandpostdoctoralfellowsarestronglyencouragedtoparticipate.TheretreatgivesfacultyandstudentswithintheInstitutetheopportunitytohearaboutcurrentresearchinotherlaboratories.

The2018retreatwillopenonThursday,September6withthekeynoteaddress,followedbyacookout.AfulldayoftalksandpostersessionsarescheduledforFriday,September7attheSheppard-PrattConferenceCenter,afewmilesnorthoftheHomewoodcampus.

TraveltoMeetingsThetraininggrantprovideslimitedfundstoallowstudentstoattendmeetings.Suchtravelisnotanautomaticright,buthastobejustified(topresentaposterforexample).StudentsmustapplytotheDirectorforpermission.Tominimizecost,weencouragestudentstoattendmeetingsinBaltimoreorDC.Typically,studentswillbeabletoattendonemeetingduringtheirtwoyearsonthetraininggrant.Studentsnolongersupportedbythetraininggrantarenoteligiblefortraininggranttravelsupport.Fundsareallocatedonyearlybasisandcannotberolledover.

ProgramRequirements

GeneralExpectationsIntheirfirstyear,studentsareexpectedtodividetheirtimeequallybetweencourseworkandrotationlaboratorywork,spendingapproximately25hoursoneachduringthefirstrotation.Forrotationstwoandthree(springsemester),studentsshouldshiftadditionaleffort(~35hours)totheirrotationwork,giventhelightercourse-loadinthespring,andtheshorterdurationofthesetworotations.Themostimportantdecisionmadeduringthefirstyearisthechoiceofathesisadvisor,


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soattentiontorotationworkisessential.Thefirstsummerisnormallydevotedentirelytothesisresearch.Lesscourseworkisrequiredinthesecondyear,withtheexpectationthatstudentswillspend75%ormoreoftheirtimeconductingthesisresearchinthesemestertheytaketheirelective,and100%inallothersemesters.Thefirstthesisreviewwilltakeplaceinthefifthsemester,wherestudentswillbeevaluatedonresearchprogressmadeintheirsecondyear,aswellastheirabilitytoarticulatetheimportanceoftheirthesisproject.Subsequentthesisreviewswilloccuronayearly(year4)andhalf-yearly(years5andbeyond)basis.ThewrittenthesismustbeapprovedbytheThesisDefenseCommittee,andthestudentmustdefendtheirthesisinaprivateexamination.Onemonthfromapprovalandsuccessfulexamination,thestudentcangivetheirpublicthesisseminar,submittheirthesisalongwithanycorrectionstothelibrary.

InadditiontothesePMB-specificmilestones,therearegeneraluniversity-wideresponsibilitiesthatgraduatestudentsatJohnsHopkinsUniversityareexpectedtoadhereto,aswellasrightsthatgraduatestudentscanexpect.Adetailedlistoftheserightsandresponsibilities,whichincludesubjectssuchasaccessibility,academicfreedom,andprofessionalrelationshipswithadvisorsandotherstudents,areavailableat

http://web.jhu.edu/administration/provost/initiatives/phd_board/rights_responsibilities

CoreCoursesAsofAugust2017,thefollowingcoursesarerequiredofallenteringPMBstudents.Becauseofcurriculumupgrade,somechangesmayapply,tobecommunicatedwhenavailable.

• PhysicalChemistryofBiologicalMacromolecules(García-Moreno&staff,Homewood)• ProteinsandNucleicAcids1(Woodson/Bowman,Homewood)• ProteinsandNucleicAcids2(Berger,SOM)• IntroductiontoComputingCourse(Bowman&staff,Homewood)• MandatorySafetyCourse(on-line)• AvoidingPlagiarismModule(on-line)• MandatoryResponsibleConductofResearchCourse(Evans,Homewood)• ModulesinMolecularBiophysics(Barrick&staff,Homewood)• BiophysicsSeminar(Lecomte,Homewood)• ElectiveI

Allstudentsareexpectedtoattendeverylectureandturninassignmentsontime.Failuretoattendclassescouldresultinafailinggradeforthecourseoraprobationperiod.

SeminarsSeminarsattheUniversityserveasmorethanjustasetofunrelatedtalksonspecializedtopics.Eachdepartment'sseminarseriesisputtogetherasawhole,integratingspeakersandtopicsintoasingleseries.Asawhole,theseminarseriesknitsthedepartmenttogether,providingacommonintellectualexperienceforstudents,postdocs,faculty,andstaff.Duringyourscientificcareer,you


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shouldmakeitaprioritynotonlytoattendtheseminarsthatareofinteresttoyoupersonally,buttoattendyourdepartment'sseminarseriesasawhole.

Tohelpestablishthishabit,therearerequirementsforattendingseminarsinPMB.Duringtheirfirstyear,studentsarerequiredtothebiophysicsseminarsonthecampuswheretheyaredoingtheirrotations,andallnamedlecturesandChalkItUpseries(seebelow).HomewoodbiophysicsseminarsareheldonMondays,12noon;SOMbiophysicsseminarsareheldonWednesdays,1:30PM.Repeatedabsenceswillresultinafailinggradefortheseminarcourse.

Duringtheirsecondyear,studentsarerequiredtoattendthebiophysicsseminarsonthecampuswheretheyaredoingtheirthesiswork,andallnamedlecturesandChalkItUpseries(seebelow).

