Chemistry Graduate program Fall 2009 Orientation

1. Chemistry Graduate programFall 2009 Orientation Program Chair: Dr. Ramaswamy Narayanan Chair of Admissions: Dr. Predrag Cudic

2. Basis of the program • Multi disciplinary Doctoral program in Chemistry • Faculty strength in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Drugs from the sea, proteomics, Bioinformatics and Molecular medicine • Minimum course work, but research intensive (key strength) • Doctoral degrees at FAU require at least 80 semester credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.

3. Current emphasis • Small molecule drug discovery, synthesis, high throughput screen • Carbohydrate chemistry • Environmental science • Drugs/peptides from sea • Biophysical chemistry, Raman microscopy, oxygenase enzyme • Metal enzymes, biotechnology • Microfluidics, drug delivery • Neuroscience, aging, protein biochemistry • Bioinformatics, chemoinformatics, druggable target discovery

4. Other participating units • Biological Sciences • Biomedical Sciences • Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CMBB) • Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) • Smithsonian Institute • Scripps Florida • Torrey Pines & Max Planck Institute (future)

5. Rotation Requirements • Chair will meet with you one on one • Seek interview with three faculty • Do rotation for four weeks in each labs • At the end of the rotation the Chair will help you with your choice

6. Buddy System • New! • One student for each incoming student to help with transition • Next year you my be asked to volunteer! • Give us your feedback at the end of the semester

7. Introduction to Chemical Research (1)-Fall Core courses- 9 credits Instrumentation (3)-Fall Synthesis & Characterization (3)-Spring Kinetics & Energetics (3)-Spring Not linked courses MUST complete CORE in the first two years Electives-3 courses (9 credits)-May transfer Plus Non Thesis Seminar (1 credit) May have to take other electives (Advisory Committee’s decision) Electives can be from other programs (consult advisor) Decided by the student and the Advisory committee Course requirements: 3 core, 3 electives, seminar and Intro. To Chemical Res.

8. Registration • 9 credits in the Fall/Spring and 6 credits in the summer (maximum 24 credits per year). • Undergraduate course needs Advisor’s justification • MUST maintain 3.0 GPA for tuition waiver and to remain in the program (probation for two semesters followed by dismissal). • Full time commitment required (no part time) • Outside employment not advisable • Continuous registration ( at least one credit per year).- This is minimum. Needs approval • Possible to go off for one semester. MUST have approval from the Chair.

9. TA Full year support (5 yrs) Must meet the TA commitment Language skills Must have full time registration $20K/yr + tuition waiver RA Grant-based (advisor) $20K/yr + tuition waiver Other scholarship (minority/pre doctoral/Private) possible. Consult advisor/E-Mail/FAU Graduate College web page (check frequently) Financial aid

10. Research Advisory Committee • Four members Research Advisory Committee (RAC) including the chair at least three of whom are members of the “Graduate Faculty” of the Chemistry Ph.D. program • One Committee member must be a faculty member from outside the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry • The RAC should be in place by the end of the Year I. • Student’s and the advisor’s choice.

11. Committee-Contd. • All RAC members must be approved by the Chair of the Dept. and the Graduate Program Committee. • If the major advisor is a non tenured faculty, at least one member of the Committee MUST be at the rank of a tenured Associate or full Professor. • If the major advisor is from outside the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, at least two members MUST be from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

12. Year 1 • Form Research Advisory Committee (before end of Year I) • Choose your Research Advisory Committee in consultation with your advisor • MUST start core courses/Intro. To Chemical research • Register for advanced research (CHM 7978) • Discuss a program of courses with your advisor (or Dr. Cudic, if no advisor) in the first semester • Elective courses to strengthen your background in field of study • May do rotation (consult advisor/Chair) • Plan for first Committee meeting before the end of Year I to early Year II.

13. Year 2 • Arrange first Committee meeting if not done so already • Complete Core and Elective courses • Continue research • Plan for non thesis seminar • Complete plan of study form at the graduate College before end of year II

14. Candidacy exam:To complete at least twelve months in advance of final dissertation - Within 3-6 months of coursework completion 1. EXAM 1- Written exam (4 hours). • three key publications in the area of research to critically analyze. 2. EXAM 2- Oral exam. • No later than four weeks after Exam 1, the student will be tested related to the subject matter of Exam 1 as well as in the student’s area of research. • Two chances to receive a Pass for the Candidacy Examination. After the second opportunity, dismissal • Admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Candidacy Exam (exam I & Exam II) and must enroll in CHM 7980. - The RAC MAY specify other requirements as part of the Candidacy exam.

