Graduate Program Guidelines

Specializations

SBS offers graduate degrees with focus in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior (EEB) and Genetics, Cell, and Molecular Biology (GCMB).  EEB and GCMB are SBS specializations. The SBS faculty are organized into two sections, EEB and GCMB, that largely correspond to the faculty member’s specialization affiliation. Some faculty are affiliated with both specializations. An Interdisciplinary Bioinformatics specialization is also available for PhD students; students who elect this specialization must also select an SBS specialization. Faculty affiliated with the EEB and GCMB are listed here.

Once admitted to the program, students are required to follow requirements of UNL’s Graduate Studies, the SBS Graduate Program, and their chosen specialization. Although graduate students are typically affiliated with the same specialization as their advisor, students may choose any specialization, with approval from the Graduate Committee. With approval of the Graduate Committee, students may transfer between specializations.

Forms that must be completed are available on the SBS website and the Graduate Studies website.

Graduate Committee

The SBS Graduate Committee is charged with coordinating recruitment of new graduate students, providing a timely review of graduate student applications, and making recommendations to the Director for admission and support of new students. The Graduate Committee also conducts an annual review of graduate student academic performance and progress, recommends changes in graduate student status, certifies examining and supervisory committees, and recommends curricular changes to the curriculum committee. 

The Graduate Committee will consist of three faculty and one graduate student representative. The faculty members shall include one representative from each SBS Section (EEB and GCMB), the Graduate Program Director, and the Director of the School as an ex officio member. The graduate student representative shall be designated by the Biology Graduate Student Association (BioGSA). The Graduate Program Director will serve as Chair of the Graduate Committee. 

Applications to SBS 

Application instructions and general information are posted on-line and the official application form for admission to a Graduate Program at UNL can be found at the UNL Graduate Studies website. The Graduate Coordinator is responsible for processing application materials and providing guidance to students expressing an interest in the SBS Graduate Program. Typically, students apply by December 1^st for admission the following fall. EEB and GCMB students are admitted for spring matriculation only under exceptional circumstances and must be accepted by a majority vote of faculty in the respective sections.

Degree Options 

The School of Biological Sciences awards the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Option A Master of Science (MS) degrees as currently defined by the Graduate College.  Graduate training in the School is research-oriented; thus SBS does not admit students to pursue an Option B MS degree.  Under exceptional circumstances a student in the program may petition to complete an Option B MS degree, with approval from the Graduate Committee. Students may pursue a PhD directly or may enter the PhD program following completion of an MA or MS degree.

Requirements for Admission 

Applications must include transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities, a statement of research experience and research interests (outlining the student’s academic interests and long-term goals), a CV or resume, and a TOEFL examination score for students whose native language is not English. Scores from the GRE Advanced Subject Test are not required but can be submitted if the applicant wishes. Minimum standards are a B.A. or B.S. degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution, cumulative grade point average equivalent to a 3.0 (B). For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 565 for paper-based test, 225 for computer-based test, or 85 for the internet-based test is required. In lieu of an applicant meeting one of the above criteria, consideration for admission may be based on a personal interview and/or correspondence. In addition, applicants must identify three individuals from whom letters of recommendation will be requested.

EEB and GCMB

Graduate recruiting is organized by each specialization. The section representatives to the Graduate Committee coordinate the initial evaluation of applicants, invitations to interview, and final ranking of applicants. Prospective student interviews are arranged in February or March. Formal meetings with faculty and current graduate students are usually held on a Thursday/Friday, and social events follow in the evening. Ranked lists from each specialization are evaluated by the Graduate Committee, which makes recommendations to the Director regarding admission and financial support.  Admitted students receive a formal offer letter, and the deadline for student acceptance of financial support is April 15^th. 

Change of Degree

Students wishing to change their degree program must complete a Change of Degree form.

Students wishing to change from the PhD to the MS program are required to obtain approval of their PhD Supervisory Committee and the Graduate Committee. Note that Graduate Studies guidelines are that a student cannot defend his/her MS thesis in the same semester in which they switched from the PhD to the MS program.

Students wishing to change from the MS to PhD program are required to obtain the approval of their MS advisor, proposed PhD advisor (if different from the MS advisor), current MS Advisory Committee, and the Graduate Committee. Masters students may request a change to the PhD program no earlier than their second semester. A student may defend his/her/their MS thesis and obtain a MS degree en route to the PhD, or move directly into the PhD program without completing an MS.