Beyondthesecondyear,studentsareexpectedtoattendasmanyseminarsaspossible,andallnamedlecturesandChalkItUpseries(seebelow).

PolicyonGrades• StudentsmustreceiveagradeaboveaC+inanyoftherequiredcoursesorthecoursemust

berepeated.• FailuretoreceiveagradeaboveaC+intworequiredcoursesisgroundsfortermination

fromtheprogram.• FailuretoreceiveagradeaboveaC+inarequiredcourseasecondtimeisgroundsfor

terminationfromtheprogram.Duringeachsemester,studentsmustkeepagradepointaverageof3.0(B)forallcourses.FallingbelowtheGPAof3.0foronesemesterwillresultinawarningtothestudent;fallingbelowitfortwosemestersisgroundsforterminationfromtheprogram(seeProbationandDismissalfromtheProgram,below).

Thisrequirementisnotintendedtodiscouragestudentsfromtakingadvancedcoursesinotherdisciplines,suchasphysics,chemistry,andmathematics.Suchcoursescanbeexemptedfromthe“B”requirementbyarrangementwiththeAcademicAdvisorandProgramDirector.

AcademicIntegrityandStudentConductStudentsareexpectedtoknowandabidebyUniversitypoliciesgoverningstudentconductandacademicintegrity.ThosewhoimpairtheUniversity’smissionaresubjecttoexpulsion.

• AcademicIntegrity:Inallaspectsoftheirwork,studentsassumeanobligationtoconductthemselvesinamannerappropriatetotheJohnsHopkinsUniversity’smissionasaninstitutionofhighereducation.Astudentmustrefrainfromactsthatheorsheknows,orunderthecircumstanceshasreasontoknow,mayimpairtheacademicintegrityoftheUniversity.Violationsofacademicintegrityinclude,butarenotlimitedto:cheating,plagiarism;submittingasone’sownthesameorsubstantiallysimilarworkofanother;knowinglyfurnishingfalseinformationtoanyagentoftheUniversityforinclusionintheacademicrecords;dishonestyindischargingteachingassistantduties;falsification;forgery.

• StudentConduct:TheUniversityexpectsallstudentstorespecttherightsofothers,andtorefrainfrombehaviorthatimpairstheUniversity’smissionofteaching,research/scholarship,and


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outreachtothelocal,national,andinternationalcommunity.Violationsofappropriatestudentconductmayinclude,butarenotlimitedto:harassment(physicalorverbal),intimidationorverbalabuse,actionsthatareadangertoone'sownpersonalsafetyorthatmayharmothers,andactionsthatdestroy,impair,orwrongfullyappropriateproperty.

AJohnsHopkinsUniversityguide,AcademicEthicsforUndergraduates,isincludedasanappendixtothePMBStudentHandbook.Whiletheguideiswrittenforundergraduates,theprinciplesregardingacademicintegrityapplytoallstudentsintheUniversity.

Proceduresforhandlingallegationsofmisconductbyfull-timeandpart-timegraduatestudentsintheSchoolsofArts&SciencesandEngineeringcanbefoundat

http://homewoodgrad.jhu.edu/academics/policies/

ResponsibleConductofResearchNIHrequiresthatallfellowsreceivetrainingintheresponsibleconductofresearch.PMBstudentsmusttakeaResponsibleConductofResearch(RCR)classofferedduringsummeroftheirfirstyearandorganizedbytheUniversityontheHomewoodcampus.PMBstudentswhoentertheprogramviatheSchoolofMedicine(usuallyMSTPstudents)musttakeanequivalentRCRSeminarSeriesthatispresentedonthatcampus.

Inaddition,alltraineesandfellowsbeyondthefirstyearmustattendayearlymandatoryRCRworkshops,organizedbyPMBfaculty.Theseworkshopstakeplaceatthebeginningofthecalendaryearduringintersession.

LaboratoryRotationsPerhapsthemostimportantdecisioneachstudentwillmakeintheirtimeatHopkinsiswhichlabtheywillconducttheirthesisresearchin.Thethreefirst-yearthesisrotationsaretheprimarymeansbywhichstudentswillinformthiskeydecision.Thus,themaingoalofeachrotationistogivethestudentexperiencewithparticularresearchandthefeelforalaboratory.Eachstudentisrequiredtocompletethreelaboratoryrotationsduringtheirfirstacademicyear.Thefirstrotationistenweeksinlength,whereasthesecondandthirdaresevenweeksinlength(seepage3fordatesfor2018/2019).Theincreasedlengthofrotation1reflectsthehighercourse-loadinthefirstsemester.Studentsareexpectedtoputabouthalftheirtimeandeffort(~25hours)intorotation1,andsignificantlymore(~35hours)intotheshorterrotations2and3.Althoughtheserotationsareshortonthetime-scaleofscientificdiscovery,studentsshouldstrivetoadvancetheirprojectsandmakescientificdiscoveriesineach.

AllthreeoftheserotationsmustbeperformedinthelaboratoriesofPMBfacultymembers,withoutexception.

