DBBS

Admissions- FAQ APPLICATION

What is the application deadline?

The deadline date is December 1st @ 11:59 PST. We strongly recommend early submission of the application and all supporting documents. Applications are reviewed by our Admission Committee as they become complete.

Yes

Nationally Competitive Fellowships

Other Agencies

To locate other agencies that might fund your area of research go to the sites listed below.
Some have search tools for you to enter various criteria, (such as citizenship, area of research interest, etc.). When the information is submitted, the search results will display agencies that provide support based on the criteria entered.
http://www.grantsnet.org
http://nasonline.org
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm

Yes

Getting Ready to Graduate

Chronology

PH.D. THESIS EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

See your student coordinator at least THREE - SIX months prior to thesis examination (defense).

If you are an International student, YOU MUST see the International Office prior to setting up a defense date to discuss your Visa status and its implication.

Intent to Graduate Form - The Office of Student Records requires that you complete the Intent to Graduate Form on-line through WebSTAC, see below for graduation deadlines. If you have any problems locating or completing the form in WebSTAC, please contact the Office of Student Records at (314) 935-5959.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STUDENT COORDINATOR WHEN YOU FILE YOUR INTENT TO GRADUATE FORM ON WEBSTAC. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR STUDENT COORDINATOR KNOW YOUR DEFENSE AND GRADUATION DATE.

Read through the Doctoral Dissertation Guide for formatting guidelines and other important information (found at http://graduateschool.wustl.edu/guides-0).

ALL FORMS LISTED BELOW MUST BE SUBMITTED TO YOUR COORDINATOR.

One Month Before Thesis Examination:

Ask your coordinator for the Dissertation Committee Form, have your program director sign the form and return form to your coordinator.
Submit your CV and the dissertation abstract. (Be sure to follow the guidelines in the Doctoral Dissertation Guide booklet). Each should be initialed by the thesis advisor.
Email your coordinator the dissertation title, defense date, time and location of thesis examination. It is the student’s responsibility to reserve a room for the thesis examination. (Thesis Examination information will be published in the DBBS seminar calendar online.)
Submit the Payroll/Student Health Form

Two Weeks Before Thesis Examination:

Distribute copies of dissertation and a copy of your CV to committee members electronically. If your PDF file is too large to send by email, we advise you to use the Washington University Large File Transfer System, https://box.wustl.edu/. It is a secure and encrypted tool for transferring large files between people and works in a similar manner to Dropbox. Members of the Wash U community can access this system with their WUSTL Key.
Note: Your thesis advisor should be listed as the chairperson on your title page and the date would be your degree date (May, August or December are the only options). If you have questions about permission to use published papers in your thesis, you may wish to visit https://media2.proquest.com/documents/copyright_dissthesis_ownership.pdf for help with this topic or you may wish to consult your subject librarian, or email WULIB_copyrighthelp@wumail.wustl.edu.

After Defense:

Submit your Thesis Examination Approval form to your coordinator.
Submit your finalized dissertation online. Log on to http://www.etdadmin.com/wustl to create an account. Once your dissertation has been successfully submitted you will receive an email informing you that everything has been received. Final submission must be completed by the deadline, indicated in deadline section below. Plan to submit your dissertation and paperwork a few days before the deadline. You may need to make corrections to your formatting or fill out additional paperwork.
Submit the Graduating Student Survey
Fill out the Post-Graduation Job Survey at http://graduateschool.wustl.edu/guides-0
Fill out the Survey of Earned Doctorates Form at http://graduateschool.wustl.edu/forms.
Check in with your coordinator to make sure you have submitted everything you need to submit.

