Yearly Timeline
BISI encourages all students in the program to meet regularly with both their advisor(s) and committee members.
An annual meeting with your committee is required for all BISI students. The BISI office can assist with room reservations, but room reservation requests in the Bioscience Research Building or Microbiology can be submitted here.
When planning committee meetings, students must notify the BISI Office (bisi@umd.edu) at least 2 weeks in advance. The office will email all necessary paperwork to the student at that time. Be sure to provide a copy of your unofficial transcript for your committee at all meetings. See the committee composition requirements and read the Official Preliminary Meeting and Qualifying Exam Policy and Procedure document when planning for these exams.
BEES & PSYS
Year 1 - Semester 1
Students have their first committee meeting within the first 2 weeks or prior to arrival on campus (this can be virtual). It includes an advisor and a senior doctoral student and is meant to help review your academic background and develop your curriculum which includes an appropriate statistics course.
Year 1 - Semester 2
Students have their second committee meeting at the end of the semester. It includes an advisor, senior doctoral student, and two additional faculty members. The meeting is meant to help review your background for your research proposal and develop a research plan.
Year 2
Students have their preliminary meeting during their 4th semester (BEES) or 5th semester (PSYS). Review the committee composition requirements. Once you've finalized your committee, please submit an Advisory Committee form.
Year 3
Students have their qualifying exam that must be completed by the end of the 5th (BEES) or 6th (PSYS) semester.
CBBG & MOCB
Year 1 - Semester 1
Students meet with Concentration Area Director and Graduate Program Committee. The Concentration Area Director acts as advisor until one is selected. The objective of this meeting is to help with coursework selection and choose rotation mentors. All students do 2 rotations during the Fall semester and 1 rotation during Winter term. Students must submit a completed rotation evaluation form after each rotation.
Year 1 - Semester 2
An advisor must be chosen prior to the end of the second semester. Students must meet with the advisory committee within 9 months of choosing an advisor. Failure to find an advisor by the end of summer may result in dismissal from the program.
Year 2
The committees must be determined by the 4th semester. Students must submit an Advisory Committee form once they've chosen their dissertation committee. Review the committee guidelines.
Year 3
Students have their preliminary meeting during the 5th semester and must complete their qualifying exam by the end of the 6th semester.