I. Overview
The graduate program in Pharmaceutical Sciences represents a community of scholars training highly qualified graduate students to conduct research within various fundamental scientific disciplines under the umbrella of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This collaborative effort enables the PSD Program to remain successful in its endeavors. Faculty are expected to be actively involved in the PSD Program:
- Participate in all aspects of PSD graduate training
- Participate on PSD Graduate Program Committees and activities (Admissions, Advising & Orientation, Curriculum, Recruiting, etc.)
- Serve on student Thesis Committees
- Support student sponsored activities
II. Yearly Responsibility to the Program
Recruiting of prospective graduate students:
- Actively participate in the PSD graduate student interview/recruitment activities each spring semester
- Meet with visiting prospective students who have expressed an interest in their research areas
- Participate in recruitment social activities, luncheons, receptions, and/or dinners
Orientation Talks and Fall Rotations:
- If a faculty member will be accepting new student(s) in their lab it is expected the faculty member will present information regarding their lab to incoming PSD students during the Research Orientation Talks
- The presentation or “Talk” implies the professor has funding and space to accept a student after rotations are completed
- After the talks, first-year rotating students will likely make appointments with faculty in order for the student to identify appropriate rotation labs
- Faculty members may not make formal commitments to students as a Thesis Advisor until the final day of lab rotations in December of each year
Updating preferred URL for Program publications:
- Periodically faculty are asked to update their preferred URL, research description and contact information to adequately keep the PSD Graduate Program website and promotional materials up to date.
Minority Recruitment:
The PSD Graduate Program is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority students. As part of this commitment, PSD faculty are expected to actively participate in the recruitment of students from underrepresented groups via one or more of the following mechanisms:
- Presenting at meetings/conferences attended by students from underrepresented groups
- Participating in targeted outreach activities to students from underrepresented groups (e.g. graduate school fairs and/or information booths)
- Participation in undergraduate research opportunities for students from underrepresented groups
- Participating informally and formally in improving UW-Madison climate for underrepresented minorities (e.g., serving on a diversity committee)
III. Advising Responsibility to the Student (Thesis Advisors/Thesis Committee Members)
The Thesis Advisor will:
- Monitor and guide the student’s progress toward the PhD degree
- Provide the student with advice about how and when to meet the degree requirements of the Program
Important dates to note for obtaining the PhD are outlined below:
Thesis Committee:
- The Thesis Committee must be formed by the student by April 1 of the first year.
- For detailed information, see the Thesis Committee section of the PSD Handbook
Initial Thesis Committee Meeting:
- The Initial Thesis Committee Meeting meeting must be completed by the end of August of the student’s first year.
- For detailed information, see the Initial Thesis Committee Meeting section in the PSD Handbook.
Preliminary Exam:
- The Preliminary Exam is taken 1.5-2 years after entering the Program.
- The Preliminary Exam must be scheduled by mid-May and completed by the end of August of the second year.
- For detailed information, see the Preliminary Examination section in the PSD Handbook.
Research Presentation Requirement:
- Beginning the second year of the Program and each year thereafter, students are required to give an oral research presentation. For detailed information, see the Seminar Requirements section of the PSD Handbook.
Annual Progress Report:
- All students are required to conduct a Progress Report meeting with their Thesis Committee on a yearly basis after passing their Preliminary Exam
- The Progress Report meeting must be scheduled by mid-May and completed by the end of August
- For detailed information, see the Progress Report section of the PSD Handbook
PhD Defense:
- Students are required by the Graduate School to defend their thesis within five years of the completion of the Preliminary Exam.
- If the thesis is not completed within 5 years, the student must retake the Preliminary Exam or request an extension from the Graduate School and notify the DGS.
- For detailed information, see the PhD Defense section of the PSD Handbook.
Inadequate Progress in the Lab (Counseling & Documentation):
- If for some reason a student is not making satisfactory progress in the lab and/or their behavior is not conducive to lab research, the following steps are recommended:
- Communicate the concerns to the student
- Request changes within a specified period of time
- Note concerns on the yearly Progress Report Form
- Reiterate the concerns to the student
- Follow up with a letter to the student identifying your concerns
- Send a copy of the letter to the GPC
- If the matter is still not resolved satisfactorily:
- Seek the recommendation of the student’s Thesis Committee
- Document the results of the meeting
- Send a copy to the GPC
- If problems persist contact the DGS for a recommendation on the appropriate course of action.
- If the student’s performance remains unsatisfactory, the student may be asked to seek another lab or leave the PSD Program.
- If the student is asked to seek another lab, the PSD Program may be able to provide short-term “bridging” support to allow the student a chance to identify a different Thesis lab.
Note: To remain a Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate student in good standing, a student must have a Thesis Advisor who has a regular or affiliate faculty appointment in the PSD.