Binding Dissertation

If you would like to have your dissertation bound, visit http://wustl.thesisondemand.com/ to upload your thesis and order bound copies. No copies should be ordered until after the electronic submission of a dissertation to ProQuest has been approved by the Graduate School; the pdf uploaded at http://wustl.thesisondemand.com/ should be identical to the approved pdf previously submitted to ProQuest.
Should your PI want a copy of your thesis, they can also use the Thesis on Demand site at their own expense. You will need to provide them with an electronic copy of your thesis to utilize this site- http://wustl.thesisondemand.com/.
Questions regarding dissertation binding should be directed to Andrew Richards, DBBS Director of Information Systems at richardsa@wustl.edu.

Yes

Section III - Retina

Section Leaders:
Rithwick Rajagopal, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Lynn Hassman, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Research

Date	Location	Speaker	Topic
Oct 24	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Rithwick Rajagopal, MD PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences	Overview of modern imaging techniques of the retina and choroid
Oct 29	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Gregory Van Stavern, MD Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences	Overview of modern diagnostic visual electrophysiology
Oct 31	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Kisha Piggott, MD PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Assistant Residency Program Director	Tumors of the retina and choroid
Nov 5	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Joseph C. Corbo, MD PhD Professor, Pathology and Immunology, Genetics, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences	Inherited retinal diseases
Nov 7	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Rajendra Apte, MD PhD Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences	Diseases associated with the aging retina
Nov 12	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	P. Kumar Rao, MD Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences	Infectious uveitis
Nov 14	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Lynn Hassman, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Research	Precision medical management of non-infectious uveitis
Nov 19	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Rithwick Rajagopal, MD PhD	Faculty Overview and Course Discussion Lunch served

Yes

Admissions- What Makes An App Strong?

Test Scores

GRE:
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is no longer required by DBBS Programs. Please refer to the individual program web page (http://www.dbbs.wustl.edu/divprograms/Pages/Division-Programs.aspx) to see if submission GRE scores is optional. If so, scores must be from tests taken in the last five years. The Subject test is not required. Applicants who need to submit scores are strongly encouraged to schedule the exam early so the official scores will reach DBBS before the December 1^st deadline.

ETS Institution Code - 6929

TOEFL or IELTS:
Proficiency in English is required of all applicants. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Only scores from tests taken within the last two years will be accepted. To be eligible for an automatic (no request needed) TOEFL/IELTS waiver the applicant must have completed a full-time bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited university located in the United States or an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. PLEASE NOTE: The US Immigration service may require a TOEFL/IELTS exam score if the entire program of study is less than 3 years in duration.

ETS Institution Code - 6929

Outstanding recommendations and higher quality research experience may make up for lower test scores, so do not let lower scores discourage you from applying.

Yes

Thesis Research

After rotations have been completed, students select a thesis mentor (Thesis Affiliation Form). Students are encouraged to gather information from several sources, including consultations with faculty and current students, before choosing a thesis lab. Ph.D. students must be in a thesis laboratory by September 1 of their second year, MSTP students by September 1 of the first year of Ph.D. training. If a student is interested in pursuing their graduate studies with a faculty member who is not affiliated with DBBS, the student must identify a co-mentor who is affiliated with DBBS. Please refer to your program coordinator for more information.

By the fifth semester of graduate study, students establish a thesis committee and present a thesis proposal. The purpose of the thesis committee is to advise the student in his or her thesis research and to provide the student with a readily accessible source of advice and constructive criticism during the dissertation research. Students are not to bring food or drink for faculty during thesis committee meetings and thesis defense. The composition of thesis advisory committee requires approval from the respective Program Director, and the "Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form" should be filled out (Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form).

Dissertation Defense Committee Policy

The committee before which the student is examined consists of at least five members, who normally meet two independent criteria:

Four of the five must be tenured or tenure-track Washington University faculty; one of these four may be a member of the Emeritus faculty. The fifth member must have a doctoral degree and an active research program, whether at Washington University, at another university, in government, or in industry.
A minimum of three of the five must come from the student's degree program; at least one of the five must have an appointment outside of the student’s degree programs.

