Graduate Student Expectations

PhD students are responsible for working toward completion of their degree programs in a timely manner and are responsible for the following aspects of their programmatic training.

• Academics: To learn the existing theories, practices, and research methods of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and to apply these in your research and teaching. 
• Thesis: To discover and pursue a unique topic of research in order to construct new knowledge and to substantially contribute to your field of study.
• Communication: To communicate regularly with faculty advisor and thesis advisory committee members, providing them with updates on your progress within the program and on results of research activities. You should always adhere to the highest professional standards in communication with colleagues and co-workers.
• Integrity and ethics: To assume the highest integrity and maintain ethical standards in all aspects of your work, especially in the tasks of collecting, analyzing, and presenting research data. Special care should be taken to follow guidelines established by the University’s independent review boards for research, such as the Institutional Biosafety Committee, (IBC) and the University Committee on Animal Resources (UCAR)
• Laboratory notebooks: To maintain detailed, organized, and accurate laboratory notebooks and records, including electronic records. Please note that when a student leaves a lab, the notebook, electronic records, and all research data remain the property of the University and are a valuable resource for the laboratory, and so must be organized and accessible.
• Teaching: To diligently participate in teaching as required for the degree, and as an opportunity to enhance your effectiveness as an instructor and to further the educational goals of the students being taught.
• Scientific Community: To contribute, wherever possible, to the scholarly discourse of the discipline through presentations, publications, and professional engagement and service. The student should attend and participate in appropriate meetings, colloquia, seminars, and group discussions that are part of the educational program, and the student should submit all relevant research results that are ready for publication in a timely manner.
• Work environment: To help maintain a clean and safe work environment, including but not limited to office space, laboratory spaces, and common spaces.
• Mentors: To actively seek out a range of faculty, professional, and peer mentors who can help prepare you for professional and career roles and responsibilities, and to serve as a mentor to others when appropriate.
• Collegiality: To promote collegiality and a welcoming environment in the classroom and laboratories and in all aspects of your academic program, ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff are treated with respect.
• Familiarity with policies: To take responsibility for keeping informed of, and complying with, regulations and policies, including those stated in the BMB Program Handbook, and to complete all required paperwork and other degree obligations in a timely fashion.
• Effort: To devote full time and effort toward completing degree requirements. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires 3 hours of research/instruction/assignments per credit hour per week, equating to 45 hours per week for a typical 15 credit hour load.