Minor in Biological Sciences

Students majoring in fields of study outside SBS may obtain a minor in Biological Sciences with approval of the SBS Graduate Committee. A letter of intent should be sent to the SBS Graduate Chair prior to the beginning of the course of studies, and the SBS Graduate Committee needs to approve the proposed Memorandum of Courses or Program of Studies. A minor in SBS for the MS degree requires at least 9 hours of graduate course work in Biological Sciences; a minor in SBS for the PhD degree requires at least 16 hours of graduate course work in Biological Sciences, with 6 of those hours in 900-level courses or 800-level courses without a 400-level counterpart. BIOS credit hours used to complete the minor in Biological Sciences must be in courses whose home department is Biological Sciences (i.e., not cross-listed courses whose home department is not Biological Sciences).

Only required outcomes will be assessed. The desirable outcomes are likely to emerge en route to finishing a Master’s or PhD degree. Students are encouraged to decide on a set of desirable outcomes to achieve their career goals, include them in the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and discuss progress towards these outcomes with their advisor and/or committee.

Masters Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Develop scientific and technological literacy and research skills in the student’s focal discipline.

• Demonstrate disciplinary breadth.
• Demonstrate disciplinary depth.
• Demonstrate the ability to survey and synthesize scientific literature.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct and analyze the results of research projects.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate research findings orally and in writing to other scientists and the public.

Demonstrate proper ethical standards in all aspects of professional life through responsible conduct of research and promotion of diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environments.

Desirable Outcomes

Develop communication, professional competencies, and career-related skills.

• Develop the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research in collaborative teams.
• Develop an understanding of the range of career options in biology available after graduation.

Develop effective teaching strategies, including

• an understanding of effective strategies to achieve learning outcomes.

Assessment of Required Outcomes for a Masters degree

PhD Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Develop scientific and technological literacy, and research skills in the student’s focal discipline.

• Demonstrate disciplinary breadth.
• Demonstrate disciplinary depth.
• Demonstrate the ability to survey and synthesize scientific literature and identify knowledge gaps.
• Demonstrate the ability to design, conduct and analyze the results of independent research projects addressing identified knowledge gaps.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate research findings orally and in writing to other scientists and the public.
• Develop the ability to write proposals.

Demonstrate proper ethical standards in all aspects of professional life through responsible conduct of research and promotion of diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environments.

Desirable Outcomes

Develop leadership, communication, professional competencies, and career-related skills including

• the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research in collaborative teams,
• skills important for training and mentoring young professionals in research, and
• an understanding of the range of career options in biology available after graduation.

Develop effective teaching strategies, including

• an understanding of effective strategies to achieve learning outcomes, and
• the ability to implement pedagogical methods for inclusive and effective training and assessment.

Assessment of Required Outcomes for a PhD degree

The UNL Office of Graduate Studies website lists the requirements for graduate studies at UNL that apply to all academic programs, including the School of Biological Sciences. A student is expected to satisfy the requirements in force at the time of admission to a degree program. The School of Biological Sciences sets forth specific requirements to confer MS and PhD degrees in addition to those listed on the Graduate Studies website. Details of these requirements and expected procedures are formalized by each specialization.  Some SBS requirements not listed on the Graduate Studies website include: 

PhD and MS students in EEB and GCMB

New Student Orientation: Before classes begin in the fall semester the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Coordinator will conduct an orientation for all incoming students.  At this meeting each student will receive a copy of the Graduate Handbook, and the guidelines and general expectations of our program will be discussed.

Guidance Interview: Prior to or early during the first semester in residency each student will meet with his/her/their potential advisor and/or specialization faculty to determine the coursework to be taken during the first semester and receive detailed information concerning School and specialization requirements and procedures.  Following the Guidance Interview students must submit a completed Guidance Interview form to the Graduate Coordinator.

Professionalism course:  All incoming students are required to take this course in their first fall semester. This course is typically taught by the Graduate Program Director. Topics covered include scientific writing, the publication process, oral and poster presentations, CVs, research ethics, grant writing, communicating science to a broad audience, formal and informal networking, and general advice on how to succeed as a graduate student.

