Student Handbook

Lab Rotation

Laboratory rotations can be a very effective way for new graduate students to get acquainted with faculty members and their co-workers. They provide an opportunity for graduate students to explore in some depth areas they are considering for their Ph.D. Thesis research. In addition, they allow both graduate students and faculty to test out possible working relationships.

While, in the interests of flexibility, the Field of Genetics and Development does not have formal requirements concerning lab rotations, here are some recommendations for first year graduate students. Early in the Fall semester, all faculty interested in hosting rotation students will give rotation talks before the start of the first rotation. One week before the start of each rotation, students will submit three ranked choices for their next rotation lab to the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and to Vicki Shaff, Graduate Field Assistant. The DGS, in consultation with professors in charge of the labs listed by the students, will then match choices with the labs. If more than one student lists a given lab as first choice, the rotation professor is given the opportunity to choose no student or one or more students. The professor may review previous rotation evaluations in making their choice. If a student's first choice is unavailable, a match is tried with the second professor, and so on.

Beginning in mid October of your first year you should start the first of three rotations (each rotation is approximately 8 weeks). Usually, by the end of the third rotation, you will, by mutual agreement with the faculty member concerned, have settled on a laboratory in which to do thesis research. In unusual cases, a graduate student and a faculty member may agree early on a thesis project. In the interests of breadth such a student is encouraged (though not required) to continue with rotations.

What is expected of a graduate student on rotation? While no one objects to a graduate student completing a project and writing a paper for publication during a rotation, no one expects it either! What is expected is an earnest effort on a project and the fullest participation possible in the intellectual life of the laboratory. If, either before or early during a rotation, a graduate student finds that her or his interests have changed dramatically, she or he should not feel trapped, but rather try to arrange a new rotation elsewhere.

Recommended Rotation Periods:

1. Late October through December
2. Early January to mid-March
3. Mid-March to mid-May

At the end of each rotation, the supervising faculty member prepares a written evaluation that is informally discussed with the student. Both the student and faculty are asked to sign the evaluation form, which is then returned to the Graduate Field Assistant (Diane Colf).