StudentsareexpectedtochooseatleastonerotationontheHomewoodcampusandoneontheEastBaltimorecampus.Theorderinwhichstudentsselecttheirthreerotationsshouldbedeterminedprimarilybytheirlong-term(i.e.,thesis)interests.Secondaryconsiderationsincludeavailabilityofindividualfacultymembersandcoordinatingwiththeinterestsofotherfirst-yearstudents.Toaccommodatesuchschedulingissues,studentsshouldbepro-activeintalkingwith


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thefacultytheyaremostinterestedinearlytoexpresstheirinterests.Studentswilleachmeetone-on-onewiththeProgramDirectorandCodirector(Barrick&Lecomte)inlateAugusttodiscussinterestsandavailability,andtohelpfacilitaterotationscheduling.

Attheendofeachrotationperiod,studentswillpresent10-minutetalkswiththeirrotationadvisorsandother1st-yearstudentspresent.AllotherPMBfacultyandstudentswillbeinvitedtoattend.

Studentsareexpectedtochoosealaboratoryandbegintheirthesisresearchfollowingthecompletionoftheirthirdrotation.Inunusualcircumstances,theProgramDirectormayauthorizeafourthrotation(seeProbationandDismissalfromtheProgram,below).Occasionally,incomingstudentsspendpartofthesummerbeforetheirfirstyearworkinginthelaboratoryofaPMBfacultymember.Thesestudentsareregisteredasgraduatestudentsbutthesummerperioddoesnotsubstituteforoneofthestudent’sthreerotations.However,suchstudentsmaychoosetodotheirfirst(orasubsequent)rotationinthatsamelaboratory.

First-yearPMBstudentsmeetindividuallyinJanuarywithDr.BertrandGarcía-Morenotoreviewtheiroverallprogressandadjustmenttograduateschool.Dr.García-Morenoalsodiscusseseachstudent’sfirstrotationexperienceandpossibletrajectorytoensurethats/heisonapathtowardidentifyingathesisadvisorandlab.

RotationEvaluationsTherotationadvisormustcompleteaformevaluatingthestudent’seffort,interest,comprehension,andskill.Thisformwillbecomepartofthestudent’sdepartmentalacademicfile.Anevaluationwithunsatisfactoryrankingswillresultinawarninglettertothestudent,andasecondrotationwithunsatisfactoryrankingsisgroundsfordismissal(seeProbationandDismissalfromtheProgram,below).Theformisappendedattheendofthehandbook.

Itisexpectedthatstudentswillworkdiligentlyduringeachrotation,regardlessoftheirchoiceofthesislaboratory.

Biochemistry,CellandMolecularBiologyPlacementEvaluationProficiencyinbiochemistry,cellandmolecularbiologyistestedformallywithanoralexamination,inmid-Mayofthefirstyear.Studentswhohavenevertakencoursesintheseareasarewelcome,butnotrequired,totakecoursesduringtheirfirstyear.Tutorialsorself-directedstudyprovidealternativeavenuesforpreparingfortheexam.AnystudentwhodoesnotpasstheexaminMaywillbegiventheopportunitytostudyduringthesummerandtakeitagaininSeptember.Performingpoorlyontheexamwillnotjeopardizeastudent’sstandingintheprogram,butitisarequirementthatPMBstudentsmustmeetbeforereceivingtheirdegree.

Theproficiencyexaminationfunctionsasaplacementevaluation.Ifastudentperformspoorlyinoneormoreareas,theexaminerswillrecommendcourseworktohelpthestudentgainabetterunderstandingofthoseareas.AnotherpurposeoftheproficiencyexaminationistoprovidethestudentswithanopportunitytoexperienceanoralexamsimilartotheGraduateBoardOralexaminationrequiredbytheUniversity.


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SeminarSeriesItisanessentialpartoftheeducationalprocessforstudentstoattendseminars,bothintheareaofbiophysicsandinotherareas.Someofthesearelistedbelow.

• ThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysicsseminarseriescomprisestherequiredcourseBiophysicsSeminar(AS250.601-602)mentionedabove.HomewoodstudentsareexpectedtocontinuetoattendthisMondaynoonseminarseriesaftertheirsecondyear.

• TheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistrysponsorsaseriesofseminarsfrominvitedoutsidespeakers.TheseareheldonWednesdaysat1:30PMintheSchoolofMedicine.PMBstudentsenrolledintheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistryareexpectedtoattendtheseseminars.

• ChalkituptoBiophysicsseminarsareheldfourtofivetimesperyear,aspartoftheJenkinsDepartmentofBiophysicsseminarseriesandaspartoftheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistrySeries.TheyarepresentedbyPMBfacultyandemphasizetheconceptualbasisbehindtheworkofanindividuallaboratory.Studentspasttheirsecondyearareexpectedtoattend.Attendanceismandatoryforfirst-andsecond-yearstudents.

• Student-invitedseminars.PMBstudentsareofferedtheopportunityeachyear(usuallyinthespringsemester)toinviteonespeakeroftheirownchoosing.PastspeakershaveincludedDavidBaker,DorothyKern,ErinO’Shea,StephenWhite,ElizabethRhoades,MichaelLevitt,andEricGreene.Eachyear,twoseniorstudentsareidentifiedtoorganizethespeakerselectionandvisitingschedule.

• TheseminarcourseTopicsinMacromolecularStructureandFunction(ME100.804),offeredbytheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistry,meetsWednesdaymorningsat9:15.Theseminarcoursehasadifferentthemeeachsemester,andclasses(seminars)arepresentedbybothstudentsandfacultycoveringdifferenttopicsrelevanttothetheme.Auditorsarewelcome.