All committees must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School or by their designee, regardless of whether they meet the normal criteria.

Procedures

Attendance by a minimum of four members of the Dissertation Defense Committee, including the committee chair and a faculty member from outside the student’s degree program, is required for the defense to take place. This provision is designed to permit your defense to proceed in case of a situation that unexpectedly prevents one of the five members from attending. Student’s must not schedule a dissertation defense at a time when only four members will be in attendance; the provision for defending in front of a committee of four will only be permitted if a committee member unexpectedly is unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Note that the absence of the outside members or of the committee chair will necessitate rescheduling the defense.

Members of the Dissertation Defense Committee normally attend in person, but one of the five (or, in case of an emergency, one of the four) members may attend virtually (e.g., teleconference) instead.

Read individual program guidelines for specific requirements and "Satisfactory Academic Progress" below for detailed information.

DGSP Degree Requirements

Yes

Qualifying Examination

Students must pass their program's qualifying examination. The format of the examination varies from program to program but an element common to all is an oral examination. The student should check their program's guidelines to determine the specific format of their exam. The purpose of the exam is to determine that the student has acquired sufficient knowledge to pursue independent research. Students are not to bring food or drink for faculty during the qualifying exams.

DGSP Degree Requirements

Yes

Introduction

The Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences is a degree program of Washington University’s Graduate School. The Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS) is responsible for graduate education in the biomedical and biological sciences at Washington University. DBBS is organized into 12 academic programs, each representing a different scientific area. Students receive current guidelines for these programs upon matriculation, and periodic updates as changes occur. Those guidelines provide students with policies, procedures, and requirements specific to the academic program in which they are enrolled. This document consists of the policies and procedures that apply to the graduate education of all Division students, regardless of their program affiliation. The hallmark of the Division is flexibility, and students should always feel free to explore the possibility of individualizing their programs where appropriate.

The Division presently includes over 500 faculty; ~475 students working toward the Ph.D. degree; and ~190 students working toward the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). Member departments of the Division include the Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the seven preclinical departments of the School of Medicine, namely: Neuroscience, Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics, Cell Biology & Physiology, Molecular Genetics, Developmental Biology, Molecular Microbiology, and Pathology & Immunology. In addition, there are members of the Division faculty located in the Departments of Chemistry, Psychology and Brain Sciences, Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and the School of Engineering on the Danforth Campus and in the clinical departments of the School of Medicine.

The chief administrative body of the Division is the Executive Council, composed of the Heads of the eight member departments, the Departments of Chemistry and of Biomedical Engineering, two members of clinical departments, the Associate Dean for Graduate Education, the Director of the MSTP, and the Director of Ph.D. Admissions and Recruiting. The Chair of the Council is the executive officer of the Division.
The Associate Dean oversees day to day operations of the Division and chairs the Program and Student Affairs Committee, which consists of the directors of the twelve academic programs.
Each of the academic programs is managed by a Steering Committee. A committee of faculty oversees the recruitment and admission activities of DBBS.

When Graduate School policy is referred to in this guide please consult the Graduate School Bulletin. M.D./Ph.D. students should refer to the School of Medicine Bulletin for policies governing the medical phase of their graduate education.

DGSP Introduction

Yes

National Institute of Health

Ehiole Akhirome - Developmental, Regenerative & Stem Cell Biology

Chinwendu Amazu - Molecular Cell Biology

David Anderson - Immunology

Juliet Bartleson - Immunology

Michael Bern - Immunology

Kayla Berry - Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis

Jay Bowman-Kirigin - Immunology

Lindsey Brier - Neurosciences

Christopher Chermside-Scabbo - Computational & Systems Biology

Adam Clemens - Developemental, Regenerative & Stem Cell Biology

Vivek Durai - Immunology

Brian Early - Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Jennifer Elliott - Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis

Trent Evans - Molecular Cell Biology

McKenna Feltes - Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology

Jerry Fong - Computational & Systems Biology

Jared Goodman - Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Gary Grajales-Reyes - Immunology

