Jacqueline F. McGinty, Ph.D., Course Director (mcginty@musc.edu)
First Year Curriculum students are required to enroll in two laboratory rotations in the fall semester and two laboratory rotations in the spring semester. Laboratory rotations are from six to nine weeks long. Students receiving a Dean's Scholarship rotate through at least three different laboratories (different mentors) to maximize their exposure to a diversity of scientific approaches, projects, technologies and experiences. Self-funded or mentor-supported students are required to rotate through two separate laboratories in the Fall semester of the first year and may petition the Associate Dean for approval to repeat one of those laboratory rotations twice in the Spring semester. Rotation objectives may include one or all of the following:
- To acquaint students with potential dissertation mentors. Students will:
- Receive a briefing on the research focus of the laboratory
- Receive 1-3 review and/or research papers to read and discuss with the mentor during the rotation
- To introduce students to conduct of laboratory science. Students will:
- Work on limited projects with the goal of understanding the basis for the hypothesis being tested and the general approach to test the hypothesis
- Participate in weekly group or laboratory meetings
- Attend department or program seminars
- To acquire skill in diverse laboratory techniques. Students will:
- Learn techniques (theory, limitations, etc) associated with the rotation project by collaborating with investigator (mentor, graduate student, postdoctoral trainee and/or technician)
- Conduct laboratory research throughout the week and weekends when indicated
- To acquaint students with other graduate students, faculty, seminars, journal clubs and other research activities of the department or program.
Mentor Selection. Early in the Fall semester, having explored each research program in Program Exposures, students nominate two faculty members (with their approval) as potential mentors for the first laboratory rotation. Deficiencies in laboratory resources should be weighed carefully in selecting rotations; students should ensure that space and financial support would be available if the student decided to pursue his/her dissertation in that mentor's lab. Names of first and second choice potential mentors are submitted to Keisha Brown in the Graduate Office. Every effort is made to accommodate students' first choices; however, if several students select the same mentor, students who delay submission may be assigned their second choice of mentor or they may need to select another mentor. Schedules for the laboratory rotations and form submission deadlines are shown here and in the FYC Calendar (pages 7 to 10).
| Rotation | Submit Choices | Begin | End | Evaluations Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 29 , 2008 | Sept 3, 2008 | Oct 24, 2008 | Oct 24 , 2008 |
| 2 | Oct 22, 2008 | Oct 27, 2008 | Dec 19, 2008 | Dec 19, 2008 |
| 3 | Dec 17 , 2008 | Jan 7, 2009 | Mar 6, 2009 | Mar 6, 2009 |
| 4 | Mar 4 , 2009 | Mar 9, 2009 | May 8, 2009 | May 8, 2009 |
Evaluation of Lab Rotations. At the end of the laboratory rotation, mentors are responsible for submitting a signed evaluation form (APPENDIX II) to Keisha Brown in the Graduate Office. Prompt submission of the evaluation form provides the necessary information for the Course Director to assign an Honors/Pass/Fail grade. In addition, students will complete a mandatory WebCT-based evaluation of the laboratory rotation. Failure to submit timely evaluations will result in an incomplete grade for the rotation.
Selection of Dissertation Mentor. Laboratory Rotations, Program Exposures, Spring Selectives, attendance and participation in journal clubs and seminars, and focused discussion throughout the year with faculty advisors, mentors, and senior students regarding all aspects of available Ph.D. programs should facilitate selection of a dissertation mentor by the end of the spring semester. Students should submit their Ph.D. program selection form (Appendix III) in the two week period following the last laboratory rotation.