The Pre-doctoral Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology
 
Degree Requirements
To qualify for the doctorate, a student must satisfactorily 1) complete graduate studies totaling at least 72 points (a minimum of 32 in residence at NYU), 2) pass a qualifying examination and 3) present an acceptable dissertation. A total of 32 points must be completed in courses and tutorials; the remaining points may be in research and seminars. The qualifying examination is usually taken during the fifth term of full-time study and after 32 points are completed. It may include written and oral examinations and covers the student's field of concentration and related subjects. When the dissertation is completed and has been approved by adviser and readers, a public oral examination is held at which the candidate presents and defends the results of his or her research before a faculty committee. Although the exceptional student with a thorough undergraduate preparation may qualify for the doctorate three years after the baccalaureate, five years are more typical.
Courses
Required Courses

Foundations of Cell and Molecular Biology I & II
Genetics
Special Topics in Cell Biology (two semesters during matriculation)
Seminar in Cell Biology / Biochemistry (each semester of training)

Recommended Courses

Using Computers for Molecular Biology
Readings in Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Pathogenesis
Molecular Oncology
Research Rotations
During their first academic year all Sackler "open program" students are expected to complete two to three research rotations of approximately three months in length, each. Students select their rotation mentors after consultation with and approval from the Dean. Students are required to submit o their mentor, Graduate Advisor, and the Sackler office, within two weeks of completing their rotation, a brief report (2 - 4 pages) on their rotation research project.
The Qualifying Exam
The qualifying exam,which can be taken by all students who have completed 32 credits of course work with an average grade of B or better, consists of a written thesis proposal and its oral defense before a committee that will consist of 3 faculty members none of whom is the student's thesis advisor. (The student’s mentor may be present as an observer at the oral exam but is not permitted to participate). The goal of the exam is to evaluate the basic knowledge of the student in his research area and in general background areas that impinge directly on that subject as well as his/her capacity to cogently formulate specific questions to be investigated, and to design and interpret experiments directed towards answering these questions. The members of the examination committee, together with the student's thesis advisor, will later constitute the student's thesis committee that will guide the student during the remainder of his/her graduate training.

The Written Proposal

The proposal should be modeled after an NIH grant application. It should be at most 15 double spaced pages (except for preliminary results which can vary depending on the prior accomplishments of the student). The proposal should have a limited scope and is expected to include what a single, exceptionally competent, hardworking and lucky student can accomplish in a three year period. The proposal should have an introduction of approximately 4-6 pages which provides background information that cogently discusses the current state of knowledge in the field as well as a context in which the goals and purposes of the proposed experiments are formulated. This will be followed by a one page or less Specific Aims section that first outlines succinctly the long range goals of the proposed work and then the specific short term goals and the specific experimental approaches that will be carried out.

The Oral Exam

The exam should take 75 to 90 minutes with the student first giving a prepared twenty minute presentation that serves to focus the attention of the committee on those aspects that the student feels are most important. After the introductory presentation, the examiners will question the student attempting to assess the depth of knowledge of the student in the area of the proposal, his/her understanding of the experimental approaches and the ability to rationally analyze a problem or issue. The committee members will also ask some questions, approximately 10 in number, prepared by them and submitted to the committee chair before the exam, that were designed to examine the student’s basic knowledge in areas impinging on the subject of the proposal. To some extent, these questions will allow the examiners to make an objective judgment about the student’s basic knowledge beyond the immediate scope of the proposal.