Samarth Hegde - Molecular Cell Biology

Andrew Kraft - Neurosciences

Joseph Krambs - Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Varintra Krisnawan - Immunology

Dov Lerman-Sinkoff - Biomedical Engineering

Stephen Linderman - Biomedical Engineering

Manasi Malik - Molecular Cell Biology

Hannah Miller - Immunology

Anish Mitra - Neurosciences

Arnav Moudgil - Computational & Systems Biology

Bernard Mulvey - Neurosciences

Takihiro Ohara - Immunology

Patrick Olson - Molecular Microbiology & Microbial Pathogenesis

Eugene Park - Immunology

Justin Porter - Computational & Systems Biology

Caitlin Purman - Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Monica Xiong - Neurosciences

Megan Radyk - Molecular Cell Biology

Rachel Rahn - Neurosciences

Michelle Robinette - Immunology

Emilie Russler-Germain - Immunology

Arthur Sletten - Molecular Cell Biology

Sarah Smith - Neurosciences

Brett Tortelli- Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Yes

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Award

Tien-Phat Huynh - Neurosciences

Yes

Monsanto Excellence Fund for Graduate Fellowships in Life Sciences

George Katumba - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Manishi Pandey - Computational and Systems Biology

Gervette Penny - Molecular Genetics & Genomics

Robert Potter - Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Patricia Walker - Plant & Microbial Biosciences

Yes

MilliporeSigma Predoctoral Fellowship in Honor of Dr. Gerty T. Cori

Nicole Fazio - Computational and Molecular Biophysics

McKenna Feltes - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Catherine Knoverek - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Sukrit Singh - Computational and Molecular Biophysics

Melanie Sparks - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

Yes

Male Contraceptive Inititiative (MCI)

Max Lyon - Molecular Cell Biology

Yes

Kwanjeong Educational Foundation

Seunghyun (Shawn) Lee - Immunology

Yes

Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Fellowship

Abigael Cheruiyot - Molecular Cell Biology

Yes

Section II - Diabetes

Section Leaders:
Thomas J. Baranski, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine & Developmental Biology, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research
Charlie Harris, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research

Date	Location	Speaker	Topic
Sept 24	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Colin Nichols, PhD Carl Cori Professor of Cell Biology & Physiology CIMED Director Division of Cell Biology & Physiology	Monogenic Diabetes
Sept 26	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Jeff Millman, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine & Biomedical Engineering Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research	Pluripotent Technologies and Beta Cells
Oct 1	FLTC 205 (1:45-3:15pm)	Fumi Urano, MD PhD Samuel E. Schechter Professor of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research	Wolfram Syndrome Patient Visit

Oct 3	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Paul Hruz, MD PhD Director, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Associate Professor of Pediatrics: Endo & Metabolism + Cell Biology & Physiology	Insulin Action-lessons from Transgenic Animals
Oct 8	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Charles Harris, MD PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research	Obesity & Insulin Resistance
Oct 10	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Tom Baranski, MD PhD Associate Professor of Medicine & Developmental Biology Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research	Complications of Diabetes Patient Visit
Oct 15	N/A	Fall Break	No Class
Oct 17	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Garry Tobin, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Director, Diabetes Center Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, & Lipid Research	Introduction to Clinical Diabetes Patient Visit
Oct 22	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	ALL	Faculty Overview and Course Discussion Lunch served

Yes

PhD Application Instructions

Application

The application consists of:

Demographics
Three letters of recommendation
Academic history
Test Scores

GRE (not required, but optional for some programs)
TOEFL or IELTS (if applicable)

Two essays
10 word undergrad research description & 10 word descripotion of graduate research interest
Listing of Major coursework
Work history
Awards/Honors
Publication list (if any)

Applicants who have applied in the previous year must submit a new application with the application type marked as “Re-Apply”.

