The curriculum in the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group (CAMB) is designed to provide superior graduate-level education in modern cell and molecular biology and thereby to prepare outstanding students for leadership careers in biomedical research. Students are asked to select a CAMB program to pursue specialized study in one of the six research areas: Cell Biology and Physiology, Cell Growth and Cancer, Developmental Biology, Genetics and Gene Regulation, Gene Therapy and Vaccines, or Microbiology Virology and Parasitology. Students can easily change programs during or at the end of the first year. First-year graduate students participate in a common core curriculum of courses and seminars designed to provide a strong foundation of knowledge in the fields of molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry. In addition, students initiate a series of laboratory rotations designed to provide experience in modern laboratory research methods. Program advisors help students select lab rotation mentors and appropriate courses. Each program offers lecture and seminar courses to provide in depth knowledge in selected areas of research and to give students the opportunity to organize and critically evaluate research findings. There is sufficient flexibility to allow course programs to be tailored to the specific background and research interests of each candidate.

The Ph.D. degree requires:

1. 18 course units (c.u.) derived from lecture courses, seminars, lab rotations and independent study;
2. passing the preliminary examination; and
3. dissertation research and the successful defense of the thesis.

Required and Elective Courses | Lab Rotations | Independent Study Projects | Other Requirements | Fellowship Awards

II. Program Requirements

Ph.D Students

Required Core Courses

There are two required core courses for CAMB students, Cell Biology (BIOM 600) and Gene Expression (BIOM 555). Their descriptions are given below. These courses train students in advanced, graduate-level concepts in cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology. The core courses are generally taken during the first year because they serve as a background for further course work and the preliminary examination. In addition to the core courses all first-year students are required to take the First Year Seminar Course.

• First year seminar course: CAMB 605 (1 c.u.)
• Two core courses: BIOM 555, BIOM 600 (2 c.u.)
• Three laboratory rotations: CAMB 699 (~4 c.u.)
• Five to seven additional lecture or seminar courses; these include specific program requirements and electives. (5-7 c.u.)
• Predissertation Research (CAMB 899) or any of the above (4-6 c.u.)

In the first semester, first-year Ph.D. students may not take elective courses. Students in MVP and GTV must take their program’s required course. Their lab rotations will be 1 c.u.. Students in other programs must do a 2 c.u. lab rotation. In the second semester, an additional elective course may be taken, if approved by the student’s program, with two 1 c.u. lab rotations. In the second year, students must take at least two courses/seminars each semester in addition to their laboratory research.

Exemptions and modifications:

In rare circumstances a student may have sufficient background to be exempt from the core courses, for example, a student who has received a Master's Degree in an appropriate area of life sciences. Requests for exemption will be considered by the Program Chair and the Executive Committee and will require documentation from the student: grade transcripts plus descriptions and syllabi of courses taken. If approved, credits will be transferred. There will be no exemptions from the three laboratory rotations.

Descriptions of Required Courses

BIOM 555: Eukaryotic Gene Expression
This course covers basic prokaryotic molecular biology and regulation of eukaryotic gene expression including chromatin structure, transcription, DNA modification, RNA processing, translation, post-translational processing, cell cycle and cell death. Offered spring semester.

BIOM 600: Cell Biology
This course covers basic biochemistry and surveys topics of cell biology including: cell structure, compartmentalization and trafficking, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, membranes and membrane transport. Offered fall semester.

CAMB 605: Cell and Molecular Biology First Year Seminar
The seminar focuses on current and classic papers related to research topics of interest to the faculty of CAMB. Students learn to read and critically evaluate the scientific literature and get training in preparing scientific presentations. Multiple sections are each taught by three faculty members from different programs within the Graduate Group. Offered fall semester.

Elective Courses:

Each of the six programs makes specific recommendations for appropriate introductory and advanced electives. Requirements and examples of courses for each program are given in Section III below. These courses are subject to change, and new courses are continually being added; for the specific courses given each term see the current course listings on the BGS web site - BGS Course Information.