15. Research Proposal (not a candidacy requirement) 3. Research Proposal (related, but distinct area) • NIH format (may be other format) grant proposal • Six weeks to complete the written proposal • May have an oral examination with the Committee within two weeks of submission • Two chances are given if unsuccessful

16. Years 3 and beyond • Doctoral degree requirements completed in 5-7 years (<7 Years) • May complete earlier (if Committee agrees) • At least once a year (preferably twice) meeting with your Committee • Dissertation Defense should be done at least twelve months after advancing to Candidacy • Complete dissertation research ( at least 25 credits, may require more) • Peer-reviewed first authored (or a major contributing author) publication (minimum one) in press before the Dissertation defense • Submit dissertation to the Research Advisory Committee • Public presentation and defense of Dissertation Research * Continue publications, Aim for high profile journals

17. Dissertation requirements • Annual progress report (Dec) • Plan of study to graduate College at least one semester before graduation • Inform Chair of program in the beginning of semester about dissertation defense • Public Defense three weeks before graduation • Committee must have three weeks to review draft Dissertation • Approval of Committee

18. Program expectations • High quality research • Attendance in all seminars • Seminar presentations skills • Ability to raise critical issues and alternatives in research proposals • Ability to identify strengths and weaknesses in research • Top quality publications

19. Annual Milestone checklist * (Sep 1) Once a year meeting with the Program Chair (Fall) *Student’s responsibility Annual research progress report * (starting fromend of second year) Due (Dec 1) Once a year the research advisor and the student submit a progress report to Program Chair on research activities *Advisor’s and the student’sresponsibility Yearly requirements

20. Change of advisor • Possible, but a challenge • A written justification is necessary • The new advisor must agree in writing to take the student • The new lab must have adequate funds to support the training • May have to take additional courses • May have to be readmitted to candidacy • May NOT be able to join the lab of choice

21. FAU graduate policy guidelines • Office of graduate admissions and studies- see http://graduate.fau.edu/ • For FAQs- see http://graduate.fau.edu/StudiesFAQ.htm • For policy and procedures, see http://www.fau.edu/academic/registrar/univcatalog/CombAcadPol.pdf • For graduate student association, see http://graduate.fau.edu/GSA/

22. What can you expect from the Program? • Mentorship support • Rigorous training • Interdisciplinary approach to research problems • Commitment to high quality training and excellence from faculty • Job placement advise

23. New things for you! • Open hour access to the Chair- Tue 12-1PM • Once a semester, get together with the Chair to discuss patents, jobs and any other issues • Student Advisory Committee to provide a framework for feedback to the Chair, get general help

24. Students Advisory Committee to the Chair Sanaz R. Dovell (Chair) Patrick Cosme Nina Bionda & Mari D. Heghinian

25. Graduate Advising Dr. P. Cudic (Chair, Admissions) Dr. S. Lepore Dr. W. Louda Dr. F. Mari Dr. R. Narayanan ( Program) Chair Dr. C. Parkanyi Dr. A. Terentis Dr. G. Sui & Dr. S. Vetter Dr. L. West

26. Seminars • Attendance required • Departmental seminars (Fri) 3-4 PM • Dissertation defense • CMBB seminars • Symposia (Scripps/Torrey Pines, Max Planck) • Annual Nobel lecture *Key purpose: effective presentation skills

27. Statistics • 55 students to date (from 2000) • 29 students graduated • Currently 26 students in the program • Past students at Harvard, FAU, University of Miami, Nova South Eastern University, Barry University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Scripps Florida, Wistar Institute, Glaxo Smith Kline

29. Contact • Must use FAU E- Mail only (no exceptions) • Clear E-Mails frequently from MYFAU (don’t exceed quota) • Web site is constantly updated (check FAQs) • Course related questions- advisor/Faculty • TA/RA support- Jennifer Soberon/advisor (read FAQs) • TA lab assignment- contact Dr. J. Haky • Paperwork, pay check, TA contract- contact Jennifer Soberon • General questions, help- contact- Eva John • Policy, candidacy and graduation issues-contact Dr. Narayanan, rnarayan@fau.edu