Seminars:  Each specialization will run a seminar course every semester, and all SBS students are required to participate in one of these seminars in each semester in which they are in residence.  Specialization seminars will include a mix of outside speakers, SBS faculty and student speakers, and brown-bag discussions. In the case of schedule conflicts, a student may register for an alternative seminar with the approval of his/her/their Supervisory Committee.

Presentation to the SBS Community:  Starting in their second year all students are required to present their work (either proposed, in progress, or completed) to the greater SBS community each year.  Student presentations may be oral, as part of one of the specialization seminars (915A or 915E), or as a poster at the annual Biology Graduate Students Association symposium. 

Individual Development Plan (IDP): All students are required to produce an IDP, which documents long- and short-term professional goals, strengths and talents, development opportunities and an action plan. Students are expected to update the IDP regularly and have an IDP meeting with their faculty advisor at least once a year.

A. Grade Appeals

Graduate-level courses
 

Appealing grades in graduate level courses follows the same procedure as listed in the Graduate & Professional Catalog.

Grade Appeals for research credit

1. Ad-hoc committee consisting of members of the SBS Graduate Committee makes a decision.
2. Students may appeal this decision to the UNL Graduate Council. The decision of the Graduate Council is final and not subject to further appeal beyond the campus.

B. Student-Advisor Relationship Concerns

An effective graduate student–advisor relationship should be built on support and trust. Both faculty advisor and graduate student are responsible for strengthening and maintaining this relationship throughout the student’s tenure. Remember that in addition to advising graduate students, faculty have numerous teaching, research, and service responsibilities. Advisors differ in their responsibilities and graduate students vary in their advising needs, which makes each student-advisor relationship unique.  If you are dissatisfied with this relationship, your first step should be to discuss the issue with your advisor. In preparation for that meeting, take time to consider your specific issue and how best to present your concerns to your advisor. Don’t downplay your concerns. If this meeting does not produce the desired outcome, the following steps are available to you:  

1. talk to a faculty member on your committee or a trusted faculty member, 
2. talk to the SBS Graduate Program Director, 
3. talk to the SBS Director
4. contact Dean of Graduate Education, Debra Hope to request intervention.

C. Research misconduct

Information regarding reporting research misconduct can be found here.

D. Student-Student or Student-Postdoc Relationship Concernts

Your faculty advisor is your strongest advocate, who you should ask for counsel first.  If this approach does not lead to a satisfactory outcome, please follow the steps B2-B3

E. Conflict Resolution Associated with Teaching Responsibilities

In case of issues with undergraduate students or other TAs, seek advice from

1. The lab coordinator,
2. The instructor of record
3. The vice director, David Woodman

In case of issues with the lab coordinator, seek advice from

1. The advisor
2. The instructor of record
3. The vice director, David Woodman

F. Guidelines for Good Practice in Graduate Education

These can be found here.

1. By the first day of the fall Semester, students beyond their first semester must submit their Annual Report electronically to their faculty advisor, Supervisory Committee and to the Graduate Coordinator. You should submit your report to your faculty advisor before submitting to the rest of the Supervisory Committee. Supervisory Committee members are to evaluate student Annual Reports and submit their evaluation to the Graduate Coordinator via email. If evaluations of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory are given, faculty must justify this recommendation in writing.
2. No later than two weeks after the first day of the fall Semester each committee member must email the Graduate Coordinator with their evaluation and a brief justification of that evaluation (Satisfactory, Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory). Failure to complete Graduate Studies, SBS, or specialization requirements is grounds for a less than Satisfactory evaluation. In addition, poor research progress is grounds for a less than Satisfactory evaluation.
3. If any evaluations are Needs Improvement the student will be required to schedule a meeting with his/her/their committee. At this meeting deficiencies will be discussed and suggestions to overcome those deficiencies will be proposed. No later than November 15^th, the student’s advisor should submit a letter to the SBS Graduate Committee summarizing the salient points of the meeting. No remediation plan is necessary, and no other action is needed.
4. The Graduate Coordinator will inform the student (and their committee) of his/her/their evaluations.
5. If any evaluations are Unsatisfactory the student will be required to schedule a committee meeting. At this meeting a plan for remediation must be developed. No later than November 15^th the student’s adviser should submit a letter to the SBS Graduate Committee (cc’d to the student and Supervisory Committee) summarizing the deficiencies and describing a plan for remediation.  
   
