Biological Chemistry Graduate Student Guidelines & Requirements

Below are the guidelines and requirements for Biological Chemistry Program Students.

1. First Year of Graduate Study
   • Core Curriculum
   • Laboratory Rotations
   • Recruiting Involvement
   • Professionalism
   • Evaluation of First Year Academic Performance
   • Capstone Exam
   • Program Benefits
2. Selecting a Thesis Advisor
3. Following Years
4. Additional Information and Resources

The Biological Chemistry Program at the University of Utah is designed to equip students with a strong foundation of biology and chemistry. The program provides students with high-quality, graduate-level education on the chemical or physical approaches to biological problems in support of their transition into laboratory research environments for the remainder of their graduate education.

The program spans between seven basic science departments: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Pharmaceutics, Oncological Sciences, Pharmacology & Toxicology, and School of Biological Sciences.

All PhD students admitted to the Biological Chemistry Program who remain in good standing will receive financial support including a traineeship/living stipend, tuition waiver through the Tuition Benefit Program, and health insurance throughout the entirety of their graduate student tenure.

First year studies begin in the Fall semester. During their first year, students in the Biological Chemistry Program will complete the core curriculum, three lab rotations, and the Capstone exam as described below.  

Prior to arrival, each student is assigned a faculty advisor, who will provide guidance on first-year curriculum and laboratory rotation choices. The student and faculty advisor will meet at least twice each semester to plan coursework and discuss rotations. Students are responsible to keep their faculty advisor informed of their progress and status. The faculty advisor serves as an advocate for the students.

In addition to coursework and rotations, students will attend Orientation Week, the Annual Bioscience Symposium, and peer mentoring events organized by advanced students. Students are also expected to participate in recruiting efforts for prospective students in the Spring.

Core Curriculum

Biological Chemistry Program students enroll in a standardized curriculum that has been designed to provide a solid background in key areas of biological chemistry; to provide options in tailoring coursework to specific interests; and to teach independent, critical thinking skills, and grant writing.

Fall Core Curriculum

The Selective courses available may vary by year – please see the Curriculum page for recent examples.

Spring Core Curriculum

 

 

 

For the purposes of this requirement, a half-semester course is defined as up to two (2) credits, and a full semester course is defined ≥ two-point-five (2.5) credits.

Elective courses vary by year - please see the Curriculum page for recent examples

Laboratory Rotations

Biological Chemistry Program students complete three (3) laboratory rotations with different faculty members in their first year of graduate study. A summer research experience is available before they begin classes, or an additional rotation can be done at the end of the first year if needed. Neither can substitute for one (1) of the three (3) rotations during the regular academic year.

Laboratory rotations are essential for identifying an appropriate thesis mentor and lab. In addition, laboratory rotations may provide valuable exposure to areas of research the student might not otherwise experience; familiarize the student with research in different groups and departments through research seminars; and help them develop contacts and learn experimental techniques that may prove helpful in their subsequent thesis research.

To assist students in identifying productive and exciting laboratory rotation experiences, program faculty present about their research in the Faculty Research Interest Sessions (FRIS). Through FRIS, faculty inform students about the diversity of possible thesis topics and the variety of experimental approaches employed in the different program laboratories.

General guidelines for a student choosing and successfully completing a lab rotation are outlined below:

1. A student should choose a rotation lab only after careful thought and discussions with their faculty advisor.
2. The primary goal of the rotation system is for the student to find a well-matched lab in which to pursue thesis research.
3. A student may only rotate through a lab belonging to the Molecular Biology or Biological Chemistry Programs.
   
   • Given that these programs cover the majority of PhD degree-granting laboratories in the life sciences at the University of Utah, exceptions to this rule will only be permitted after consultation with the student's faculty advisor and with written permission by the Program Director.
   • BC students are required to complete at least two (2) of the three (3) required rotations in BC faculty labs.
   • Note: If a student elects to join a thesis lab outside the Biological Chemistry Program all program guarantees, such as the stipend assurance, are no longer binding. Please see guidelines about selecting a thesis advisor below.  
4. Students are encouraged to rotate in at least two (2) different departments throughout the year.
5. At the outset of the rotation project, students are asked to discuss conceptual and methodological details with the rotation advisor. It is the rotation advisor’s responsibility to ensure that students understand rotation expectations, such as attendance at group research meetings and the format of the end-of-rotation report/presentation.
6. Before the end of the rotation, students must submit a Rotation Report in the format of either a PowerPoint presentation and/or a written 2-4-page document to the rotation advisor. This report will also be submitted to the Program Office as evidence of the completed rotation.
   
   • The content of the Rotation Report should be discussed beforehand with the rotation advisor and should reflect the student’s understanding of the basic principles involved in the project. A rotation report/presentation includes:
     • A description of the basic background of the research area
     • A statement of the specific problem to be addressed in the project
     • A description of the experimental approach to the problem
     • A summary and analysis of experimental results and/or challenges
       • Note: The emphasis should be on the explanation of the scientific problem and experimental approach rather than on obtaining a large body of data, per se.
7. Approximately one week before the end of the rotation, the Program Office will give each student a Rotation Verification Form. The student should:
   
   • Meet with rotation advisor to review the Rotation Report and obtain a signature on the Rotation Verification Form indicating completion and satisfactory performance during the rotation and approval of the Rotation Report.
   • Return the signed Rotation Verification Form and the Rotation Report to the Program Office in order to receive a “CREDIT” grade.
     • Note: Students will be given a “NO CREDIT” grade until both documents have been submitted. ALL rotation documents need to be submitted before a student can officially transfer to a thesis lab. Stipend coverage will not be extended for late submission.
8. Faculty are encouraged to only host one (1) or two (2) rotation students at one time. Faculty should email the Program Director if they intend to have more than two (2) rotation students at a time.
9. In principle, students and faculty should be talking during the rotation about the possibility of joining the lab. However, this commitment should not be finalized until signing day. The faculty member has sole discretion whether or not to accept a student into their lab.