GraduateBoardPreliminaryOralExamination• Oralexamrequirements:TheGraduateBoardofJohnsHopkinsUniversityrequiresallPh.D.programstoadministeranoralexaminationtotheirstudents.ForPMBstudentsthisexaminationisapreliminaryone,tobetakeninApril/Mayofthesecondyear.

TheGBOexaminingcommitteeconsistsoffiveprimarymembers,withtwoalternates.TheGraduateBoardrequiresthatthreemembersoftheexaminingcommitteebefromoutsidethestudent’sdepartment.Tocomplywiththespiritoftherule,PMBusesthreeoftheexaminingfacultyfromoutsidethecampuswherethestudentisenrolled(outsideexaminers),andtwofacultyfromwithinthatcampus(insideexaminers).PMBcomposesexaminingcommitteesforstudentsperformingthesisresearchontheHomewoodcampusandforstudentsworkingontheEastBaltimorecampus.ThecompositionofthecommitteesisdecidedbytheProgramDirectorinaccordancewiththespiritoftheGraduateBoard.

ItisPMB’spolicythatthestudent’sfacultyadvisorcannotbeamemberoftheexaminingcommitteeandcannotbepresentduringtheexamination.Theadvisorwillbeaskedtomakeabrief


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presentationaboutthestudenttotheexaminingcommitteepriortotheexaminationwhilethestudentisnotintheroom.

• Scopeoftheexam:Thepreliminaryoralexaminationisdesignedtotestthebreadthanddepthofthestudent’sknowledgeandreasoningabilities.Theexamdoesnotfocusextensivelyonthestudent'sthesisresearcharea,althoughGBOcommitteesoftenaskforabriefdescriptionoftheirprojecttoprovidesomebackground.AlthoughthetopicscoveredintheGBOcaninprinciplebequitebroad,thePMBGBOfocusesfirstandforemostonmolecularbiophysics.Thematerialsthatstudentshaveencounteredintheirfirst-yearcurriculum,andinparticular,biomolecularstructure,function,physicalchemistry,andmethodsofinquiryrelatedtothesetopicsarecentral.Studentscanalsoexpectsomecoverageofmaterialfromtheproficiencyevaluation,thoughthecentralfocusismolecularbiophysics.

• Settinguptheoralexam:Studentswillbenotifiedofwhentheyarescheduledtoappearbytheprogramadministrator.

• Outcomeoftheoralexam:TheGraduateBoardrequiresthattheGBOexaminingcommitteereporttheresultsoftheexaminationinwrittenform.Thereportingformallowsfora“pass”,“conditionalpass”,or“fail.”Anoptiontoretakemayalsobeoffered.Ifthedecisionisa“conditionalpass,”theconditions(natureofthework,deadline,etc.)willbestipulatedbythecommitteeattheendoftheexamination.

ThesisProposalThefirstthesisreviewoccursattheendofthe5thsemester(October–December).Thisreviewiscomposedofapublicpresentationoutliningthethesisprojectandaquestion–answersessionwiththeThesisReviewCommittee.(See“Third-yearthesisreview”,page17,fordetails).

LeaveofAbsence(HomewoodCampusPolicy)Graduatestudentsmayapplyforuptofoursemestersofleaveofabsence(notincludingthesummerterm)whenmedicalconditions,compulsorymilitaryservice,orpersonalorfamilyhardshippreventsthemfromcontinuingtheirgraduatestudies.Financialdifficultyalonedoesnotwarrantaleave.Tobeapprovedforaleaveofabsence(LOA),graduatestudentsontheHomewoodcampusmustcompletetheLOAapplication,availableontheGraduateBoardwebsite

http://homewoodgrad.jhu.edu/academics/graduate-board/policies-and-forms/

Studentsmustprovidetheproperdocumentationfortheirgivensituation:

• MedicalCondition:aletterfromaphysician(thismaybealetterfromadoctorattheStudentHealthandWellnessCenter),theCounselingCenterortheOfficeofStudentDisabilityServices

• MilitaryDuty:aletterorverificationfromtheArmedForces• PersonalorFamilyHardship:aletterfromtheapplicantexplainingthehardship

Duringaleaveofabsence,studentsdonotreceiveastipend,regardlessofwhethertheyaresupportedbythetraininggrant,byfundingfromtheiradvisor,orthroughtheirownfellowship.Aleaveofabsencewillbegrantedforaspecificperiodoftime,nottoexceedatotaloftwoyears.


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Whenapprovedforaleaveofabsence,theChairoftheHomewoodGraduateBoardwillnotifythestudent.Duringtheleaveperiod,astudentmaynotbeenrolledatanotheruniversity.Beforeapplying,studentsshouldconsulttheirdepartmentforinformationregardingfundingforwhentheyreturnfromtheirLOA.PriortorequestingtheLOA,itisalsohighlyrecommendedthatthestudentcontacttheHealthInsuranceCoordinatorintheRegistrar’sOfficeforinformationonhowtheLOAwillaffecttheirhealthinsurancecoverage.WhenonanapprovedLOAthereisnotuitioncharge;theperiodofleaveissimplyregardedasaninterruptionofthedegreeprogram.