   Within 6 months (no later than April 15 of the same academic year) the student must have another committee meeting to determine if the plan for remediation has been satisfactorily completed. If the student has completed the plan and is making satisfactory progress the advisor must report this change in status in writing to the SBS Graduate Committee. 
   
   Students that fail to achieve satisfactory status by April 15 will be put on probation. Once on probation the student will have another 4 months to achieve satisfactory status. Failure to achieve Satisfactory status constitutes grounds for dismissal from the graduate program. A student who has not achieved Satisfactory status will not be allowed to register for the fall semester.
6. Receiving Unsatisfactory evaluations for similar reasons from the majority of the Committee in two consecutive years constitutes grounds for dismissal from the graduate program.

^{*All forms and reports should be submitted to Master’s Program Coordinator. Downloadable forms for MS students can be found here.}
 

MS students in EEB and GCMB

MS Examining Committee: This committee must be formed by the student by the end of the first academic year and must meet at least annually to discuss and evaluate the student’s progress. It is the student’s responsibility to call meetings with his/her/their supervisory committee. The MS Examining Committee must have three members, and at least one member must be a budgeted SBS Graduate Faculty member.

MS Memorandum of Courses: Students must submit their Memorandum of Courses (which includes all courses to be completed before the degree is granted prior to completion of over one-half of required coursework.) by the end of their first academic year.  Typically, students discuss their Memorandum of Courses with their Examining Committee at their first committee meeting. 

Final Oral Exam: The student presents a public talk describing his/her/their thesis research.  A closed-door examination by the Examining Committee follows.  The student passes the Final Oral Exam if no more than one member of the Examining Committee votes to fail the student. The Faculty Advisor will notify the Graduate Committee in writing of the outcome. If the student fails the examination, a written description of what the student must do before taking another exam must be filed with the Graduate Committee (see Graduate Catalog for more details).

Graduate Catalog

Master’s Degree Steps to Completion:

^{*All forms and reports should be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Coordinator. Downloadable forms for PhD students can be found here.}

PhD students in EEB and GCMB 

PhD Supervisory Committee:  This committee must be formed by the student by the end of the first academic year, and must meet at least annually to discuss and evaluate the student’s progress. It is the student’s responsibility to call meetings with his/her/their supervisory committee.

The PhD supervisory committee must have five members (including the primary advisor), and at least two members must be budgeted SBS Graduate Faculty and one member must be external to SBS.  Current graduate studies policy stipulates that the external member is a UNL faculty member affiliated with a department other than SBS. A faculty member from another institution may serve as the external member, but non-UNL faculty must be certified by the SBS Graduate Committee and Graduate Studies (see Graduate Studies Catalog for procedures to appoint adjunct committee members).

PhD Program of Studies:  Students must submit their Program of Studies to the SBS Grad Committee by the end of their first academic year.  The Program of Studies lists all courses that must be completed before the degree is granted, as well as any Research Tool (e.g., computer language or statistical expertise) required by the Supervisory Committee. Typically, students discuss their Program of Studies at the first meeting of their Supervisory Committee.  

PhD Milestone Committee Meeting:  This committee meeting should take no later than the end of the third semester.  This meeting is intended to assess the student’s mastery of the fundamentals in his/her/their field and to evaluate his/her potential to conduct doctoral level research.

PhD Comprehensive Exam: PhD students must take their Comprehensive Exam by the end of their eighth semester, and they are encouraged to take this exam by the beginning of their 3^rd year. The exam is administered by a minimum of four members of the student’s Supervisory Committee and examines the student’s breadth of knowledge and understanding as it pertains to his/her general research area. This evaluation is intended to assess the student's capacity to design and implement a dissertation-level project.

The exam will have two portions:

Written Portion: The student will write a proposal using a NIH or NSF grant proposal format. The student will propose three research topics from which their Supervisory Committee picks one. The expectations for the exam need to be clearly communicated in writing to the student. The proposal should be 8-10 pages long (single spaced, not including references), and should include a lay abstract (max 300 words). The written proposal will be provided to the Supervisory Committee no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled oral component of the exam.

