Current Ph.D. Students

Meet your colleagues!

Course Requirements

1. Genetics 990, Research, Every Semester
2. Genetics 701, Advanced Genetics, 3 credits, Fall Year 1
3. Genetics 707, Genetics of Development, 3 credits, Spring Year 1*
4. Genetics 702, Advanced Genetics II, 3 credits, Spring Year 1
5. Genetics 808, From Genes to Grants: Writing Winning Research Proposals in Genetics, 2 credits, Summer Year 1
6. Genetics 708, Methods and Logic in Genetic Analysis, 3 credits, Spring Year 2*
7. Responsible Conduct in Research course, 1 credit (either Oncology 715, Biochem 729 Section 8 , BMC 701, or other approved RCR course)
8. Elective: Any graduate level Genetics course taught by a faculty member  (including special topics) ^
9. Four seminars including summer colloquiums in Year 3 and Year 4
10. Specialized elective coursework at the discretion of your thesis committee

* Genetics 707 and 708 are taken by the first and second years together, 707 is offered one year and 708 the next

^ Students wishing to take a course outside of Genetics course offerings may petition the Graduate Program Steering Committee

Evaluation of performance

Your continuation is dependent on satisfactory performance. The Graduate School requires an average of a B (3.0) or better in all coursework taken as a graduate student.

Course loads

The normal full-time enrollment is 8-12 graduate credits during Fall and Spring semesters. You may not register for more than a total of 12 credits. The majority of your courses should be in the 600-999 range, but courses numbered 300-599 may be taken for graduate credit if outlined in the course attributes of the catalog. Pass/fail courses (except research and seminars) will not count for graduate residence or course credit. Audit courses do not confer credit of any sort and also do not count in determining minimum or maximum credits permitted in each term. Students who have completed the residence requirements, satisfied all of the requirements for the major and minor, and passed preliminary exams are called dissertators. These students must enroll for 3 dissertator credits per semester. During Summer semester the normal full-time enrollment is 2 credits. Dissertators must enroll for 3 credits.

Residence

Before you receive any graduate degree from UW-Madison The Graduate Schoool requires a minimum of 32 graduate level credit hours be satisfactorily completed while in residence at UW-Madison. Only courses numbered 300 or above are counted (50% must carry graduate attributes), and research credits may be included.

In addition to course requirements, there are several other requirements students must meet to earn their PhD. 

Orientation

All new students must attend orientation and participate in the extended orientation workshops offered throughout their first year in the program. Typically offered workshop topics include: Individualized Development Plan, Rigor and Reproducibility, Mental Health Resources, Choosing a Lab, Forming a Committee, and Tips for Success.

Certification Meeting

By the end of their first year, all students are required to have their first meeting with their committee called the Certification Meeting. During this meeting, the committee will review previously completed coursework and make recommendations for courses that students should take to complete their degree. 

Annual Committee Meetings

Students are required to meet at least annually with their committee. Their first meeting will be the Certification Meeting and the second is typically coupled with the Oral Thesis Proposal Defense (Prelim). Each subsequent year of enrollment the student will hold an annual committee meeting to review their research progress and set both research and professional development goals for the next year.  Each meetins should include a review of the  Individualized Development Plan.

Professional Development Experience

All students are required to complete a professional development experience.  This experience is an opportunity to improve or gain skills that will be helpful post-graduation, to explore future career opportunities, and to network with others working in areas of interest. This requirement combined with other professional development that students obtain through coursework (grant writing, summer colloquium) and lab requirements (presentations, journal clubs, mentoring undergraduates) are designed to help prepare students for these careers.

Summer Colloquium Presentations

During the Summer semester Genetics Colloquium is presented by PhD students. All students are required to present Summer Colloquium Presentation during their third and fourth years. 

Seminar Presentations

In addition to the Summer Colloquium presentations, each student is expected to give at least two additional public presentations of their research. These can occur at conferences or during other on-campus colloquia.

Oral Thesis Proposal Defense Exam (Prelim)

By August 31 of their second year, each student is required to present an oral defense of their thesis proposal (prelim exam) to their committee. 