AstudentonaleaveofabsenceisnottomakeuseofanyUniversityservicesorfacilities(e.g.,counselingcenter,healthcenter,library,athleticfacilities,etc.).Moreover,astudentonaleaveofabsenceisnottoworkonhisorherresearch,eitherinthelaboratory(hereatHopkinsoratthelaboratoryofacollaborator)orremotelyviaelectronicmeans.Norshouldastudentgeneratewrittencontentrelatedtohisorherthesis;thisincludesmanuscriptstobepublished,andthesismaterial.

ThePMBDirectormaydeclinetoapproveastudent’srequestforaleaveofabsence,inwhichcasethestudentmayappealdirectlytotheGraduateBoardortheDeanofGraduateEducation.

ReturningfromLeaveofAbsence(HomewoodCampusPolicy)Whenreturningfromleaveofabsence,agraduatestudentmustcompleteandsubmittheApplicationtoReturnfromLeaveofAbsencebeforeregisteringforclasses.Theformmustbeaccompaniedbyaletter(fromoneofthesourcesbelow)fortheirgivensituationthatexplainswhatprogresshastakenplaceinthestudent’sabsencethatwouldenablehim/hertobesuccessfuluponreturn.

• MedicalCondition:aletterfromaphysician(includingtheStudentHealthandWellnessCenter),theCounselingCenterorOfficeofStudentDisabilityServices

• MilitaryDuty:aletterorverificationfromtheArmedForces• PersonalorFamilyHardship:apersonalletter

Anyadditionallettersofsupport(e.g.,fromanadvisor,departmentchair,etc.)arewelcome.Whenapprovedforreturningfromaleaveofabsence,theChairoftheHomewoodGraduateBoardwillnotifythestudent.

Importantly,giventhatstudentsarenotpermittedtoworkontheirthesiswhileonleave,studentsmustreturntofull-timestatuspriortoresumingandcompletingtheirthesisresearchanddissertation.

LeaveofAbsence(EastBaltimoreCampusPolicy)ThestipulationsforleaveofabsenceontheEastBaltimorecampusaresimilartothoseontheHomewoodcampusandarecurrentlyunderrevision.ContacttheProgramDirectorortheBiophysicsandBiophysicalChemistrystaffforadditionalinformationifneeded.


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ProbationandDismissalfromtheProgramTheprogramDirector,Co-directorandfacultywillmakeeveryefforttohelpastudentwhoisperformingpoorly.However,ifastudent’sperformanceremainsunsatisfactory,theDirectororthesisreviewcommitteewilltakethefollowingactions:

Thestudentwillreceivealetterofwarningandmaybeplacedonprobation.

Ifthestudent’sperformancedoesnotimprove,s/hewillreceiveasecondletterstatingafixeddateofterminationfromtheprogram.

Beforeastudentisterminatedfromtheprogram,theSteeringCommitteewillbeconsultedtoreviewthegroundsfordismissal.

Unsatisfactoryperformanceincludesbothcourseworkgradesthatarebelowexpectationsandunsatisfactoryrotationevaluations(seePolicyonGradesandRotationEvaluations,above).Inaddition,ifnomutuallyagreeablearrangementsforthesisresearchbetweenaPMBfacultymemberandastudenthavebeenmadebytheendofJulyinthefirstyear,theDirectorwillconsultwiththeSteeringCommitteeastowhetherthestudentshouldbepermittedtocontinuelookingforanadvisororaskedtoleavetheprogram.

ThesisRequirements

ThesisAdvisorStudentsareexpectedtochooseathesisadvisorfromamongthePMBfacultyattheconclusionoftheirthirdrotation.Thisisacriticalchoiceforbothstudentandadvisor,anditshouldbemadewithcare.Facultyarenotrequiredtoacceptallstudentsinterestedintheirlaboratories.Inunusualcircumstances,theDirectormayauthorizeafourthrotation(seeProgramRequirements).

AnnualThesisReviewsToensureprogresstowarddegree,everystudentundergoesregularthesisreviews.ThefirstreviewisadministeredbytheThesisReviewCommittee(TRC).SubsequentreviewsareadministeredbytheThesisAdvisoryCommittee(TAC).ThefrequencyisonceayearinYear3(bytheTRC)and4(bytheTAC),andtwiceayearbeyondYear4(TAC).

Allstudentsenrolledintheprogrammusthaveayearlythesisreviewunlesstheadvisor,student,andthesiscommitteechairallagreeitisnotnecessary.Ingeneral,theonlycircumstanceinwhichathesiscommitteemeetingisnotnecessarywilloccurwhen(i)thestudenthascompletedallworktobeincludedinthethesis,(ii)thestudentisactivelywritingthethesis,(iii)theTAChaspreviouslyindicatedthatthestudentwaslikelytograduatewithinsixmonths.Inthiscase,theTACandstudentwillagreeonanoutlineofthethesis.

Actualwritingofthedissertationismonitoredbytheadvisor.


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Third-yearthesisreviewAsarule,thestudent’sfirstthesisreviewwilloccurinthefalloftheirthirdyear.Atthismeeting,athesisproposalwillbeevaluated.Inadditiontotheircoursework,secondyearstudentsareexpectedtospendasignificantamountoftimeinthelaboratorytoprepareforthereview.

