Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Ph.D.

Introduction

The Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology (METX) focuses on the human and environmental health impacts of chemicals and pathogens. A unifying disciplinary theme of research in METX is that both environmental chemicals and pathogens represent physiological effects that, in many cases, elicit specific molecular and inflammatory responses that increase the risk of adverse health outcomes in exposed individuals. The METX Ph.D. program provides in-depth training in the human and environmental health impacts of chemicals and pathogens. We accomplish this goal through comprehensive coursework, extensive scientific communication training, and in-depth research culminating in a Ph.D. dissertation. Our training prepares students to become leaders in various fields, following career paths in academia, teaching, industry, and government.

Students typically graduate with a Ph.D. in four to six years.

Advancement to Candidacy

The student advances to candidacy after completing all coursework, completing the literature review (due beginning of fall quarter, second year), passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination (spring quarter, second year), and presenting a 50-minute departmental seminar (spring quarter, third year).

Course Requirements

Three required courses

One science writing course

One field specific core course

At least one graduate-level elective

Students may select any graduate-level METX course from this list, or an approved course from another department.

Any additional courses recommended by their graduate advising committee.

Students will consult with their advising committee to determine if additional coursework is necessary for their success in the program.

Each quarter, all students (before and after advancement) must enroll in the following courses

The following classes may be taken as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/US) grading unless otherwise instructed by your graduate advisor.

METX Department Seminar

Research Units

Each quarter, students will consult with their advising committee or faculty advisor to determine which research course to enroll in.

Topical seminar associated with their thesis lab

Note: First-year students in the PBSE rotation program do not enroll in one of these until they have joined a permanent thesis lab.

Thesis Laboratory

Students may be admitted to the METX Ph.D. program as a “direct admit” or via the Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (PBSE). Direct admits have an agreed upon thesis mentor at the time of admission and begin working in that lab immediately upon matriculation.

Students admitted via the PBSE graduate program are required to complete three rotations prior to identifying a thesis mentor/lab. At the end of each rotation, students must present on their rotation project either with a short talk or poster presentation. Rotations occur during fall and winter quarters. At the end of the third rotation, students identify an advisor to sponsor their thesis research, and typically begin in their thesis lab at the beginning of spring quarter. Students who are unable to secure a thesis laboratory after three rotations must contact the METX GAC to seek assistance in scheduling a possible fourth rotation, though this option is not guaranteed.

Regardless of rotation status, all students must secure an advisor to sponsor their thesis research by the end of their first academic year in order to remain in good standing.

Literature Review

Students are required to write a literature review summarizing the current state of the field of the proposed dissertation research. The review should be written with feedback from the student’s faculty advisor and is due to the student’s advisor and the program graduate advisor by the first day of fall quarter of the second year.

Qualifying Examination

Students will complete a Ph.D. qualifying examination (QE) comprised of both oral and written components. The QE must be completed by May 15 of the student's second year.

Department Seminar

Students must present a public seminar to the department each academic year. Most years, this seminar is a short talk (typically ~15 - 20 minutes). In the third year (prior to advancing to candidacy), students are required to give a full 50-minute seminar.

For first-year students in the PBSE rotation program, the required rotation talks satisfy this requirement. All other students, including first-year students not completing PBSE rotations (direct-admission to a lab) should give a talk during the regular METX departmental seminar series.

Teaching Requirement

Ph.D. students are required to work as a teaching assistant (TA) for at least one quarter. Fulfilling this requirement may happen pre or post candidacy.

Dissertation

Dissertation Reading Committee

All students must meet with an advisory committee at least once per year. Students meet with the METX Graduate Advisory Committee until they form their Dissertation Reading Committee (aka thesis committee) in Year 3.

Dissertation Reading Committee (DRC)

After advancing to candidacy, students must meet at least annually with their DRC in order to remain in good standing. Annual meetings must occur before the end of winter quarter each year. Students may be required to meet with their DRC more frequently to get additional feedback on their thesis research, or if dictated by their DRC or the Graduate Advisory Committee. The DRC remains standing until the student has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree.

Dissertation Submission and Defense

The student must submit their doctoral dissertation to their Dissertation Reading Committee (aka thesis committee) for tentative approval at least one month before presenting a formal, public doctoral research seminar and defending their thesis. Ph.D. students are expected to have at least one primary research article submitted prior to graduation.