Required and Elective Courses | Lab Rotations | Independent Study Projects | Other Requirements | Fellowship Awards

Laboratory Rotations (CAMB 699)

The purpose of the lab rotations is to get experience in specific laboratories that will eventually lead to the choice of a thesis laboratory. Such experience goes far beyond learning techniques; it is an opportunity for the student to determine whether he/she is compatible with the lab and the mentor. Rotations also provide the student with the opportunity to explore areas in which she/he may have interest but no direct research experience. It is recommended that at least one rotation be utilized to explore a field of research that the student may not have previously considered as a future research direction. Students are required to do a minimum of three different lab rotations, and a student can do additional rotations if necessary to find a compatible lab for thesis research.
The minimum period for a rotation is 11 weeks; students often spend a few weeks longer, depending on the term in which the rotation is done. A rotation can be done in the summer before the beginning of the first year or during the summer between the first and second years. Summer rotations before the first year must last for at least 12 weeks. In the 2007-2008 academic year, there will be one 11 week rotation in the fall term, which must start no later than October 1, and two 11-week rotations in the spring, the first starting no later than January 78 and the second starting March 31st. This reflects a change from prior years that was made to try to equalize the length of the three rotations.
All rotations are arranged between the student and the faculty mentor and are subject to approval by the Program advisors. Members of the Graduate Group have provided descriptions of their research, which can be found on the CAMB web site under Faculty. New students should begin thinking about their first rotation before arriving at Penn. Once at Penn, these choices should be explored by talking to students and conferring with Program advisors. The students should then make a short list of faculty with whom they wish to work and set up appointments to talk to the faculty about their research, possible rotation projects and the possibility of working in their laboratories. When a rotation is agreed upon the student and faculty member should meet to discuss and clearly define the goals of the project. A signed “Faculty Agreement for Rotation Monitoring” form (see Appendix) must be returned to the student’s program coordinator, and the project should commence as soon as possible. During the first rotation the student should begin planning subsequent rotations. Upon completion of a rotation, the rotation advisor must submit a grade and a written evaluation of the student's performance. An evaluation form (see Appendix) will be provided by the CAMB Office; it will be included in the student's file. A copy of the evaluation will also be given to the student. Students are encouraged to discuss the contents of the written evaluation form with their rotation advisor.

• All rotations must be done in the laboratories of faculty who are members of CAMB.
• A student cannot do two rotations in the same laboratory.
• Laboratory Rotations are very important. Students are expected to be working on the rotation research project at all times not being spent in class or in preparation for class. This should be at least 30 hours a week during Spring and Fall semesters, and 40 hours per week for summer rotations.
• Three rotations are required; there will be no exemptions from rotations.

Grading Guidelines Distributed to Faculty for Rotations:

Please give an A if: The student worked hard on their project, understood what they were doing, produced interpretable results that you trust, and made an intellectual contribution to the lab.Please do not give a grade of A unless you would be happy to welcome them into your lab as a thesis level student and you would be comfortable recommending them to any of your colleagues.

Please give a B if: The student performed well in your lab and you have a reasonable level of confidence that they will be able to accomplish thesis level research leading to a PhD.

Please give a C if: The student performed poorly in your lab and you are unsure whether they will be able to accomplish thesis level research leading to a PhD without significant improvement in their performance.

Required and Elective Courses | Lab Rotations | Independent Study Projects | Other Requirements | Fellowship Awards

Combined Degree Students

There are three required courses for combined degree students, BIOM 555 and BIOM 600 (see above) and CAMB 542, Trends in Molecular Medicine. CAMB 542 is taught in the first semester of the first year, concurrent with the first-year medical curriculum. Combined degree students are expected to do two courses or independent study projects (see below), one during the spring of the first year and the other in the fall of the second year. In the third year, combined degree students do a year of full-time course work that includes one of the required core courses plus 2 additional seminar/lecture courses each semester.

Independent Study Projects

Independent Study (CAMB 599) projects provide a less formal means by which first or second year combined degree students can begin their graduate studies. The format of the project is flexible but usually consists of selected readings of the scientific literature and detailed discussion with a chosen faculty member. Often these readings are background in preparation for a lab rotation in the faculty member's laboratory.
It is expected that the student and faculty member will meet weekly to discuss and assign literature articles. At the end of the project the student will either write a paper or make a formal presentation in the faculty advisor's laboratory group meeting. The paper or presentation will be critically evaluated and graded by the faculty advisor. The evaluation (a specific form will be provided, see Appendix) will be placed in the student's file. Independent study projects do not count toward the 7-lecture/seminar-course requirement. Combined degree students may do no more than two independent study projects.

Rotations

Rotations
Combined degree students must do three rotations. The usual time frame for rotations is as follows.

• The summer before the second year of medical school (required)
  
• Third year fall term.
  
• Third year spring term, Jan 8th – March 23rd

There is a possibility of completing a rotation the summer before one enters medical school. If a student has completed three rotations prior to the spring semester of the third year, he/she must register for an 11-week period of pre-dissertation research in the chosen thesis lab starting no later than January 9. No additional lab research in the latter part of the spring semester is required.