Each student chooses a thesis advisor at the end of Spring semester of the first graduate school year. Arrangements are made by mutual agreement between mentor and student, and automatically admit the student to the degree program of the advisor's department (Biochemistry, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Pharmaceutics, Oncological Sciences, Pharmacology & Toxicology, and School of Biological Sciences).

In order to allow fair access to thesis labs, students and faculty should not make firm commitments regarding choice of a thesis lab until the Monday after the end of the last rotation (early March). Students should discuss their interest in working in the lab of the potential thesis advisor during the year and learn whether space will be available and whether a faculty member “in principle” will direct their thesis. When a choice has been made, submit this information to the Program office.

A Thesis Agreement Form will be signed by the student, PI, and Department Chair after final grades have posted. This form states the student's progress (grades, rotations, and overall status) of the first year.

The Biological Chemistry Program is responsible for students only during their first year. Financial support beyond the first academic year is a departmental responsibility. Every effort will be made to assist students in finding an advisor, but ultimately, each student is responsible for making appropriate arrangements. Only in exceptional circumstances, and with approval of the Program Director, will the Program continue financial support beyond one (1) year.

Faculty are urged to accept only one (1) student from each year's class. Mentors wishing to take more than two (2) thesis students from the Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs at the end of Spring semester should discuss their plans with the Program Directors.

A student may elect to join a thesis lab outside the Biological Chemistry Program. However, the Program cannot guarantee stipend support for students in labs outside the Bioscience PhD Programs. Additional coursework may be required.

The Program recommends each participating department maintain the current stipend amount, but departments may vary on other support, e.g., insurance benefits. Please consult the individual department and potential thesis advisor about support.

After the first year, each student's training and graduate education will be conducted under the policies of the department of the thesis advisor. This requires satisfactory completion of the standard first year program, including any courses that have been deferred or that must be repeated. In addition, requirements of the graduate school must be met, including a cumulative grade point average above 3.0 and the writing and defending of a PhD Thesis.

Additional requirements for award of degree that are common to all departments include the following:

1. A Preliminary Examination / Qualifying Examination / Advancement to Candidacy must be passed. The name, form and content of the exam may differ slightly from department to department. In general, the departmental exam will not be undertaken (and in no case shall be considered to have been passed) until the Biological Chemistry Program Core Curriculum including the Capstone examination has been satisfactorily completed. The departmental exam should be taken before the end of the second year.
2. Upper-level graduate students are required to take a minimum totaling three half semesters (1 1/2 semesters) of additional graduate level courses. This could be a mix of didactic and journal clubs or discussion courses centered around primary literature. Please check the individual department requirements. Some non-graduate level courses may also be accepted.
3. Each of the participating departments have weekly journal clubs and research-in-progress seminars and participation is considered a continuing and vital part of the students' graduate education.
4. Graduate students admitted to the Biological Chemistry Program are required to obtain a minimum of one (1) full semester of teaching experience in their second or later years. Teaching opportunities include but are not limited to assisting instructors in graduate level courses, leading discussion sections in undergraduate lecture courses, supervising undergraduates in laboratory courses, and serving as a teaching assistant in local public schools. There is no teaching obligation in the first-year curriculum, thereby enabling students to concentrate on laboratory rotations and first-year academics.
5. A student transferring from one department to another after the first year will be subject to the specific guidelines of their new department. There is no guarantee that a Preliminary Examination or Advancement to Candidacy in one department will be sufficient to satisfy another department’s requirements.

The Graduate School Policies

The Biological Chemistry Program follows all policies of the Graduate School (https://gradschool.utah.edu/navigating-grad-school/graduate-policies/).

Guidelines for formal Leaves of Absence are detailed in Registration Policies. In general, a 1–2-week informal leave of absence can be arranged for a personal emergency or illness. Students considering a leave of absence should discuss in advance with their faculty advisor.

Student Support

It is the mission of the University of Utah and the Bioscience Program to ensure that all students are supported and have access to a broad range of community resources to enhance their research training, professional development, and sense of community.  These values are woven into the fabric of our Bioscience community and research training programs, all of which provides multiple resources and community support mechanisms for incoming and advanced students.

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Link to University of Utah Statement: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

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Jess Morrison, Interim Director
Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator
Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA)
383 University Street, Level 1 OEO Suite 
Salt Lake City, UT, 84112
801-581-8365 
801-585-5746 (fax)
oeo@utah.edu
www.oeo.utah.edu
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Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

https://www.utah.edu/indigenous-land-acknowledgment/

The University of Utah has both historical and contemporary relationships with Indigenous peoples. Given that the Salt Lake Valley has always been a gathering place for Indigenous peoples, we acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad for Indigenous peoples. The University of Utah recognizes the enduring relationships between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We are grateful for the territory upon which we gather today; we respect Utah’s Indigenous peoples, the original stewards of this land; and we value the sovereign relationships that exist between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government. Today, approximately 60,000 American Indian and Alaska Native peoples live in Utah. As a state institution, the University of Utah is committed to serving Native communities throughout Utah in partnership with Native Nations and our Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

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A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found at: https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/campussafety.php 

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