Statement of Mutual Expectations between Biochemistry and its Graduate Students

Graduate students in the Biochemistry doctoral program are expected to develop a mastery of their field, and gain familiarity with their discipline from arrival to graduation through active participation in research, seminars, and presentation at professional meetings. Students should make the transition from classroom learning to active supervised full-time original research during the first two years of their graduate career.

In particular, doctoral students in Biochemistry who arrive with a baccalaureate degree normally will:

• Choose a thesis adviser at the end of the third laboratory rotation, during the second semester of the first year.
• Become engaged in research by the summer of the first year.
• Secure advancement to candidacy within 2 years.
• Submit a minimum of one paper for publication prior to graduation.
• Complete all requirements and graduate within 5-6 years.

Graduate students in the Biochemistry doctoral programs normally may expect:

• A wide selection of courses.
• Advice and mentoring by program faculty prior to the selection of an adviser.
• From their adviser (or, in some instances the program):
  • Regular access and advice during the research and thesis writing process.
  • Training in the preparation of oral and written scholarly presentations; in particular, advice and support for the writing of at least one paper for publication.
  • Introductions, for example at conferences, to other members of the field.
  • Assistance and advice with job searches.
     

Biochemistry Requirements

• Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Biochemistry
• M.S. Requirements for Biochemistry
• Biochemistry Candidacy Exam Guidelines
• Biochemistry Independent Aim Guidelines
• Biochemistry Seminar Guidelines
• Mentoring Expectations for Biochemistry Faculty

Timeline for Biochemistry Ph.D. Students

Forms for Biochemistry Ph.D. Students

• Advisor Selection Form **Printable Version here

• Biochemistry Candidacy Packet (contains Worksheet, Candidacy Exam Report, GOA - Candidacy Evaluation Form and Application for Admission to Candidacy) **If you'd like for your committee to receive this packet digitally, please email chem-gradoffice@umd.edu

  • Biochemistry Candidacy Worksheet (Departmental)

  • Candidacy Exam Signatures Form (Departmental)

  • GOA-Biochemistry Candidacy Exam Evaluation Form (Departmental)

  • Application for Admission to Candidacy  (Application for Admission to Candidacy form must be received by the Office for Graduate Studies (chem-gradoffice@umd.edu) prior to the 25th of the month in order for the advancement to be effective the first day of the following month.)

• GOA-Biochemistry Independent Aim Evaluation Form (Departmental) **Printable Version here

• Biochemistry Rotation Evaluation Form

• Candidacy Committee Nomination Form (Due by Oct 15) **Printable Version here

• Graduate Student Schedule Form (must be filled each semester when registering for the following semester) **Printable Version here

• Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation Committee Form (Graduate School Form)

• Request for Inclusion of Non-CHEM-BCHM Coursework

• Request For Transfer Of Course Credit (Only for PhD students)

• Seminar Peer Evaluation Form **Printable Version here

Timeline for Biochemistry Master's Students

Forms for Biochemistry Master's Students

• Advisor Selection Form **Printable Version here

• Approval of MS Scholarly Paper Form

• Graduate Student Schedule Form (must be filled each semester when registering for the following semester) **Printable Version here

• Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation Committee Form (Graduate School Form)

• Request for Inclusion of Non-CHEM-BCHM Coursework

• Request for Transfer or Inclusion of Credit for Master’s Degrees

Graduation Steps

At the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate, you should complete the following forms (with advisor's signatures where required) and email them to the Graduate Office (chem-gradoffice@umd.edu).

1. Check Academic Deadlines

2. Apply for graduation via Testudo

3. Submit Nomination Form

   • If you need to nominate a Special Member to sit on your committee, please fill out this Google Form at least 3 weeks before the deadline for submitting the nomination form.

4. Submit Defense Scheduling Google Form(Departmental) to ensure your defense gets announced

5. Reserve a room for your defense/thesis

6. Defend your dissertation/thesis

7. Submit your dissertation/thesis via the ETD System by the appropriate academic deadline

8. (Master's Students only-- both thesis and non-thesis) Submit Approved Program Form to Graduate Office by appropriate deadline 

     Note: Master's Students doing the non-thesis option do not need to follow steps 3-7. You will need to submit the scholarly paper and form to the Graduate Office by the last day of classes

Helpful Graduation Checklists/Resources

• Doctoral Degree Completion Checklist

• Master's Degree Completion Checklist

• Graduate Degrees and Certificate Completion Procedures

• Thesis & Dissertation Filing

• Graduate Outcome Assessment-Dissertation Defense Evaluation (Departmental)

• Thesis/Dissertation Embargo Request (effective December 2, 2021)

  • As a condition of graduation, each student's thesis or dissertation must be published. Students may place an embargo of up to two years on electronic access to their document through ProQuest's Digital Dissertations and DRUM without approval from the Graduate School. Approval from The Graduate School is required to place an embargo for a maximum of six years or indefinitely. This form may be used to modify a previous embargo or to submit a new embargo request.

Graduate School Forms

If you need to submit a petition, waiver and/or a request to the Graduate School, please go here to view all of their forms or you can contact chem-gradoffice@umd.edu to figure out what form you need.