Graduate Program

Complete the required coursework for whichever umbrella program you are entering at UCI (CMB, INP, MCSB). Complete MMG 250: “Responsible Conduct of Research,” which is required for all trainees in the School of Medicine and anyone funded by an NIH or NSF grant. By the end of the year, you should choose a lab in agreement with that laboratory's Principal Investigator (PI).

From year two until the year of your dissertation defense, you are required to sign up for the following courses:

• 200 A, B, C – credit for laboratory research [Graded, based on performance]
• 203 A, B, C – credit for organized group study based on readings, discussions and presentations given within each lab group [S/U]
• 201 A, B, C – Thursday Morning Seminar series given by graduate students, postdocs and faculty [Graded, based on attendance]
• One additional didactic/journal club class of student choice (any quarter)

MMG 200 and MMG 203 classes are specified for each MMG faculty member, so make sure you sign up for the correct class code. In addition to these regularly scheduled classes, graduate students are required to sign up for one additional didactic/journal club class of their choice during the academic year

You must have a minimum of 12 units per quarter.

The next step toward the doctoral degree is demonstrating research progress toward the Advancement to Candidacy. All second-year students must convene a pre-advancement committee meeting at the end of their second year. The committee should include the PI (silent participant) and two other MMG faculty members. The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that all second-year students have accomplished reasonable progress in their research during their first full year in the department.

After successfully completing the second year of graduate study, the next step in the progression toward the doctoral degree is the “Advancement to Candidacy." The purpose of the “Advancement to Candidacy” is to ensure that the student has selected an appropriate topic for the dissertation and that the experimental work that has been completed or is planned is scientifically rigorous and likely to be completed successfully and within the normal period of graduate study (approximately five to six years). Details about the “Advancement to Candidacy” can be found in the MMG Graduate Student Handbook. You are also required to give a formal research update presentation as part of the MMG 201 seminar class. Typically, graduate students present in the winter quarter.

Required classes:

• 200 A, B, C – credit for laboratory research
• 203 A, B, C – credit for organized group study based on readings, discussions and presentations given within each lab group
• 201 A, B, C – Thursday Morning Seminar series given by graduate students, postdocs and faculty
• One additional didactic/journal club class of student choice (any quarter)

Present your findings to your thesis committee once yearly. Continue with your dissertation research and present a formal research update presentation for the MMG 201 seminar class.

Required classes:

• 200 A, B, C – credit for laboratory research
• 203 A, B, C – credit for organized group study based on readings, discussions and presentations given within each lab group
• 201 A, B, C – Thursday Morning Seminar series given by graduate students, postdocs and faculty
• One additional didactic/journal club class of student choice (any quarter)

Present your findings to your committee once yearly. As you approach scheduling your dissertation defense, you will need to have a meeting with your committee that is considered a Pre-defense “green light” meeting (this can be in year four or five) at which you present an immediate timeline to complete your dissertation. Complete your dissertation and prepare for your dissertation defense. For the defense, you need just three faculty committee members present, including your advisor. At least two of the faculty members need to have primary appointments in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics. You need to present a complete draft of your dissertation to your committee to receive their approval, and after approval, you can schedule a date for your defense.

Required classes:

• 200 A, B, C – credit for laboratory research
• 203 A, B, C – credit for organized group study based on readings, discussions and presentations given within each lab group
• 201 A, B, C – Thursday Morning Seminar series given by graduate students, postdocs and faculty