ThefirstthesisreviewisscheduledtowardtheendofthefallsemesterbytheHomewoodoffice.Toaccommodatethenumberofstudents,therearetwocoreThesisReviewCommittees(TRC).OnecommitteemeetswithstudentsinEastBaltimoreandtheothercommitteemeetsatHomewood.

ThereviewinggroupwillconsistofthecoregroupoftwoPMBfaculty(bothfromthesamecampusasthestudent,forschedulingreasons),thethesisadvisor,andtwoadhocPMBfacultyreviewerschosenbythestudentandthesisadvisor.Atleastoneadhocmembermustnotbeacorecommitteemember.Studentswillbeaskedtoprovidethreenamesofpossibleadhocreviewersinorderofpreferencebut,beforesubmittingthenames,eachstudentmustfirstaskthethreefacultyiftheyarewillingtoserveasadhocreviewers.Everyeffortwillbemadetoassignthefirstfacultymemberslisted,althoughschedulingmayprecludeitinsomecases.

Thestudentmustprovidea5-pageresearchproposaltotheTRConeweekpriortothereview.ThestudentshouldalsoarrangeameetingwiththethesisadvisortodiscussmattersrelatedtotheIndividualDevelopmentPlanrequiredbyNIHandfilltheIDPquestionnaire(informationincludedinappendix).

Format:Third-yearthesisreviewswillbeuniqueinthattheywillbeginwithapublicpresentation(seminarformat)describingthethesisproject.Thepresentationisexpectedtolast~30minutes.Thedateofeachstudent’sseminarwillbedeterminedbytheSeminarCoordinatorbasedonthestudent’scoursescheduleandontheavailabledates.

Followingthepresentation,theTRCwillmeetwiththestudentinprivatetodiscussthethesisproposalandpreliminarydata.Thisphaseofthethird-yearthesisreviewshouldtake30-45minutes.ThestudentwillbringthefilledIDPquestionnairetothemeetingfordiscussionwiththecommittee.

Outcome:Thecommitteechairwillwritetothestudentalettersummarizingthecommitteediscussionandanyrecommendationsorrequirements.TheTRCcanrequirethatastudentprovideperiodicwrittenreportsorhaveanadditionalthesisreviewduringtheyear.

Mid-stagethesisreviewInyearsfourandbeyond,theobjectofthethesisreviewistoprovidedetaileddiscussionandspecificguidanceabouttheultimatecontentofthethesis.TheProgramDirectormustapprovetheThesisAdvisoryCommittee(TAC)compositionpriortothefirstmeeting.

TheTACwillconsistofthestudent’sadvisor,thetwoadhocmembersoftheTRC,andonemorefaculty.ThereisnorestrictionastowhichcampusTACmembersaredrawn,buttheTACmustbecomposedofPMBtrainingfaculty.Rareexceptionsmaybeconsideredifadditionalexpertiserelevanttothethesistopicisabsolutelyrequiredandisnotrepresentedbyanyofthetrainingfaculty.Inanycase,membersofthecommitteemustappearonthelistoffacultyapprovedtoserveonGBOcommitteesbytheHomewoodGraduateBoardortheequivalentofficeattheSchoolof


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Medicine.TheTACwillmeetwiththestudentintheFallofYear4andYear5,andtheneverysixmonthsuntiltheyhearthefinalthesisdefense,atwhichtimeafifthmemberwillbeadded.

Priortoeveryreview,thestudentshouldarrangeameetingwiththethesisadvisortodiscussmattersrelatedtotheIndividualDevelopmentPlanrequiredbyNIHandfilltheIDPquestionnaire(informationincludedinappendix).

Format:TACmeetingswillconsistofaclosedpresentationtotheTACpresentationoflessthan30minutes.Thispresentationshouldincluderelevantbackground,results,challenges,andfutureplanstocompletethethesis.Thispresentationwillbeinterruptedbyquestionsandsuggestionsfromthecommittee.Themeetingendwithadiscussionofthestudent'slong-termplansafterleavingPMB,andstepsthestudenthastakentoacheivethosegoals.Intotal,themeetingshouldlastnolongerthan1.5hours.Thestudentmustprovideaone-pageresearchsummaryatleastoneweekinadvance.ThestudentwillbringthefilledIDPquestionnairetothemeetingfordiscussionwiththecommittee.

Outcome:Thecommitteechair,appointedbytheProgramDirector,willwritethestudentalettersummarizingthediscussionandanyspecificrecommendations.Thisletterwillbecomepartofthestudent’spermanentrecord.

ItistheresponsibilityofeachstudenttoschedulehisorherTACmeetingwithinagivenwindowoftime,i.e.,October–NovemberinthefallandApril–Mayinthespring.NoreviewcanbescheduledduringJune–August.TheAcademicProgramAdministratorwillkeeptrackofeachstudent’scommitteemeetingsinthesameways/hekeepstrackofstudentGBOs.

CareerCounselingandIndividualDevelopmentPlan(IDP)Fourth-yearstudentsarerequiredtoattendtheannualNIHCareerSymposiumnormallyheldinMay.Therequirementisrepeatedinyearsix.Thirdandfifthyearstudentsarewelcometoattendaswell.