All application materials (transcripts, GRE/TOEFL score reports, letters of recommendation, and additional materials sent to us by the applicant) become the property of the Division of Biology and Biological Sciences at Washington University and cannot be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another school/department.

Yes

PhD Application Instructions

Test Scores

GRE:
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is no longer required by DBBS Programs, however it is optonal for some. Please refer to the individual program web page (http://www.dbbs.wustl.edu/divprograms/Pages/Division-Programs.aspx) to see if GRE scores may be optioanlly submitted. If so, scores must be from tests taken in the last five years. The Subject test is not required. Applicants who need to submit scores are strongly encouraged to schedule the exam early so the official scores will reach DBBS before the December 1^st deadline.

ETS Institution Code - 6929

TOEFL or IELTS:
Proficiency in English is required of all applicants. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency and are required to provide an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Only scores from tests taken within the last two years will be accepted. To be eligible for an automatic (no request needed) TOEFL/IELTS waiver the applicant must have completed a full-time bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited university located in the United States or an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. PLEASE NOTE: The US Immigration service may require a TOEFL/IELTS exam score if the entire program of study is less than 3 years in duration.

ETS Institution Code - 6929

Yes

Section I - Immunotherapy

Section Co-Leaders:
Todd Fehniger, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant;
Nathan Singh, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology

Date	Location	Speaker	Topic
Aug. 27	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Todd Fehniger, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant	Intro to Immunotherapy Module and Natural Killer Cell Therapy
Aug. 29	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Amanda Cashen, MD Associate Professor, Medicine Division of Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant	Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Patient Visit
Sept. 3	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Nathan Singh, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stem Cell Biology	Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy Patient Visit
Sept. 5	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Division of Cancer Biology	Engineered APCs
Sept. 10	LOCATION & TIME CHANGE: Lobby, CAM (1-3:00PM)	FIELD TRIP Tour of apheresis center, cell therapy lab, biological therapy facility (GMP), and 8800 Clinical Cell Therapy Unit	“Follow The Cells!” (Note: 2 hours!)
Sept. 12	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	David DeNardo, PhD Associate Professor, Medicine Division of Oncology ICCE Institute Andrea Wang-Gillam, MD PhD Associate Professor, Medicine Division of Oncology Section: Medical Oncology	Tumor Microenvironment Patient Visit
Sept. 17	FLTC 205 (1:30-3:00pm)	Tanner Johanns, MD, PhD Instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology	Immune Checkpoint Therapy and Neo-Antigen Vaccines Patient Visit
Sept. 19	FLTC 205 (1:00 -2:30pm)	ALL	Wrap up discussion and lunch