Required and Elective Courses | Lab Rotations | Independent Study Projects | Other Requirements | Fellowship Awards

Other Requirements

Faculty Mini-talks: All first-year Ph.D. and combined degree students are required to attend a weekly series (non-credit) of faculty research presentations during the fall semester. Each week, selected faculty will give short presentations about their research so that students can become familiar with ongoing research and research opportunities at Penn. In 2007, these sessions will be held on Thursdays at 4:00.

Symposium. CAMB annually organizes a daylong scientific symposium featuring a keynote speaker, talks by students and faculty and poster sessions. Student participation is mandatory. The 2007 symposium will be held at the Annenberg Center on October 1st. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Craig Thompson.

Seminars, Student Chalk Talks, and Journal Clubs. Students are expected to participate in the activities of the Graduate Group that are intended to enhance the research environment at Penn. Examples of these activities include Institute, Center or Departmental seminars, student chalk talks, journal clubs, program meetings and training grant meetings. These activities will be advertised by e-mail and mailings to the faculty and students, and are often listed on the Events page.

Bioethics, Radiation Safety, Chemical Hygiene, and Laboratory Animal Procedures. BGS provides training in research ethics to all students on an annual basis. Students in the first year complete their bioethics training on line. Students in their second, third and fourth years participate in small group workshops focusing on case studies in bioethics. Students in years five and beyond have different choices for fulfilling their requirement, which may include attending seminars sponsored by the Center for Bioethics or co-facilitating a workshop for the second and fourth year students. All students must also do laboratory safety training annually, and students working with animals must take the training course in laboratory animal procedures.

Required and Elective Courses | Lab Rotations | Independent Study Projects | Other Requirements | Fellowship Awards

Conditions of Fellowship Awards

All full time CAMB students in residence are guaranteed a BGS fellowship that pays tuition, fees and health insurance and provides a stipend for a period of five years as long as the student remains in good academic standing. Funds for fellowships derive from a variety of sources. Students are generally supported by a training grant and/or a University fellowship during the first two years of study and by faculty resources during the dissertation phase. Some students apply for and receive individual extramural fellowships, such as National Research Service Awards or National Science Foundation fellowships, which provide funding for the majority of a student's graduate training. Students are expected to abide by the conditions of their funding source. For example, students appointed to a training grant must complete the required paperwork and participate in activities required by the grant, and students who receive multi-year individual extramural fellowships must prepare and submit annual renewal materials. Graduate students who accept a fully-funded fellowship are expected to devote themselves full time to their program of graduate study. Students may not simultaneously accept another appointment or be employed either within or outside the University. Exceptions may be made only with the written approval of the Dissertation Advisor (if applicable), the Graduate Group Chair, and the Director of BGS.

All University and extramural fellowship awards in excess of tuition, general fee, and required course-related expenses (e.g., required books) are subject to Federal income tax. Even though they are taxable, the University is not required to withhold Federal taxes or issue an IRS W-2 form for non-service (i.e., institutional or training grant based) fellowships. Some fellowships (i.e., those funded by research grants or teaching assistantships) are also subject to Philadelphia city wage taxes, which are withheld from the paycheck. The University is not qualified to provide specific tax information. Students are urged to seek counseling directly from the IRS.

CAMB Academic Calendar/Student Personal Time: CAMB generally adheres to the University's schedule for Fall and Spring course terms but has a 12-month annual training program. University holidays include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The University also gives 4 to 5 “season” days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. In 2007, these days are December 24th and 26 through 31. Most BGS courses do not take the University’s fall and spring breaks. BGS students are expected to work full-time toward the degree; however, they are entitled to take two weeks off per year for personal time. Students at the dissertation level may schedule time off only with the prior approval of their advisor.

Leaves of Absence: The University allows graduate students to take leaves of absence with the permission of the school only during the period prior to dissertation status (see the Graduate Catalog - Rules and Regulations for more details). Exceptions may be made for dissertation level students, most notably for medical reasons and for parental leave in association with the birth of a child (of up to one year). Student stipends are suspended during a medical leave period and are guaranteed upon return from leave under the conditions of the original award guarantee, i.e., through the initial five-year award period. CAMB students are eligible to receive full pay for new child leave from the same source as the stipend for 30 calendar days. In addition, students may apply the two weeks of annual vacation leave to extend the paid new child leave to 45 calendar days. Beyond that, up to one year of leave may be taken with the remainder unpaid.