Student Handbook

Seminars & Journal Clubs

The bulletin board across from the first floor elevator in the Biotechnology Building is the place to check for topics, times and places of talks. Two seminar series that you are required to attend are:
Friday Molecular Biology and Genetics Seminar (BioGD 787): 4:00-5:00 pm Fridays during Fall and Spring semesters and occasionally during the Summer in the Biotechnology Building Conference Room. These talks are given by scientists visiting from other institutions and provide an opportunity to hear and meet some of the most distinguished researchers in the areas of genetics and development. Speakers are usually invited and hosted by faculty members, but graduate students can play a significant role in choosing whom to invite. First, students can suggest names of desirable speakers to their major professor, and second, at least once a year graduate students have the opportunity to independently invite and host a distinguished scientist. Very popular speakers who would otherwise be “too busy” will often find time in their schedules if they are invited by students rather than faculty. Coffee, tea and cookies are available at 3:45 pm, and there is usually an informal “Meet the Speaker” Happy Hour immediately after the seminar in one of the lounges upstairs. In addition, there is usually an opportunity for a group of graduate students to take the speaker to lunch on Friday. If you are interested in talking individually with a speaker, see the host listed at the bottom of the seminar notice and he or she will be glad to try to schedule you.

Wednesday Field Seminars (BioGD 786): 12:20-1:15 pm Wednesdays in the Biotechnology Building Small Seminar Room. All graduate students and postdoctoral fellows give seminars to present their research progress. Students join the cycle in their second year and present their work at least once a year. (Second year students are only expected to give a half hour talk.) You will be given ample notice of the date of your seminar, and must submit a title and short abstract to the Graduate Field Asst. (Rm. 107) the month before your talk so that it can be distributed to members of the Field. Please note that attendance will be taken at the Wednesday Field Seminars; students are required to attend at least 2/3 of the seminars in order to receive a satisfactory grade in BioGD786.