Yes

Past Course Modules

Year	Modules
1992	1. Sickle Cell Anemia 2. Malaria 3. Diabetes
1993	1. Cystic Fibrosis 2. Coronary Artery Disease 3. AIDS
1994	1. Sickle Cell Anemia 2. Emphysema 3. Acute Leukemia
1995	1. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2. Undue Susceptibility to Infection 3. Alzheimer’s Disease
1996	1. Sickle Cell Disease 2. Multiple Sclerosis 3. Epstein Barr Virus
1997	1. Osteoporosis 2. Thrombophilia 3. Congenital Malformations
1998	1. Sickle Cell Disease 2. Hepatitis C 3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
1999	1. Rheumatoid Arthritis 2. AIDS 3. Prostate Cancer
2000	1. Sickle Cell Disease 2. Epstein Barr Virus 3. Heart Failure
2001	1. Alzheimer’s Disease 2. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 3. SLE (Lupus)
2002	1. Heart Failure 2. Diabetes Mellitus 3. Preeclampsia
2003	1. SLE/Rheumatoid Arthritis 2. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 3. Asthma
2004	1. AIDS 2. Heart Failure 3. Preeclampsia
2005	1. Alzheimer’s Disease 2. Breast Cancer 3. Rheumatoid Arthritis
2006	1. Sickle Cell Anemia 2. Congestion Heart Failure 3. High Risk Pregnancy
2007	1. Rheumatoid Arthritis 2. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 3. Alzheimer’s Disease
2008	1. Cardio Disease/Heart Failure 2. Diabetes & Metabolism 3. Osteoporosis/Other Bone Disorders
2009	1. Sickle Cell Anemia 2. AIDS 3. Major Depressive Disorders
2010	1. Alzheimer’s Disease 2. Cardio Disease/Heart Failure 3. Diabetes
2011	1. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 2. Cystic Fibrosis 3. High Risk Pregnancy
2012	1. Rheumatoid Arthritis 2. Cardiovascular Disease 3. Malaria
2013	1. Diabetes 2. High Risk Pregnancy 3. Depression
2014	1. Translating Global Health 2. Cardiovascular Disease 3. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
2015	1. Immunotherapy 2. High Risk Pregnancy 3. Alzheimer’s Disease
2016	1. Evidence Based Medicine/Sickle Cell Disease 2. Diabetes 3. Cardiovascular Disease
2017	1. Immunotherapy 2. Alzheimer's Disease 3. Cardiovascular Disease
2018	1. High Risk Pregnancy 2. Pain Management 3. Cardiovascular Disease

Yes

Getting Ready to Graduate

Deadlines

Intent to Graduate Form must be filed:

August 1, 2019 for August 15, 2019 Graduation
September 30, 2019 for December 18, 2019 Graduation
December 18, 2019 for a May 15, 2020 Graduation

Final Dissertation must be electronically submitted to the Graduate School (in its final form, all edits corrected):

April 22, 2019 for May 17, 2019 Graduation
September 5, 2019 for August 15, 2019 Graduation
January 3, 2020 for December 18, 2019 Graduation
April 20, 2020 for a May 15, 2020 Graduation

Yes

Update Profile

Please send updates to Andrew Richards, richardsa@wustl.edu.

Faculty Login

Yes

Application, Procedures and Criteria for PROGRAM Membership in the DBBS

Faculty on the Investigator (tenure) track from any Department of Washington University may be nominated for DBBS Program membership by their Department Head/Chair.

Candidates for new Program membership in the DBBS will be evaluated using the following criteria, reflecting the importance of continued excellence in postgraduate training and mentoring. It is expected that DBBS faculty members will have strong credentials in many/most of the following areas:

A high quality, independent research program in an area of biological or biomedical research that is congruent with existing DBBS programs, and evidence of sustainable research funding or (in the case of new investigators) a strong prognosis for securing funding.
A strong record of training and mentoring students (graduate, medical, and/or undergraduate) and/or postdoctoral fellows, or (for new investigators) a clear interest and potential to do so. Examples include a record of past trainees and their current professional status and achievements, a list of publications authored by trainees, formal recognition/awards for teaching or mentoring, and any other evidence of a positive impact on the professional development of mentees.
Past and ongoing teaching contributions to graduate and/or medical education. A list should be provided of course titles with a brief summary of the subject matter taught and the number of contact hours in the classroom.
For recently appointed junior faculty who have not had the opportunity to meet these criteria, the basis for a positive prognosis should be addressed in the nomination letter from the Department Head/Chair.

The process for evaluating candidates will include the following steps.

The DBBS Faculty Membership Committee will screen all candidates for DBBS Program membership andl convey their recommendation on the candidate's membership application to the Director(s) of the primary program which the candidate wishes to join.
The Program Director(s) will evaluate the suitability of the candidate as a DBBS mentor associated with their program and decide whether to admit the candidate to DBBS Program membership, recommend a re-evaluation for General membership or deny the application. If admission is thoroughly declined, there is a period of one year before a new request will be considered.