Responsible Conduct in Research Refresher Workshop

During their fourth year, all students participate in a Responsible Conduct of Research Refresher Workshop. The goal of this workshop is to review principles of Responsible Conduct in Research as outlined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), targeted to PhD students in the 4th year of their graduate studies. In particular, this workshop emphasizes how senior PhD students can maintain RCR as they transition to future careers that often involve supervising and mentoring other scientists. 

Public Defense and Written Thesis 

The PhD culminates with a public defense and written thesis that is submitted to the Graduate School.

The UW-Madison Graduate School requires that all PhD students complete a minor. The Graduate School identifies two options for the minor requirement:

OPTION A: This is referred to as an External Minor. You are required to complete a minor field consisting of a minimum of 9 graduate credits in a single department. The courses are prescribed by the minor department, which administers the qualifying examination if such an exam is required. Completion of the Option A Minor is certified by the chairman of the minor department or the minor professor. Almost all graduate programs offer an Option A minor, in addition there are minors that are distinct from graduate programs.

OPTION B: This is generally referred to as a Distributed Minor. It allows students to satisfy the Graduate School requirement without the addition of a significant number of extra courses. This minor requires a minimum of 9 credits in one or more departments and can include course work in the major department. Selection of this option requires the approval your committee and the Department Chair. Many Genetics students choose to complete a distributed minor in Genetics.

Students must declare their minor to the Graduate School and in the Genetics database.

Fall and Spring Semesters

During the academic year (Fall and Spring Semesters) Genetics Colloquium is presented by invited guests and potential new program mentors. 

Genetics Department Colloquium
Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm
1111 Genetics Biotech

Students are expected to attend Colloquium regularly and to ask questions of speakers. Students in their first and second years, will have an associated course during the Spring semester (Genetics 707 and 708). 

For outside speakers, students are encouraged to attend the Colloquium lunch and participate in the opportunity to have a small group discussion with the speaker (Wednesdays at noon in 1408 Genetics). 

Students have the opportunity to invite and host 1-2 speakers annually. Other speakers are nominated by mentors and post-docs with guidance from the Colloquium Committee. 

Colloquium Schedule

Summer Semester

Each Summer, Genetics Colloquium is presented by 3rd and 4th year Genetics PhD students. 

Genetics Department Colloquium
Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm
1111 Genetics Biotech

3rd and 4th Students should:

• Register for 1 credit of Genetics 993 with the Graduate Program Director during Summer Term. 
• Schedule their talk with the Graduate Program Manager in late spring. Before choosing a date, the student should confirm that their mentor is available on that date. 
• Prepare a 20-25 minute presentation, leaving 5-10 minutes for questions. Include at least one slide about Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and/or Rigor and Reproducibility, as it relates to the research. 
• Invite their thesis committee members to attend their talk. Send a save the date when the talk is scheduled, and a reminder a few days before the presentation.
• Send marketing materials 2 weeks in advance and slides 2 days in advance to the Colloquium Coordinator. 
• Attend colloquiums weekly, and fill out the seminar feedback form for your peers and for tracking participation for 993. 
• Plan to meet for 15- 30 minutes after each colloquium with the Graduate Program Director to talk more about the science presented and to delve deeper into RCR and R&R. On the date you present, you should invite your mentor to be part of that discussion. 

All Program Admitted Students participate in lab rotations during their first semester. 

Rotations are meant to provide students with the opportunity to do research in labs of interest with prospective mentors before choosing the lab in which they will complete their research and thesis. Students are encouraged to choose a diverse set of rotations. 

During Orientation students will hear short rotation talks from Genetics mentors who are interested in recruiting students to their labs. Students will then will set-up rotations with three of those mentors of interest. Rotations are 4 weeks long and must be done in labs of Genetics mentors.  Rotations must be reported to the Graduate Program Manager by the end of the first week of Fall semester. 

At the end of each rotation, both the student and the mentor are asked to complete an evaluation of the experience.  Program Leadership will use these evaluations to follow up with either students or mentors about areas of concern, if necessary, and to keep track of the rotation experiences.  If either the student or mentor has any difficulties during the rotation or questions about the rotation process, they should reach out to the Graduate Program Manager. 

