Program Requirements

A total of 96 credit hours are required for the Ph.D. This number reflects credit obtained for course work (a minimum of 24 hours), attendance and participation in topical seminars, and credit hours awarded for satisfactory research work relating to the thesis project. Program course requirements are meant to be sufficiently flexible to accommodate students with diverse backgrounds and career goals. Students should consult with their assigned advisors or the Biochemistry Program Director (Joshua Munger) for curriculum advice. Certain courses or their equivalent constitute a Core Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry and are specifically required in the first year: Continuous registration for 16 credits per semester is required. Course descriptions may be found in the Appendix.

Required Courses (taken in the first year of study)

Courses Required Each Semester

Elective Courses

The program requires a minimum of 4 additional credits. This additional credit requirement can be satisfied in the following ways: 

1. A 4-credit course
2. A 3-credit course plus a 1-credit course
3. Two 2-credit courses. 

These courses can be selected by the student based on their specific research interests. A wide variety of courses is available. It should be noted that course offerings change constantly, and the student should consult the online course schedule.

Exemptions from Course Work Requirements

All entering students concerned with exemptions from core courses may appeal to a Biochemistry Program Director to determine whether an exemption is appropriate. The student will also be asked to meet with the Course Director to determine whether the exemption is warranted. Exemptions must be approved by the Dean for Graduate Studies.

Policy Regarding Grades

If a student in the program receives one grade of “C” or below, they will be reviewed by the Graduate Advisory Committee and a recommendation made to the dean that may include termination from the program. If the student is allowed to remain in the program, the course or an appropriate substitute course (approved by a Biochemistry Program Director), must be retaken successfully with a final grade of B- or higher.

Policy Regarding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an extremely serious ethical and moral offense. Any suspected instances will be reviewed by the Graduate Advisory Committee, the Department Chair, the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and appropriate University officials. This review can lead to suspension or expulsion from the University. According to University policy, academic transcripts issued during periods of suspension or expulsion will be accompanied by a letter from the registrar indicating that the student is currently suspended or expelled from the University  for disciplinary reasons. Ignorance of the policy regarding plagiarism will not be considered as an excuse for violations.

From the Medical Student Handbook

Students are sometimes uncertain about what constitutes misuse of another person’s expressed ideas. This statement is designed to explain the limits normally used to define plagiarism.

2. Plagiarism is literary theft, intentional or unintentional. It is the use of a unique idea or phrase which does not originate with the user, without proper acknowledgment of the source.
3. In written papers, due credit to the original source of major or unique ideas (i.e., ideas which you could not and did not arrive at by yourself) must be given in the form of footnotes or clear allusions at the proper places in the paper itself. These precise indications of source must be given whether the material is paraphrased or quoted directly. An appended bibliography [only] is insufficient acknowledgment.
4. Quotation marks must enclose all direct quotations even though the quoted material is no more than occasional phrases interspersed with original observations.

Policy on Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI (GenAI), which can generate new content in response to prompts entered by the user, can only be utilized in assignments with approval from the course director. The utilization of GenAI content must occur with full transparency and attribution. Further, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that GenAI content is critically evaluated and that primary sources are properly cited. Unauthorized or unacknowledged use may be considered an offence under the Academic Honesty Policy.

Please see the University’s Responsible Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Research.

Laboratory Rotations

All first-year students are required to complete three laboratory rotations during their first year. To assist in selecting rotations, faculty members will give short (20–30 minute) informal presentations at the beginning of the academic year to describe their research. These presentations help students identify suitable labs for rotations and potential future Ph.D. research.

Students should consult faculty web pages, publications, and speak with current students and PIs to make informed rotation choices.

• Rotation Request Form: Students must complete a rotation request form, listing their top three preferred faculty for laboratory rotations. Before submitting the form to the Graduate Studies Coordinator, students should review their choices with their advisor and obtain approval. Rotation request forms will be emailed to first-year students and are available for download from the BMB Curriculum Website
• Rotation Requirement: Complete three projects in three different labs across multiple areas of interest before requesting a permanent lab assignment. In some cases, students may be asked to complete an additional rotation.
• Summer Rotations: If a student completes a summer rotation, they are still required to complete three more rotations during the academic year.