Startinginthefallofthefourthyear,theTACwillexpecttohearfromeachstudentaboutcareerandtrainingplansfollowingcompletionofhis/herdissertation,aswellaslong-termplans.Ifastudentplanstodoapostdoc,thestudentshouldplantobegindiscussinggeneralresearchareasandanythoughtsonspecificlabsthatareofinterest.Ifastudentisconsideringanon-postdocpath,thecommitteewillwanttoheardetailsaboutthestudent’sinterestsandanyinitialinvestigationsintothechosenarea.

ThesisDefenseCommittee(TDC)andFinalOralExaminationThefinaloralexaminationcommittee,orThesisDefenseCommittee(TDC),mustconsistoffivefacultymembers(plusonealternate).TheTDCwillbecomposedofthefourmembersofthestudent’sTACplusoneadditionalfacultymemberandonealternateofthestudent’schoosing.TheTDCmustbecomposedofPMBtrainingfaculty.Exceptionswillbeconsideredifadditionalexpertiseisabsolutelyrequired.Inanycase,membersofthecommitteemustappearonthelistoffacultyapprovedtoserveonGBOcommitteesbytheHomewoodGraduateBoardortheequivalentofficeattheSchoolofMedicine.


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TwoofthefivemembersoftheTDCwillserveintheofficialcapacityof"readers"ofthethesis.Inallbuttherarestofcircumstances(whichmustbeapprovedbytheProgramDirector),theprimaryor"first"readeristhestudent'sadvisor.Inconsultationwiththestudent'sadvisor,thestudentchoosesonefacultymemberfromtheremainingfourTDCmemberstoserveassecondreader,andmustobtainapprovalfromthatmember.Asdescribedbelow,thetworeadersvouchforthethesisinitsentiretyinalettertothegraduateboard.Assuch,thetworeadersmustreadthethesisinitsentirety.Thisisparticularlyimportantfortheadvisor(firstreader),whoshouldreadthethesisandprovidenecessaryeditstomakethethesispresentablepriortoitscirculationtotheTDC.

Toensurebalance,thecommitteecompositionmustbeapprovedbytheProgramDirector.TheProgramDirectorwillchoosethecommitteechair.Oncethecommitteeisapprovedandtheadvisoragreesthatthethesisisreadytobedistributed,thestudentmayscheduletheexam.Itisthestudent’sresponsibilitytocontactthefacultymembersontheexamcommitteeandtoschedulethedate,timeandplaceoftheexam.StudentswhohavescheduledtheirdefensemustprovidetheinformationtoNicoleGoodeassoonasavailable.Allfivecommitteemembersandthealternatereceiveacopyofthedissertationatleasttwoweekspriortotheexam.

Thefinaloralexamisaclosed-doorexamandservesthreepurposes:

• Toevaluatethequalityofthedissertation(ifapproved,the1stand2ndreaderswouldsignaletterofacceptanceaddressedtotheGraduateBoardatthistime);

• Todeterminethatthestudent’sknowledgeintheimmediatescientificareaofhis/herdissertationissufficient;and

• Toauthorizethestudenttogoforwardwithpresentingthethesisseminar.• Iftheexamcommitteeconcludesthatthestudent’sknowledgeisinsufficientorthe

dissertationneedsadditionalwork,thestudentcanbeaskedtoreturnforare-examination.Thestudent’sfinalexamcommitteehastheauthoritytoaskforsubstantialchangesinthethesis.

Thestudentshouldbepreparedtomakeapresentationduringthefinaloralexamwhichhighlightsthemajorfindingsofthedissertation,approximately40–50minutesinlength.Thepresentationshouldnotbethesameastheone-hourthesisseminar(seebelow).TDCmembersareexpectedtointerruptthroughoutthepresentationtodiscussvariouspointsandagain,inthisregard,thedefensepresentationdiffersfromthepublicthesisseminar.Ingeneral,thisoralexaminationwilllast2hours.

ItistheintentionoftheSteeringCommitteethattheexaminingfacultyconductarigorousassessmentofthestudent’sscientificknowledgeandevaluatethedissertationresearchinasubstantiveandcriticalmanner.Therefore,toallowtimeforanythesisrevisionsthecommitteemayrequire,thereisamandatoryminimumwaitperiodbetweenthefinaloralexamandthethesisseminar.Thenormalwaitperiodisonemonth.Inextraordinarycircumstancesrelatedtothestudent’snextpositionandtheextentofnecessaryrevisions,theTDCmayallowashorterwaitperiod.


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ThesisApprovalThefinalthesismustbeapproved,inaformspecifiedbytheGraduateBoard,bytwothesisreaders,oneofwhomisnormallytheadvisor.Thestudentandadvisordecideonthefacultymembermostsuitedtoserveas2ndreader.The2ndreadermustbeaPMBfaculty.Ifthefinaloralexaminationcommitteeapprovesthestudent’sdissertation,thetworeaderswillsigntheletteracceptingthethesisatthattime.ThisletteristhensubmittedtotheGraduateBoard.Therearemanydetailedrequirementsabouttheformatandsubmissionofthethesis.GuidelinesareavailablefromNicoleGoodeorCaseyJacobs.