Sometimes it may be necessary to end a rotation early, as either the student or mentor realizes that it is not going to work out. Please contact the Graduate Program Manager with questions about this process. 

At the end of the semester (and rotations) lab choices will be determined by mutual decision of the student and mentor. Once a decision is made, the student and mentor should submit their lab choice to the Graduate Program Manager. Final approval will be provided by the Predoctoral Program in Genetics after the mentor’s funding has been reviewed. 

How to set-up rotations:

Gather information about potential labs through the orientation rotation talks, reviewing each faculty mentor’s Genetics website profile, reading recent publications, and talking to current students. 

Meet with mentor’s of interest to learn more about the lab and discuss possible rotations.

Potential information to gather: projects available, mentor’s leadership style, lab makeup and structure, potential for collaborations, expectations and the rotation, expectations of students in the lab, professional development opportunities for students in the lab,  lab output, and funding. 

Submit your rotation scheduling using the form provided at orientation. 

Things to do during the rotation:

• Focus on that rotation- be in the lab as much as possible and participate in as many lab related activities as you are able. It’s a good opportunity for you to observe the lab and for the mentor to observe you.
• Communicate with the mentor- ask questions, talk about your experience, and learn as much as you can about the mentor’s leadership, mentorship and communication style. 
• Read the literature- learn more about the research. 
• Get to know others in the lab- ask questions and learn about the atmosphere in the lab, the lab member’s satisfaction, and how the lab operates and member’s work together. 

Things to consider when choosing a lab: 

• Your career goals
• Your research interests
• Your work style
• Your supervision needs
• Experiences of other students in the lab, as well as lab alumni, postdocs and others
• Mentor’s mentoring record
• Mentor’s reputation on and off campus
• Mentor’s collaborations and contacts
• Graduate student publication records
• Graduate student post graduation roles
• Graduate student time to degree

The Graduate Program Manager and the Graduate Program Director are available to help student’s who are struggling with lab related decisions. 

After you join a lab, you will form a Thesis Committee. This should be done with your mentor in the Spring of your first year, before you schedule your Certification Meeting. The purpose of the committee is to advise you on major and minor requirements, certification, professional requirements, and research topic and execution. It will also act as your Oral Prelim Defense Examination Committee and as the Final Oral PhD Examination Committee. After your mentor, this committee is the primary monitoring instrument to assure satisfactory progress toward your degree. You will meet with your committee annually. In addition, it is recommended that you utilize the members of your committee as resources at other times throughout the year. 

Thesis Committee Requirements:

Your thesis committee should consist of five members including your mentor. 

Three of the five must be Genetics mentors, two of the three Genetics mentors must be faculty in the Laboratory of Genetics. 

At least one member must be from a different department (all five members cannot be Genetics faculty). 

If you have chosen an external minor, one of the faculty must be from the minor department. 

In some cases, a committee may have six members. The sixth member is often from off campus. 

Any deviations from the requirements listed above must be approved by the Genetics Steering Committee. Please reach out to the Graduate Program Manager for more information. 

Forming your committee:

Students should work with their mentor to determine potential members of their thesis committee. Consider the person’s research expertise and mentoring record. In addition, students should consider forming a committee of faculty at different career stages, of different genders, etc. Students are encouraged to talk to other students about their experiences with faculty members on their committees and with faculty of interest about their recommendations for additional members. Students will attend a Forming A Committee Workshop during their first semester. 

After the student and mentor have identified a list of potential committee members the student should reach out to those people via email to share a little bit about themselves and the project and ask about the possibility of them joining the committee. 

Committee members should be reported in the Genetics database. Under most circumstances, the committee will remain the same throughout the student’s tenure.  However, sometimes committees need to change because the focus of the research changes, a member moves off campus, or someone is unable to continue to fill the role. In this case, the students should thank the former member for their time and work with their mentor to find a replacement (using the requirements above). Once a replacement has been found the student should meet individually with that person to catch them up and report the new committee makeup in the Genetics database.

Students are required to meet with their committe at least one time during each year of study.

The first meeting is the Certification Meeting. This should occur no later than August 31 of the student’s first year.

