Degree Requirements
For more information:
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Refer to the MCB Program website,
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Refer to your student handbook,
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Email Paloma at psaenz@usc.edu
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Coursework
All graduate students must complete the core curriculum (BISC 502A/B) covering graduate level genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry; attend weekly research seminar and grant writing class (BISC 542); demonstrate the ability to understand primary research articles (BISC 544), analyze data through bioinformatics (BISC 444 or BISC 576), teach (BISC 593); complete ethics (INTD 500); and 4 units of additional graduate level elective coursework.
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Laboratory Rotations
Molecular Biology graduate students spend approximately nine weeks in each of three laboratory rotations. Each rotation will consist of a research project designed by the research advisor and the graduate student.
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Dissertation Research
At the end of the first academic year, graduate students will consult with their rotation advisors and select a lab for their thesis research.
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Qualifying Exam
By the end of the 5th semester students must pass a written and oral qualifying examination describing their research strategies for the duration of their PhD. See below for more information!
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Teaching Experience
Students are expected to serve as a teaching assistant for a minimum of one semester.
Qualifying Exam Committee
Five faculty members are required to serve on your qualifying exam committee. Four of which MUST be internal to the molecular and computational biology department or an affiliate of molecular biology. The fifth member is a faculty member with a primary appointment outside of MCB.
Students must turn in the Appointment of Committee form (found here) which requires all members of your committee to sign and the Request to take Qualifying Exam form to Paloma at least 30 days prior to the oral qualifying exam date.
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Written Qualification
Students will submit a Specific Aims (1 page) and a Research Strategy (6 pages) section based on the NIH F31 grant application (info found here) for their written qualifying exam to all committee members. The Specific Aims section should be sent to the committee ONE MONTH prior to the oral qualification date and the completed proposal ONE WEEK prior to the oral qualification.
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Oral Qualification
The oral qualification will be a presentation of the student's written qualification research proposal in detail to the five qualification committee members. The committee members will ensure the student has extensive knowledge of the literature related to their project, general knowledge in the field, techniques utilized in the field, and alternative strategies to potential problems.
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