Completed applications must include the six components described below and must be attached to the DBBS membership application form, which can be downloaded below. Applications are limited to 12 pages and must provide evidence of mentoring experience and skills as well as evidence of ability to fully support graduate students that affiliate with faculty member/mentor, inclusive of stipend and fees. The following documents are required when a faculty member applies for membership to the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences:

Recommendation Letter or Supporting Statement from Applicant’s Department Head/Chair or Division Chief, whoever is financially responsible in the event of a lapse of funding by the faculty member (1-2 pages)

Biographical Sketch of Applicant (1-2 pages)

Current and Pending Support (include information regarding start-up funds, if applicable (1-2 pages)

Research Statement (1-2 pages)

List of Current and Past Trainees, if applicable, and other evidence of mentoring experience and skills (Past 5 Years – 1-2 pages)

Completed Application Form - Click here to download DBBS Program Membership Application.

FacultyPolicyApplication

Yes

DGSP Administrative Policy

Other Support

Time Off Policy
Student appointments to the Division are considered to be 52-week appointments and do not follow academic vacation schedules. Planned absences should be approved by the advisor and unplanned absences reported to them. “Advisors” in the graduate years are program directors, rotation mentors, MTE course master and/or thesis mentors, as is appropriate. For MSTP students during their medical training, the Director of the MSTP program will serve as the supervisor. The total amount of excused absence should not exceed 8 weeks. This would include: University approved holidays; 22 days of vacation; and 12 days of sick time off annually. Sick time off and vacation are not carried over from year to year, are not accrued (available from time of appointment) and are not subject to payout at the termination of the graduate student appointment. Therefore, informal monitoring of this time off by advisors and students will normally be sufficient. For students in Ph.D. training, disputes between advisors and students should first be addressed by the Program Director. For MSTP students in medical training, disputes will be resolved by consensus between the MSTP Director and the clinical advisor.

If you decide to travel and be away from the lab for any reason other than to perform research or attend a scientific meeting, your time away from work will be considered a vacation. Should you exceed the allotted 22 days of vacation per fiscal year, you may be required to take an unpaid leave of absence. Students who travel outside of the US are not covered by student health; however, travel insurance can be purchased and information is available at Student Health Services.

Special note for International Students: Due to increased security measures, the process of renewing student visas has been prolonged in several countries. In most instances, it is not necessary to travel home to renew a visa. If you decide to travel to home, please contact the International Office to obtain the required signature of an official representative on your I-20 form prior to traveling out of the country.

New Child Leave
Students may also receive stipends for up to 8 weeks of New Child leave per year for the adoption or birth of a child. Either parent is eligible for New Child leave.

EMail & Internet Access
All students are provided with email accounts and access to the Internet free of charge. Most of the Division's communications about events, changes in policy, courses, etc. are sent by Wustl email. Please see https://sts.wustl.edu/ for more information.

Verifications for Federal Student Lenders

It is not necessary for students to request enrollment or degree verification from the Office of the University Registrar or the School of Medicine Registrar for federal student loan deferments. The lenders and servicing agencies for federal student loans download this information directly from the NSC on a regular basis.

Note that the anticipated degree date reported by the Clearinghouse to your loan lenders prior to your actual graduation is a calculated value based upon your year in school and enrollment status. They use it to project when you may no longer be in school and entering repayment on your loans.

Please contact The Registrar’s office for further questions: http://registrar.wustl.edu/student-records/verification/

Yes

Money Matters

The 2019-2020 annual stipend is $30,500. Stipend payments are disbursed the last working day of each month. You will receive an email notification from HR on how to set-up direct deposit once entered into the payroll system. If your direct deposit isn’t set-up in time, you will be notified via e-mail when checks are available to be picked up from the DBBS Division Office.

To ensure that you receive your first stipend paycheck, make certain to check in with a DBBS Finance Coordinator to complete the required payroll documents as soon as you arrive. Documents must be completed no later than the following dates: June 11, July 11, August 8.

