Difference between revisions of "AMS-531 Laboratory Rotations in Computational Biology"

Latest revision as of 13:18, 21 October 2024

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GENERAL INFORMATION: In this course, first year PhD students spend at least 8 weeks in each of three different laboratories actively participating in the research of participating Computational Biology faculty. At the end of each rotation, students give a presentation of their lab activities and accomplishments. The primary goal of rotations is to help students choose a research advisor and to help faculty members choose students. Students register for AMS 531 in both the Fall and Spring semesters of the first year. Fall and Spring, 0 - 3 credits, S/U grading. Crosslisted with PHY 584.

Learning Objectives:

• (1) Learn how research is conducted at a "very high research" University.
• (2) Actively participate in research of three Computational Biology faculty.
• (3) Gain experience working as a part of a team.
• (4) Learn to use cutting edge research tools in Computational Biology.
• (5) Explore research projects that could lead to dissertation work.
• (6) Gain experience giving group-meeting presentations on lab activities and accomplishments.

Lab Rotation Goals: The goal of "Lab Rotations" is for PhD students in the AMS Computational Biology Track to learn in detail what and how research is conducted in at least three groups over the Fall and Spring semesters of the first year. Note that Lab Rotations are required of all PhD students. For Masters students, Lab Rotations are optional and may be pursued with interested faculty on a case-by-case basis. At the end of each rotation, students give a brief synopsis (~15 minutes) of their lab activities and accomplishments. The goal of the rotations is to help students choose a research advisor and to help faculty members choose students. Students should consult the AMS compbio track webpage at http://www.ams.sunysb.edu/CB/CBOverview.shtml, talk with senior Stony Brook students, and contact potential PI's in an effort to narrow down a list to 3-4 potential laboratories. Depending on availability, and in conjunction with the AMS-531 instructor, three rotations are then scheduled for the following dates:

• Rotation 1: ~ Sep 29 – Nov 28 (Fall)
• Rotation 2: ~ Dec 01 – Feb 27 (Fall-Spring)
• Rotation 3: ~ Mar 02 – May 01 (Spring)

Lab Rotation Guidelines: The goal of lab rotations is to help students choose a research advisor and to help faculty members choose students. In particular, faculty members use rotations as a way to help gauge how a student will work in a laboratory setting and if they would be a productive team member of the lab. With this objective in mind it is important to consider the following points when doing each rotation.

• Become fully engaged in the lab during your rotation. Make arrangements with the group leader to have a desk or other place at which you can work and be sure to go to the lab everyday. If you need to work on class assignments do your homework in the lab. Students that rarely show up leave a less than favorable impression.

• Show interest in the lab's research. Ask questions.

• Read key papers from the lab. Become well-acquainted with tools being used in the group.

• Be proactive in communicating with others in the lab. Ask for help and guidance to get started.

• Attend lab meetings. Ask questions.

• Be proactive in asking your rotation advisor to discuss with you research projects which could be pursued should you join the group permanently.

• Keep in mind that faculty members must devote considerable time, effort, as well as provide financial assistance when they commit to becoming an advisor to a student. Thus, faculty members want to be sure that before they make such a commitment a student has good work habits, can communicate, is easy to work with, is interested in the lab's research, and wants to succeed in graduate school. Lab rotations can be used to show to potential advisors you have such qualities.

LITERATURE DISCLAIMER: Hyperlinks and manuscripts accessed through Stony Brook University's electronic journal subscriptions are provided below for educational purposes only.

PRESENTATION DISCLAIMER: Presentations may contain slides from a variety of online sources for educational and illustrative purposes only, and use here does not imply that the presenter is claiming that the contents are their own original work or research.

Rotation Schedules

Required Syllabi Statements:

The University Senate Undergraduate and Graduate Councils have authorized that the following required statements appear in all teaching syllabi (graduate and undergraduate courses) on the Stony Brook Campus.. This information is also located on the Provost’s website: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/provost/faculty/handbook/academic_policies/syllabus_statement.php

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Academic Integrity Statement: Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong. Faculty is required to report any suspected instances of academic dishonesty to the Academic Judiciary. Faculty in the Health Sciences Center (School of Health Technology & Management, Nursing, Social Welfare, Dental Medicine) and School of Medicine are required to follow their school-specific procedures. For more comprehensive information on academic integrity, including categories of academic dishonesty please refer to the academic judiciary website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/academic_integrity/index.html

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