The second meeting will often occur concurrently with the Oral Prelim Defense. This should occur no later than August 31 of the student’s second year.

Each subsequent meeting until the Thesis Defense, will occur at least annually (by August 31).  During these meetings the committee will review the student’s research progress, professional development, and IDP completion. They will also provide advice on the research and professional development. Anticipated timelines for progress of the thesis project will be discussed and concrete guidance will be provided about completing the thesis.

A Prospectus meeting will occur 6 months before the anticipated defense.

A member of the thesis committee, who is not the student’s primary mentor, will serve as committee chair. This person can be the same person for each meeting or this role can change for subsequent meetings. The committee chair will play an important role both during and after the meeting.

Students are required to do the following before the meeting: 

• Schedule the meeting and report the meeting date to the Graduate Program Manager. See the suggested meeting formats below.
• Complete the Annual Meeting Form and send a PDF copy to your thesis committee and the Graduate Program Manager one week in advance of your meeting.
  •  Login to the Genetics database using your NetID.
  • ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING FORM INSTRUCTIONS
• Choose a meeting chair. Students should ask their meeting chair ahead of time.
  • Send your chair the ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING CHAIR INSTRUCTIONS  and the ANNUAL COMMITTEE CHAIR FEEDBACK FORM.
  • Send the Graduate Program Manager the name of your chair.
• Prepare a ~30-minute presentation that provide an update on their progress, restate their aims (or changes made to the original aims), and provide a plan for future directions and a timeline for completion through graduation. See suggested meeting formats below.

Suggested Meeting Formats:

After the meeting, the Graduate Program Manager will collect electronic signatures and provide a final copy of the forms to the student for their records.

The Certification Meeting is the first meeting that a student has with their thesis committee. This meeting must take place before August 31 of the student’s first-year, however it is most often completed earlier (April-May of Year 1). The purpose of the Certification Meeting is for the committee to review previously completed coursework and make recommendations for courses that students should take to complete their degree. In addition, this is an opportunity for the student to introduce their committee members to the research that they hope to complete in this lab.

Students are required to do the following before the meeting: 

• Discuss their preferred minor option with their mentor. If an external minor is agreed upon, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the minor professor for their committee and to work with the minor department to complete all requirements. Students must declare their minor to the Graduate School and in the Genetics database.
• Schedule the meeting and report the meeting date to the Graduate Program Manager. See the suggested meeting formats below.
• Complete the Certification Meeting Form and send a PDF copy to your thesis committee and the Graduate Program Manager one week in advance of your meeting.
  •  Login to the Genetics database using your NetID.
  • ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING FORM INSTRUCTIONS
• Choose a meeting chair. Students should ask their meeting chair ahead of time.
  • Send your chair the ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING CHAIR INSTRUCTIONS  and the ANNUAL COMMITTEE CHAIR FEEDBACK FORM.
  • Send the Graduate Program Manager the name of your chair.
• Prepare a ~20-minute introductory presentation.  See suggested meeting formats below.

After the meeting, the Graduate Program Manager will collect electronic signatures and provide a final copy of the form to the student for their records.

Genetics PhD students pursue a variety of research intensive and research related careers after graduation. The Genetics PhD professional development (PD) requirement is an opportunity to improve or gain skills that will be helpful post-graduation, to explore future career opportunities, and to network with others working in areas of interest. This requirement combined with other professional development that students obtain through coursework (grant writing, summer colloquium) and lab requirements (presentations, journal clubs, mentoring undergraduates) are designed to help prepare students for these careers.

An acceptable plan for meeting the PD requirement includes formal training, is separate from the student’s thesis work, and supports the future career goals or addresses the skills identified for improvement in the student’s Individualized Development Plan (IDP). Each student is responsible for charting their own path to meet the PD requirement in consultation with their mentor and thesis committee, obtaining program level approval, organizing and executing the planned activities, and reporting the outcome.

The number and type of activities, as well as when they occur in a student’s graduate career are expected to vary, but all PD plans must include a minimum of 100-200 hours of student effort.

