Graduate School of Biological Sciences

Laboratory rotations are an important part of the first year of the Graduate Program at Mount Sinai. They give students the opportunity to experience different research projects, different laboratory and mentoring styles, and allow the faculty to assess the interests and aptitude of the students. In general, all PhD and MD/PhD students will complete three laboratory rotations (a minimum of two, in two different laboratories, is required) before declaring a research preceptor and a Multidisciplinary Training Area. The rotation facilitates the choice of preceptor and also offers students an exposure to problems and techniques of interest to them. Grading of rotations will be on a Pass/Fail basis.

· For each semester, the student should submit the name of the rotation preceptor and start date of the rotation no later than the beginning of the semester. This is done via the submission of the Rotation Agreement Form (see below).

· Several students schedule at least three rotations, often using pre- or post-first year rotation time.

· A typical rotation time is one semester is during the academic year and six to eight weeks in the summer.

· Once a student has completed a rotation, the Rotation Evaluation Form (see below) must be filed within a week.

· Summer rotations preceeding matriculation must be at least six weeks long (start by July 1).

· Students will be required to make a formal presentation in an appropriate venue following each rotation.

To facilitate and optimize the rotation experience for both the student and the faculty mentor, it is important that this student-faculty pair meet prior to the start of the rotation to discuss expectations, goals, requirements and laboratory guidelines. The discussion should be recorded on the Laboratory Rotation Agreement Form so that both the student and the rotation preceptor are in agreement about what each expects from the other. A Form must be submitted to the Graduate School at the beginning of each rotation.

During the laboratory rotation, the student has to be aware of the balance that needs to be maintained between research and study time for ongoing courses. Good time management can optimize the experience in that particular laboratory. The student should select a laboratory only after s/he has met with the mentor and discussed expectations, goals, and motivation. A student will benefit even more from a rotation if s/he gets involved in the laboratory, not just behave as a visitor to the laboratory. The rotation should be a vehicle for scientific development for the student.

At the end of each rotation, the student and rotation preceptor should discuss the rotation experience and the rotation preceptor must complete the Laboratory Rotation Evaluation Form. A Form must be submitted to the Graduate School at the end of each rotation. At the end of each semester, The Graduate School will organize the laboratory rotation presentation, where students have the opportunity to present their work to their classmates, faculty and MTA directors. The intent of this exercise is for the student to become comfortable with public speaking.