Many schools require you to apply directly to a department. You have to commit even if you haven’t narrowed down your interests. You’re limited to a single department before you’ve discovered where your true enthusiasm for research lies.
Our laboratory rotations allow you the flexibility to identify the best department and laboratory for your doctoral research. You’ll explore several different fields of research before you decide on a lab — and experience that “eureka” moment of career discovery.
In the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences, you can choose from a wide variety participating laboratories for your rotations. During the eight-week rotations, you will:
During your first year in the program, you will take up to six laboratory rotations in the fall and spring semesters. At the end of the first year, you will choose a rotation laboratory where you will conduct your doctoral dissertation research.
| August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 Rotation | Fall 2 Rotation | |||
| Receive fall mentor options & begin conversations with faculty | Submit mentor choices for fall 1 | Submit mentor choices for fall 2 | Receive spring mentor options & begin conversations with faculty | Submit mentor choices for spring 1 |
| New student orientation & start of fall classes | Spring course registration prep | End of fall classes & start of winter break | ||
| January | February | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 Rotation | Spring 2 Rotation | Spring 3 Rotation | ||
| Submit mentor choices for spring 2 | Submit mentor choices for spring 3 | |||
| Start of spring classes | End of spring classes | |||
Note: Spring 1 rotation begins immediately after the New Year.
| June | July |
|---|---|
| Finalize match & doctoral white coat ceremony | July 1: Official start date in doctoral lab |