Oral Portion: The oral exam will cover focal areas identified a priori by the members of the Supervisory Committee and more specific questions relating to the written portion of the exam. Upon request, each member of the Supervisory Committee will provide focal areas of questioning and/or reading materials for the oral exam no later than four weeks prior to the exam.

Immediately following the oral portion of the exam, each member of the Supervisory Committee will vote to pass or fail the student. A majority vote is required for the student to pass. The Faculty Advisor will notify the Graduate Committee in writing of the outcome. If the student fails the examination, a second chance will be offered within 6 months. A second failure will be grounds for dismissal from the PhD program.

Admission to Candidacy: Once the student completes his/her/their research tool (if any) and passes his/her/their Comprehensive Exam he/she/they advances to candidacy.  The Candidacy form is typically completed at the Comprehensive Exam.  

PhD Final Oral Examination: The student presents a public talk describing his/her/their dissertation research.  A closed-door examination by the Supervisory Committee follows.  The student passes the Final Oral Exam if no more than one member of the Supervisory Committee votes to fail the student. The Faculty Advisor will notify the Graduate Committee in writing of the outcome. If the student fails the examination, a written description of what the student must do before taking another exam must be filed with the Graduate Committee (see Graduate Catalog for more details).

Graduate Catalog

Doctoral Degree Steps to Completion

Ecology, Evolution & Behavior (EEB)

Faculty:  Drs. Brassil, Cressler, DeLong, Fritz, Gardner, Hebets, Keesey, Lyons, Meiklejohn, Montooth, Pilson, Russo, Shizuka, Storz, Tenhumberg, Wagner, Woodman, & Zink

Grad Comm Reps: Dr. Hebets

Courtesy:  Drs. Bevins, Hoagland, Leger, Powell, Powers, Reinhard, Stevens & Wedin

Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology (GCMB)

Faculty:  Drs. Angeletti, Atkin, Blum, Cerutti, Chia, Christensen, Couch,  Hanson, Herman, Hiatt, Li, E. Moriyama, H. Moriyama, Riekhof, Sexton, Weaver, Weber, Yu, C. Zhang & L. Zhang

Grad Comm Reps:  Dr. Angeletti

Courtesy:  Drs. Andrews, Baenziger, Barletta, Benson, Black, Buan, Ciobanu, Clemente, Cui, DiRusso, Fernando, Fromm, Goodman, Hallen-Adams, Herman, Herr, Hutkins, Izard, Ladunga, Mitra, Mower, Osorio, Pattnaik, Petersen, Petro, Ramer-Tait, Riethoven, Schachtman, Staswick, Stone, Van Etten, Walia, Wiebe, Wilson, Xiang & Zhou

Graduate Program Director: Dr. Tenhumberg

Definitions

Faculty – Faculty budgeted in either SBS (EEB and GCMB)

Courtesy – UNL faculty budgeted in a Department other than SBS (for EEB and GCMB).  These faculty may serve as faculty advisor to SBS (EEB and GCMB)) students.

Suggested Coursework

The coursework for individual students will be tailored to their research interests and should be determined primarily by the student’s Supervisory Committee. However, the following three core courses are recommended for all EEB students and would serve the students best if taken in their first year in the program. 

In addition, each student, in consultation with his/her/their Supervisory Committee, will determine which additional coursework is appropriate.  Some regularly offered courses include: 

 *This reflects historical patterns and not necessarily future offerings. The Department cannot guarantee when and if a class will be offered.

Suggested Coursework

The coursework for individual students will be tailored to their research interests and should be determined primarily by the student’s Supervisory Committee. Three of the following core courses are recommended for all GCMB students and would serve the students best if taken early in their program.

In addition, each student, in consultation with his/her/their Supervisory Committee, will determine which additional coursework is appropriate.  Some regularly offered courses are listed below.

1. Genetics, Genomics, and Molecular Biology Related Courses

1. Bioinformatics, Molecular Evolution, and Systems Biology Related Courses

For more Computer Science and Engineering courses see : http://bioinfolab.unl.edu/emlab/Courses/bioinfo_courses.html

1. Microbiology Related Courses

1.  Plant Biology Related Courses

*This reflects historical patterns and not necessarily future offerings. The Department cannot guarantee when and if a class will be offered.