ThesisSeminarAfterthestudenthaspassedthefinaloralexamandthereaders’letteracceptingthethesishasbeensubmittedtotheGraduateBoard,thestudentisrequiredtopresentaseminarontheworkcontainedinit.Theseminarwillbescheduledafterthethesishasbeenapprovedandannouncedbythedepartmentgrantingthedegree.ThethesisseminarshouldbescheduledatatimewhenamajorityofthefacultyfromtheTDCcanbepresent.

GrantingofDegreeTheChairoftheThomasC.JenkinsDepartmentofBiophysicsorDirectoroftheDepartmentofBiophysics&BiophysicalChemistrywillconsiderthatastudenthasfulfilledtherequirementsforthePh.D.andsigntheCertificateofCompletiongrantingthedegreeonlyafterthefollowingconditionshavebeenmet:

• Passingthefinaloralexamination.(Note:thisexaminationisaprogramrequirement,notaGraduateBoardrequirement.EachstudentsatisfiestheGraduateBoardOralrequirementbypassingtheGraduateBoardOralexam(GBO)takenattheendofthesecondyear.)

• SubmissiontotheGraduateBoardofanapprovallettersignedbytworeadersacceptingthethesisaspartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthePh.D.

• Submissionofthestudent’sfinalthesistotheMSELintimetomeettheGraduateBoarddeadline.

• Presentationofthestudent’sthesisseminar.

GeneralResourcesforGraduateStudents

OfficeofKSASGraduateAffairsTheOfficeofKSASGraduateAffairsaddressestheneedsandconcernsofKSASgraduatestudentsandhelpsdeveloppolicywiththeKSASDean’sOffice.ReneeEastwoodisthecurrentDirectorforKSASGraduateAcademicAffairs,[email protected].

GraduateRepresentativeOrganizationTheGROisanorganizationthatrepresentstheHomewoodgraduatestudents.TheGROcoordinatesgraduatestudentorientation,advocatesforstudentconcerns,organizessocialeventsandsportstournaments,etc.Formoreinformation,visithttp://gro.jhu.edu/,[email protected].


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GraduateStudentAssociationTheGSAisthemajorgraduatestudentorganizationofTheJohnsHopkinsUniversitySchoolofMedicine.Formoreinformation,visithttp://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/students/life/graduate_student_association.html,[email protected].

StudentHealth&WellnessCenterTheStudentHealthandWellnessCenterprovidesconfidentialhealthcaretotheHomewoodcampuscommunity.Theclinicislocatedat1East31stStreet,SuiteN200.Thehealthcarestaffconsistsofboardcertified/eligiblephysicians,nationallycertifiednursepractitioners,alicensednurse,medicalassistants/technologists,andanursemid-wife.ThecenterisopenMondaythroughFridayfrom8:30AMto5:30PM.Duringtheacademicyear,itisalsoopenonSaturdaysfrom11:00AMto2PM.Formoreinformation,visithttp://web1.johnshopkins.edu/~shcenter/.

CounselingCentersTheCounselingCenteratHomewoodoffersindividualandgroupcounseling,consultationandreferralservices,andhelpwithcareerdecision-making.Servicesareconfidentialandfreeofcharge.TheCounselingCenterislocatedat3003N.CharlesStreet,SuiteS200andopenMondaythroughFridayfrom8:30AMto6:00PM.410-516-8278.Formoreinformation,visithttp://web.jhu.edu/counselingcenter.

StudentsontheEastBaltimorecampusareeligibleforservicesthroughtheJohnsHopkinsStudentAssistanceProgram(JHSAP).443-287-7000,[email protected],visithttp://jhsap.org/.

SexualAssaultResponse&PreventionJohnsHopkinsUniversityiscommittedtopromotingasafeandsupportiveenvironmentforeachandeverymemberofourcommunity.Thewebsiteprovidesclearandconsolidatedinformationonsexualassaultpoliciesandavailableservicesandsupportintheeventofanincidentofsexualassault.SexualAssaultHelpline410-516-7333,http://sexualassault.jhu.edu/.

OfficeofInstitutionalEquityThisofficeoverseesconcernsrelatingtosexualharassment,discrimination/compliance,anddisabilityservices.http://web.jhu.edu/administration/jhuoie;WymanParkBuilding,Suite515,officetelephone410-516-8075,disabilitysupportservices410-516-8949.

JohnsHopkinsUniversityCareerCenter,HomewoodcampusTheJohnsHopkinsCareerCenterservesallfull-timestudents(freshmenthroughPhDcandidates)intheKriegerSchoolofArts&SciencesandtheWhitingSchoolofEngineering.http://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/careers/;GarlandHall,Suite389,410-516-8056,[email protected].


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JHMIProfessionalDevelopmentOfficeThePDOworkswithgraduatestudents,postdoctoralfellows,andearly-careerfacultyintheSchoolsofMedicine,NursingandPublicHealth.http://pages.jh.edu/~pdo/;1830Building,Suite2-106,410-502-2804,[email protected].

Disclaimer:Thisisnotalegaldocument.ThisbookletpresentscurrentguidelinesandpracticesinthePrograminMolecularBiophysics.TheDirectorsandSteeringCommitteereservetherighttomodifyrequirements,createnewones,andotherwisealtergraduateprogrampracticeswithoutadvancenotice.

Documents

Program in Molecular Biophysics · 2018-09-12 · PMB Student Handbook 08/18 5 count as electives. Electives (and third-year requests) must be approved by both the student’s thesis