Requirements for admission to Ph.D. Candidacy are: (i) completion of the core curriculum, (ii) carrying a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, and (iii) satisfactory completion of Parts I and II of the qualifying examination.
The qualifying examination is divided into two parts: (I) a comprehensive written examination of the student’s general knowledge in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and cognate disciplines (administered through the Molecular Biosciences Program), and (II) an evaluation of the student’s research potential and dissertation potential.
Part I - Written Qualifying Examination A
All Ph.D. students are required to take part I of the examination upon completion of either the first year of full-time study or the core curriculum, whichever comes first.
To be held in June of the first year or after completion of the set of core courses. The students will be given a selection of journal articles at least 14 days prior to the exam. There will be a series of written exams related to these articles to test basic knowledge, comprehension of the papers, and experimental design. The questions can be specific as well as wide-ranging.
The examination will be prepared and graded on a pass/fail basis by a committee of faculty members. A student must have a GPA of at least 3.0. to sit for the examination and must pass the examination to remain in the Ph. D. program.
If the performance of a student on the examination is unsatisfactory, the student may be given another chance. If that examination is still unsatisfactory the student will be required to terminate from the program.
Part II - Oral Qualifying Examination B
Part II of the examination should take place once the student has identified a thesis research laboratory (usually by the end of the second year of full-time study). The student should have a permanent thesis advisor by the beginning of their second year of Ph.D. studies, and it is then that the student should work towards completing part II of the qualifying examination. Since he/she will be in the initial stages of the research problem the research proposal presents an opportunity to thoroughly research the background of the problem and to develop a logical research plan for the dissertation research. Preliminary research results are not required for this proposal and completion of this part of the examination.
Oral Qualifying Proposition: For the oral examination, the student shall prepare a written research proposal with a title, the significance of the work, and a plan for accomplishing the research proposed. The proposal will consist of an introduction and background relevant to the proposed study, the significance of the proposed study, and the experimental plan. It will be presented to a committee of at least 4 members (the advisor, 2 other faculty members of the CDB faculty, and an outside member).
Oral Qualifying Examination Committee. Members of the oral preliminary exam committee may or may not serve on the student¹s thesis committee. However if choosing a committee that will also serve as the thesis committee, the regulations of the Rutgers Graduate School state that at least one of the faculty must not be a member of the Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate program. The external committee member may be a member of another program in the Graduate Programs in Molecular Biosciences or from outside of RU or RWJMS. The committee chairperson is to submit a written report to the program director of the result of this examination (pass/fail).
Oral Qualifying Defense. The presentation will be followed by questions from the committee relating to problems that may arise with the proposed research plan, expected results and their interpretation and alternate experimental strategies.
Two forms documenting the completion of the Oral Qualifying Exam are filed with the School of Graduate Studies Office: a Qualifying Exam B Form and an Annual Research Advisory Committee Meeting Form.
Deadlines. Part II of the Qualifying Examination must be completed with a passing grade by August 31 of the student's second year in the Program. Failure to complete Part II by this deadline is grounds for termination by the Graduate School due to non-compliance with Program requirements. Extensions to this deadline may be granted by the Graduate Program Director in special cases if requested by the student with the support of the Thesis advisor.