We refer to the advisor selection process for first-year PhD students as an exploration period.
Goal: The goal of the exploration period is to facilitate meaningful interactions between students, faculty, and their labs within the first 8 to 12 weeks of the semester.
Funding: All students who are not on a stipend fellowship or are not directly hired as a GRA will serve as a Teaching Assistant in their first fall semester.
Matching Process: Students are to correspond with BME GSC faculty over the summer and identify 1 to 3 labs they would like to explore. Ideally, rotations will be scheduled before a student arrives in the fall, but scheduling may continue into New Graduate Student Orientation week. In some cases, students may opt to direct match and accept a GRA offer immediately upon entrance into the program. These students do not complete lab rotations.
Decision Deadline for Fall 2020: Faculty will make final hiring decisions by December 4. Students who have not matched by this date will consult with the Graduate Advisor to determine next steps and/or to arrange another round of rotations. Students who fail to match by the end of the spring semester (for fall admits) will not be able to complete the Qualifying Exam. Securing a position within a lab is considered a measure of satisfactory progress in the program.