Students will begin to develop their PD plan in their first year by completion of their IDP and through discussions with their mentors and peers. Students will discuss their initial PD plan with their thesis committee at the first year (Certification) meeting. Students must seek approval prior to completion of the activities by submitting a PD plan form approved by their primary mentor to the program. This form must be submitted at least 3 months before the first activity, and will be reviewed by the Steering Committee within 1 month. Students must complete all activities associated with the PD requirement and submit a final PD requirement assessment form in advance of their prospectus meeting. Changes may be requested in writing at any time to program leadership if necessary (career goals change, proposed activity is no longer offered, etc.). Annual thesis committee meeting forms will include reports on progress until the PD requirement is completed.

Step-by-step Instructions for Meeting the Program Professional Development Requirements:

1. Complete an IDP.
2. Determine whether you would like to to do to complete the PD experience and share this with plan with your committee at your certification meeting.
3. Research professional development opportunities and activities of interest. Be creative!

Some examples of PD activities that might be approved include:

• • • • Courses such as coding or scientific writing (may not double count with minor requirement)
      • Teaching in Genetics or another bioscience department as a formal teaching assistant or as guest lecturer in one or more different classes
      • Formal programs such as DELTA, WISCIENCE, Future Faculty Series, WARF Ambassador
      • Workshops offered by the Graduate School, Linked In, etc.
      • Summer bootcamps such as Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp
      • Internships at biotech companies or with government
      • Outreach programming such as PEOPLE program, Science Olympiad, etc.

Examples of PD activities that might not be approved for the PD requirement include:

• • • • Ethics courses or workshops
      • Trainings or workshops related to your research
      • Research conferences or presentations related to your research

4. Share a draft of your PD plan with your mentor.
5. Propose your PD plan to program leadership at least 3 months before the first activity. Approval will be provided in writing within 4 weeks of submission.
6. Complete proposed plan and submit your assessment to program leadership before your prospectus meeting.

Students who do not meet these requirements will be assigned to TA (unpaid) in a core Genetics Program course prior to graduation.

Students are expected to complete their Oral Thesis Proposal Defense (Prelim) no later than August 31 of their second year.

The Prelim is meant to judge students on their broad knowledge in genetics, their knowledge of their chosen research area, and their ability to synthesize knowledge to design rigorous research approaches. It provides a critical evaluation of a student’s preparation for their research projects in the earlier stages of their thesis work. Therefore, the goal is not to evaluate students based on the abundance of preliminary results, but rather to evaluate students on their base knowledge of their field, ability to develop a plan for research activities, ability to construct solid research arguments by integrating literature knowledge and critical thinking, and ability to relate their research significance to a broader context. The format of the written document follows the NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship research requirements;  students may incorporate committee feedback into their proposals and submit for F31 funding (currently April 8, August 8, December 8 annually).

Students who pass their prelim will earn their Master’s degree and proceed to dissertator status.

• Schedule the meeting and report the meeting date to the Graduate Program Manager. See the suggested meeting formats below.
• Request both a Prelim Warrant and Master’s Warrant.
  • Send the list of committee members and the tentative thesis title to the Graduate Program Manager at least three weeks in advance of your meeting.
  • Declare your minor here (if you didn’t do so for your certification meeting).
  • Request to add the Master’s degree here.
• Complete the Annual Meeting Form and send a PDF copy to your thesis committee and the Graduate Program Manager one week in advance of your meeting.
  •  Login to the Genetics database using your NetID.
  • ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING FORM INSTRUCTIONS
• Choose a meeting chair. Students should ask their meeting chair ahead of time.
  • Send your chair the ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING CHAIR INSTRUCTIONS  , ANNUAL COMMITTEE CHAIR FEEDBACK FORM , and the Genetics Oral Thesis Proposal Defense – cover page.
  • Send the Graduate Program Manager the name of your chair.
  • Prepare your Written Proposal and send a copy to your committee and the Gradaute Program Manager at least one week before your meeting.
• Prepare a ~20-30-minute introdcution of your written proposal.

