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PhD Degree Requirements

Research Rotation Program
Teaching
Cumulative Exams
Qualifying Examination
Seminars
Research Proposal
Dissertation

Research Rotation Program

In fall 2002, the Emory University Chemistry Department Graduate Program  introduced a research rotation program for first-year students. This program has proven to be extremely popular with our students, who uniformly stated that it was helpful to work in two or three laboratories prior to making a final decision on a research advisor. Students receive course credit for Chem504 (pass-no credit grading)

* Goals of the rotation experience
* Structure of the rotation experience
* Activities of the rotation experience


Goals of the rotation experience

1. To help first-year students make informed decisions regarding research advisor selection;
2. To encourage these students to learn more about research in the chemistry department at      Emory;
3. To give students a first-hand experience in the research culture and mentoring styles of different laboratories;
4. To give students the short-term opportunity to closely consider research in an area of chemistry different from their first choice at the time they entered Emory;
5. To encourage upper-level graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the various laboratories to discuss their research with new graduate students and
6. To encourage development of collaborations between two or more laboratories, with the possibility of students working with two research advisors. Return to Top


Structure of the rotation experience
1. From late August through mid-September, students will attend research presentations by faculty. All members of the graduate faculty make a 20-minute presentation to the entire group of first-year students. These seminars will be scheduled for three or four evenings a week, and we anticipate 2 presentations per evening. We try to schedule a diverse group of two faculty for each evening, i.e. from different divisions or interest areas of chemistry. These presentations are usually completed by mid September.

2. After further one-on-one meetings with potential faculty mentors for the research rotation experience, students can select a schedule of research rotations with two faculty or with three faculty. Students submit their choices of rotation advisors by September 16, 2008. The following calendar is proposed for 2008-2009:

3. A student may change their choice of the second and/or third rotation advisor during an earlier rotation period. The order of the rotations is arranged by the graduate program coordinator in consultation with the director of graduate studies. Priority is given to scheduling students as evenly as possible across all of the rotation periods, except if a faculty member arranges in advance not to schedule rotations during one of the periods due to sabbatical, extensive travel, etc.

4. Students will submit their first and second choice of research advisor on Friday, February 6, 2009. The faculty will meet on Monday, February 9 to discuss research laboratory assignments. Historically 95% of all students are accepted by their first choice of research advisor.

Activities of the rotation experience
1. Faculty are permitted considerable flexibility in assigning rotation activities, and should keep in mind that students who elect to take three (instead of two) courses in the fall semester will have less time available for the rotation experience. At a minimum, satisfactory completion of the rotation will require attendance at all seminars/student seminars/journal club activities presented in the division, and all group seminar activities during the rotation period. It is reasonable for faculty to require a minimum hour-per-week requirement for students doing rotations in their lab (which includes divisional and group seminar attendance). Faculty expectations should be discussed with students during the one-on-one meetings prior to selection of rotation advisors. At their discretion, faculty may provide rotation students with a supervised laboratory experience during the rotation period, which should be assigned on the first day of the rotation period. Return to Top

Teaching
During the first year, graduate students assist the faculty in teaching undergraduate laboratory or lecture courses offered in the chemistry department. Teaching is a degree requirement for all Emory University graduate students as part of the Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunity (TATTO) program, which includes an intensive five-day teaching orientation program in late August prior to the first semester of graduate school. Teaching responsibilities require no more than 8-10 hours per week, so that a graduate student can focus primarily on his or her own education and research. Return to Top

Cumulative exams
During the first few years, students are asked to take cumulative examinations which test their knowledge of the current chemical literature and general problem solving abilities in their general area of chemistry (biological, inorganic, organic, physical). This requirement must be completed by the middle of the third year, however most students successfully complete cumulative exams by the end of the second year. Return to Top

Qualifying examination (2^nd Year-Report)
In fall semester of the second year, each graduate student prepares a research report, and presents their progress to date to a committee of three faculty members in the student’s general research area. Satisfactory completion of the exam endorses the graduate student as a Ph.D. candidate.

One novel aspect of Emory’s graduate program in chemistry is that this committee continues to meet with the student at least once per year to ensure that the student is making good progress in research and in their intellectual and career development. Furthermore, these meetings provide our students several opportunities to demonstrate their research accomplishments and growth as scientists to faculty in addition to the student’s research advisor, which can be quite helpful for cultivating additional letters of recommendation when the student is applying for postgraduate employment or postdoctoral training. Return to Top

Seminar
Each student is expected to attend all seminars in their research area. Due in part to Emory’s proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (a two-hour flight to 80% of the U.S. population and direct flights to many international destinations) our department hosts several visiting lecturers each week presenting highlights of research advances from laboratories outside of Emory. Also, each student will also present at least one literature seminar on a current topic outside their research. Return to Top

Research Proposal
During the fourth year, each student prepares an original research proposal on a topic which is unrelated to research ongoing in their research group. Return to Top

Dissertation
The major requirement for a Ph.D. degree at Emory is the preparation and defense of the student’s dissertation which makes an original and significant contribution to existing knowledge in chemistry. The dissertation is presented in a public seminar and a private defense with the student’s committee. Most Emory chemistry graduate students complete their dissertation within 4 to 5 years of entering graduate school.

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