Academic Advising
Our doctoral program in Biological Sciences has a clearly defined, multi-tiered advising structure that includes faculty advisors, student peer advisor and staff advisors.
Faculty Advisors
- First-Year Advisor
- Thesis Advisor (Committee Chair)
- Evaluation Head of Doctoral Committee (Committee member who will lead all thesis committee meetings)
- Doctoral Committee members
- Chair of the Graduate Program - 2011-2012 Chair is Prof. Jim Kadonaga
- Associate Dean for Education - Gabriele Wienhausen
Peer Mentors: student peer advisors
Staff Advisors: in the Student and Instructional Services Office
See below for more information about the faculty advisor roles.
First Year Advisor
Role
Provides guidance and support for first-year PhD students. Students should plan on meeting with their First Year Advisor during Boot Camp to discuss their prior course record, research experience and interests.
Subsequently, First Year Advisors will meet with their student at least once per quarter throughout the first year.
Selection
First Year Advisors are assigned to each incoming student (Direct Admit students are assigned their research mentor as advisor) by the Chair of the Graduate Committee.
Thesis Advisor (Doctoral Committee Chair)
Role
Selecting your Thesis Advisor to supervise your PhD research and chair your doctoral committee is a crucial step in your graduate student career. You should select your thesis advisor by the end of June of your first year.
Students and Thesis Advisors should establish a program of formal research and courses that is designed to develop depth of knowledge in the area of the dissertation project and the breadth necessary for a career in teaching and research in the biological sciences.
The Thesis Advisor ensures you are making progress in all program requirements and assumes financial responsibility for your support. You should meet with your thesis advisor regularly, with the Advisor (and Doctoral Committee) preparing an annual evaluation that summarizes your progress and outlines goals for the future.
Selection
Students select their thesis advisor after completing rotations during the first year. The thesis advisor assumes responsibility for guiding the student’s research and ensures the student is meeting degree requirements.
A thesis advisor may be any ladder rank (Asst. Prof., Assoc. Prof., Professor) faculty member of the Division of Biological Sciences, a participating member of the Salk Institute, an adjunct member of the Division of Biological Sciences, or any ladder rank member of the UCSD faculty.
Doctoral Committee Evaluation Head
Role
You must select a member of your doctoral committee to serve as your Evaluation Head. The thesis advisor cannot also serve as Evaluation Head.
The Evaluation Head, not the thesis advisor, will lead all doctoral committee meetings and examinations. This encourages an objective review of each student’s performance and of the research project. The member serving as Evaluation Head will be an additional mentor during your graduate career.
The Evaluation Head is responsible for facilitating the annual committee meeting and preparing your annual evaluation.
Selection
Students select their Evaluation Head after consultation with their thesis advisor and other committee members. The Evaluation Head should be identified before your second year proposition examination.
Doctoral Committee Members
Role
The Doctoral Committee is unique to each student and charged with monitoring your research progress throughout your graduate career. Each student meets with their Doctoral Committee at least once per year (usually during Spring Quarter) to review research progress.
During these meetings the committee provides feedback to the student and contributes to the annual assessment narrative. Committee members are available in case you encounter any challenges or difficulties encountered during your research. It is very important for you to build strong professional relationships with each member of their doctoral committee and to communicate with them regularly.
Selection
Students select their Doctoral Committee members in consultation with their thesis advisor. You must have your "Core" Committee in place before your Second Year Proposition examination. The Core Committee is composed of at least 3 faculty members, including the Thesis Advisor and the Evaluation Head.
When you are ready to advance to candidacy, you must form the remainder of your Doctoral Committee. The full Doctoral Committee must consist of at least 5 faculty members, including the Thesis Advisor and Evaluation Head. Get specific guidance on Doctoral Committee membership.
Graduate Program Chair
Role
The Chair of the Graduate Program is responsible for the organization and activities of the Graduate Committee. The Grad. Committee is charged with the evaluation and continued improvement of existing programs and policies, as well as the development of new programs. In addition, the Chair serves as an advisor to all graduate students for general issues as well as specific individual needs of the students.
Associate Dean for Education
Role
The Associate Dean for Education is the official liaison with the UCSD Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). The Associate Dean works with the Chair of the Graduate Program and Graduate Committee to develop and implement improvements to existing programs and policies and to advise on new initiatives for the graduate program.