Written Proposal 

The written portion is modeled after the NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship guidelines.The goal of the written document, like an F31 grant, should be to persuade a reviewing group that your goals are interesting and important, that you have chosen a plan of experimentation that is highly likely to return interesting and interpretable results in a reasonable time frame, and that you have the background and understanding to bring this plan to fruition.  In any such proposal, clarity is key.  The people who review the proposal will not all be experts in your field and you must therefore provide significant information to document the above goals to this group.  In line with this idea, you should avoid unnecessary arguments and information, since they will distract from the essential arguments. Begin your preparations of the overall outline of the proposal well before the fact and discuss the goals and approaches with others before writing the proposal. You are strongly encouraged to obtain input from other students and colleagues, and particularly from your advisor, prior to distribution of the proposal to your committee. Like all research proposals, the written portion of the Oral exam should not be viewed as a contract; the successful dissertator may pursue other related topics/aims for completion of the Ph.D.  The purpose of the document is to demonstrate the ability to synthesize in writing a reasonable and coherent research plan and to discuss it intelligently with your thesis committee.
Proposals for the Oral Thesis Proposal Examination

Oral Prelim Outcomes

The Oral examination determines each student’s future in the training program. Three outcomes are possible:

1. The student is given a pass and admitted into candidacy for the PhD. degree,
2. The student is given a deferred decision, in which the committee outlines what aspects of the exam need to be redone with a further meeting with the Oral Thesis Proposal exam Committee, to be completed within six months to determine pass or fail, or
3. The student fails the exam outright and plans are formulated for early withdrawal from the program, usually with a Masters degree instead of a PhD. The student has the right to petition the Graduate Program Steering Committee, including a petition to switch labs.

After the meeting, the Graduate Program Manager will collect electronic signatures on paperwork and warrants and provide a final copies to the student for their records.

Masters Degree

We do not accept students for graduate study in Genetics if they plan to stop at the M.S. level. However, a Master’s degree in Genetics is automatically granted when you pass the prelim  provided that the course requirements for a Master’s degree have been satisfied.

The Prospectus meeting should take place approximately 6 months before your anticipated defense. The purpose of this meeting is to confirm the structure and content of your thesis. Your PD assessment should be submitted to the Graduate Program Manager before the Prospectus meeting is scheduled.

Students are required to do the following before the meeting: 

• Schedule the meeting and report the meeting date to the Graduate Program Manager. See the suggested meeting formats below.
• Complete the Annual Meeting Form and send a PDF copy to your thesis committee and the Graduate Program Manager one week in advance of your meeting.
  •  Login to the Genetics database using your NetID.
  • ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING FORM INSTRUCTIONS
• Choose a meeting chair. Students should ask their meeting chair ahead of time.
  • Send your chair the ANNUAL COMMITTEE MEETING CHAIR INSTRUCTIONS  and the ANNUAL COMMITTEE CHAIR FEEDBACK FORM.
  • Send the Graduate Program Manager the name of your chair.
• Prepare a ~15-minute presentation that provides the propsosed outline and timeline.

After the meeting, the Graduate Program Manager will collect electronic signatures on paperwork and provide a final copies to the student for their records.

The written thesis generally consists of an introduction chapter, one or more research chapters (often published papers or works in progress, in manuscript format), and a short final chapter of ongoing questions and future directions.  Students may include appendices if they wish (on work unrelated to the main thesis).  Each Chapter title page should have a statement about your contributions to the chapter (e.g. if you did the experiments, analysis, and wrote the chapter or if someone else contributed to some of the experiments) and a citation if the work was published.

Your thesis must be submitted to your committee members no later than two weeks before the date of the examination. The examination includes a seminar open to the public followed by a closed-session examination with your thesis committee.  You have five years from the date of passing your prelim exams to take your final oral exam and submit your dissertation. At least three weeks prior to your final oral exam you must request a warrant from the Graduate Program Manager.

To pass the examination, you must receive no more than one dissenting vote from your committee. A missing signature is considered a dissent. After you pass the exam, the committee must sign the warrant electronically and the warrant must be submitted online with your thesis.

After the exam, you must submit to the Graduate School a completed and approved library copy of your thesis and appropriate additional documents, and pay the required fees.