Rotation Evaluations and Reports

After each rotation, students must submit rotation report to the BMB Program Director and Graduate Studies Coordinator. The report helps develop both scientific thinking and writing skills. Reports should follow this format:

• Length: 6–8 pages, double-spaced, using Arial Font 11
• Sections: Introduction (~2 pages), Materials and Methods (~2 pages), Results (~2 pages), and Discussion (~2 pages)
• Appendix: Include figures, tables, and references in an appendix (not included in the page limit)
• Abstract: A cover page with an abstract of no more than 200 words

Faculty mentors will review and provide feedback on these reports. After submitting the rotation report, both the faculty mentor and the student must complete and submit rotation evaluations to the Graduate Studies Coordinator, who will forward them to the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. These evaluations should be submitted within five days after the end of each rotation. Visit the SMD Handbook regarding finding your lab, research advisors and mentors to download evaluation forms.

Rotation Schedule 2025–26

First Rotation

• Faculty Research Presentations: Sept 3 – Sept 15
• Meet with 1st-Year Advisors for Approval: By Sept 22
• Submit Rotation Request Form: By Sept 22
• Receive Rotation Assignment: By Sept 26
• Begin Rotation: Oct 1 (Confirm with PI)
• End of Rotation: Dec 15
• Reports, Evaluations (faculty & student) due 1 week after first rotation ends

Second Rotation

• Meet with Advisor to Discuss Preferences: Nov 28 – Dec 12
• Submit Rotation Request Form: By Dec 12
• Receive Assignment: By Dec 21
• Begin Rotation: Jan 1 (Confirm with PI)
• End of Rotation: Mar 15
• Reports, Evaluations (faculty & student) due 1 week after second rotation ends

Third Rotation

• Meet with Advisor to Discuss Preferences: Feb 27 – Mar 6
• Submit Rotation Request Form: By Mar 6
• Receive Assignment: By Mar 11
• Begin Rotation: Mar 16 (Confirm with PI)
• End of Rotation: May 31
• Reports, Evaluations (faculty & student) due 1 week days after third rotation ends

Permanent Lab Selection

• Choose Advisor: Mid-May
• Begin Work in Permanent Lab: June 1 (or upon approval)

Note: Students are expected to be in residence during these periods, including university breaks. Follow the School of Medicine Graduate School calendar.

Choosing a Research Advisor

At the end of the first year, students will finalize their choice of a research advisor. Once approved, the assignment will be reviewed by the Program Director and Department Chair, and the student will be notified.

• No agreements with any advisor should be made before the final rotation period ends in May.
• If the advisor is affiliated with the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department or is a member of the BMB Program, the student is automatically approved for the Biochemistry Ph.D. Program.
• If the advisor is not affiliated with the department or program, the student must apply to the relevant Ph.D. program.
• If a student has not secured an advisor by the beginning of their second year (Sept 1), they may be asked to leave the program.

First-Year Assessment

At the conclusion of the first year, the Biochemistry Advisory Committee will evaluate student performance based on:

• Coursework
• Rotation performance
• Required assignments
• Seminar/meeting attendance

Unsatisfactory performance may result in dismissal from the program following a review by the committee.

1. Teaching Assistantship - Each student will be required to act as a teaching assistant for one semester. Usually, this will be during the second year of studies. However, for those students for whom English is a second language, the teaching assistantship can be delayed until the third or fourth year. Students are welcome to request specific teaching assignments, and every effort will be made to accommodate such requests. Assignments will be made by the Biochemistry Program Director. All TAs will be given a written evaluation by the course director. This evaluation will be included in the student’s file.
2. Choose Thesis Advisory Committee by September 30 of the second year
3. Present first Student Seminar (Spring semester), followed by a thesis committee meeting and complete Research Review form.
4. Continue Ph.D. research (595 PhD Research) – A syllabus for PhD Research, including information on objectives, assessment and policies is included in the Appendix.
5. Prepare Qualifying Examination proposal. The qualifying exam should be completed by October 1 of the third year of graduate study. A written Qualifying Examination proposal must be submitted at least 10 business days before the Qualifying Examination (copies for each member of the student’s Advisory Committee and a copy for the department file).