In your second year as an MCB student you will:
- Conduct research in your dissertation lab
- Complete elective courses (18 graded credits requirement)
- Form your Supervisory Committee
- Formulate your Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Hold an Annual Committee Meeting
- Submit your Annual Committee Meeting Report and IDP to MCB
- Complete your Biomedical Research Integrity training
- Schedule your General Exam
Quarterly Milestones
Across all quarters (Autumn, Winter, Spring), you will:
- Conduct research – Register for MCB 600: Independent Study and Research (variable credits: 1-9, Entry code: Faculty Advisor)
- Take elective courses – 3-5 graded credits recommended (Review Area of Interest Suggested Curriculum listings)
- Complete Teaching Requirements – MCB will register you for MCB 580: Teaching Practicum in Molecular and Cellular Biology (non-graded credits: 2, mandatory course under MCB Curriculum). For Academic TAships, credits are taken in the same quarter as TAship. For Community Outreach TAships, credits are taken after completing TAship.
Every quarters credit total should be 10 (except Summer).
The following are quarter-specific tasks and milestones:
| Quarter | Task/Milestone |
| Winter | Form Supervisory Committee (by last day of quarter) |
| Winter | Meet with Advisor to Formulate IDP |
| Spring | Meet with Supervisory Committee (by last day of quarter) and fill out Annual Committee Report |
| Spring | Submit Annual Committee Report and IDP to MCB office (by last day of quarter) |
| Summer | Register for MCB 600: Independent Study or Research (variable credits: 2) with Entry Code from Faculty Advisor
OR Register for UNCONJ 510: Introductory Laboratory Based Biostatistics (graded credits: 2) with Entry Code from Dissertation Lab Department Summer Quarter credit total: 2 |
| Summer | Schedule General Exam (by last day of quarter) |
| Summer | Complete Biomedical Research Integrity Seminar Series – 8 hours of training (by last day of quarter) |
| Summer | Complete Outreach TAship [If applicable] |