The amount of your first stipend check will be prorated according to your start date. For more information regarding stipend payments and possible tax implications please visit https://financialservices.wustl.edu/wfin-topic/payroll/tax-issues-fellowship-stipend-recipients/.

International Students:

Please visit the WUSTL Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) webpage for important information. Prior to orientation, questions concerning your VISA should be directed to Bridget Coleman at 314-935-8753 or bridgetcoleman@wustl.edu. International students must go to the OISS located on the Danforth campus to check-in before coming to the Division office. Please make certain to bring all appropriate original documentation when you meet with the OISS representative.

Entering Students

Yes

Rotations

When searching for a lab in which to rotate, the PI of the lab may ask your DBBS Program Coordinator to view your application. Please complete the File Permission Form to ensure a seamless transition to each rotation.

Setting Up Your First Rotation
We encourage all DBBS students to research our faculty database and to contact potential research mentors before arriving on campus. Here are a few tips to make setting up your first rotation a success:

Review faculty and their research interests to get an idea of where you want to rotate.
Most faculty members prefer to be contacted initially by email, so contact faculty before you arrive.
To prepare for your first meeting with the faculty member, read some recent papers from the faculty member's laboratory.
Download and fill out the Research Rotation Form and give to your program coordinator.
Please visit the Student Forms section of the DBBS website for all student forms.

Entering Students

Yes

Application, Procedures and Criteria for GENERAL Membership in the DBBS

Note: faculty who want to mentor students in their lab should apply with the PROGRAM Membership application

Faculty on the Clinical, Research or Investigator track from any Department of Washington University may be nominated for DBBS General membership by their Department Head/Chair or Division Chief.

Candidates for new General membership in the DBBS will be evaluated using the following criteria, reflecting the importance of continued excellence in postgraduate training and mentoring. It is expected that DBBS faculty members will have strong credentials in many/most of the following areas:

A good record of student engagement within the Medical School and/or University at large.
Committee service to science/medical entities including university, regional, and national organizations that support and promote graduate and medical education.
Past and ongoing teaching contributions to graduate and/or medical education. A list should be provided of course titles with a brief summary of the subject matter taught and the number of contact hours in the classroom.
For recently appointed junior faculty who have not had the opportunity to meet these criteria, the basis for a positive prognosis should be addressed in the nomination letter from the Department Head/Chair.

The Associate Dean for Graduate Education will review applications and decide whether to admit the candidate to General membership in DBBS. If admission is declined, there is a period of one year before a new request will be considered.

Completed applications must include the four components described below and must be attached to the DBBS membership application form, which can be downloaded below.

Applications are limited to 6 pages.Recommendation Letter or Supporting Statement from Applicant’s Department Head/Chair or Division Chief (1-2 pages)

Biographical Sketch or CV of Applicant (1-2 pages)

Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages), detailing the applicant’s area of expertise and enumerating how they will contribute to the mission of DBBS

Completed Application Form – Click here to download DBBS General Membership Application

FacultyPolicyApplication

Yes

Continuing Program Membership in DBBS

Program membership in the DBBS will be reviewed periodically:

The first-phase of review will be conducted by the Program Director/Steering Committees. The review process will address the following areas of participation in DBBS:

The member’s record of training and mentoring students, along with current and pending funding.
Committee service to the DBBS and related basic science entities including university, regional, and national organizations that support and promote graduate and medical education. Local service on advisory, planning, and oversight committees related to the mission of the DBBS.
Regular involvement in DBBS program activities, including seminars, journal clubs, student recruiting, and retreats.
Teaching contributions to graduate and/or medical education

Based upon the criteria noted above and the recommendation of the Program Director/Steering Committees, the Faculty Membership Committee will decide whether to renew the Program membership in DBBS, recommend an offer of General membership, or deny membership. If admission is denied, there is a period of one year before a new request will be considered.

FacultyPolicyApplication