** Be aware of warrant submission deadlines (see information on the Graduate School website).  Schedule your defense at least 1-2 weeks before the submission deadline, in case the committee has required changes to the written document.  Any requirements of the thesis committee will be enforced, which may require later submission of the final warrant (with funding implications for your mentor).

Changing Mentors

Sometimes concerns arise between the student and the mentor. If this should occur either the student or the mentor should reach out to the Graduate Program Manager and/or Graduate Program Director. Both are available to discuss these concerns confidentially. They can also help navigate conversations about this situation between the student and mentor.  

If issues cannot be resolved and it is determined that it makes sense for the student to find a new lab and mentor, the Graduate Program Manager and Graduate Program Director will help the student navigate this process. The current mentor will be required to support the student for one-month, as they complete 1-2 short rotations and find a new lab. 

Sometimes a student will need to choose a new lab because their mentor has decided to leave UW-Madison and they have decided to stay. Students in this situation should contact the Graduate Program Manager who will help them navigate this process and transition. The current mentor should continue to support the student for one-month, as they complete 1-2 short rotations and find a new lab. 

It is also possible to change departments, as long as you meet the admission requirements of the department you are seeking to enter.

Payroll Benefits for Graduate Students

Information about tax withholding and benefits associated with graduate student appointments can be found here.

Graduate Assistantship policies and procedures can be found here.

Paid Parental Leave

Information about UW-Madison’s paid parental leave policy can be found here.

Segregated Fees

There is a deferred deadline for segregated fees for Fall and Spring semesters (no deferral for summer fees).  Segregated fee  can be seen in your Student Center.  Questions should be directed to the Bursar’s Office.

Accomodations

Accomodations are available for those who need them for either academic or professional purposes. For academic accomodations please contact the McBurney Center.  For professional accomodations please contact the Divisional Disability Representative for the School or College in which your lab resides.

Department and Program Committees

Genetics graduate students serve on the following departmental and program committees: Admissions, Steering, Summer Colloquium, Retreat and Diversity. Committee participation is a great way to be involved within the department.

Graduate Student Committee

Each year the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 5th and above classes will nominate a student to represent them on the Graduate Student Committee. This committee organizes scientific and social events among students, collates resources for professional development, and serves as a liaison group to represent students to the program.

UW-Madison Genetics Graduate Student Body Vision Statement

In this statement, the UW-Madison Genetics Graduate Program student body hopes to convey our vision, mission, and values for the graduate program and the graduate student community.

Our Community Vision

As a graduate student body and community, we aspire to be a vibrant, diverse, productive community committed to engagement, inclusivity, and quality science.

We hope to embody through our actions the values we hold; of diversity, inclusivity, community, rigor, innovation, creativity, engagement, participation, outreach, communication, clarity, education, growth, and support.

We commit to pursuing this vision: to engage in the community and strive to self-betterment, career preparation, and social awareness, through the resources and peers of the UW Genetics program; to promote this vision by engaging and supporting the committee mission.

Yearly Events

Graduate Program Picnic- Each Fall the program hosts a picnic for the graduate students and mentors, this is an opportunity to introduce the new class and to mark the beginning of the next academic year.

Colloquium – Every Wednesday at 3:30 during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms Genetics hosts a colloquium presentation. Fall and Spring are invited speakers. Summer Colloquium is presented by 3rd and 4th year (and older) students.

Graduate Program Retreat – Each Fall Genetics hosts an annual retreat for graduate students and mentors to promote interaction between members of the genetics community on campus.

New Student Recruitment- Every January potential new Genetics PhD students are invited to meet with faculty, meet with current students, and to learn about research happening within Genetics through our Virtual Interview Programs. Each February or March, admitted students are invited to visit campus for three days and participate in our Admitted Student Event.  This allows admitted students to see Madison and to meet faculty and students in person.  Current student participation is vital in this recruitment and selection process. Current students will be asked to participate in both Virtual Interview Programs and Admitted Student Events.

You will be required to take a series of online courses  designed to inform and prepare you for work in campus biological research laboratories in compliance with standards set forth by the NIH and CDC.  Information is available at: https://ehs.wisc.edu/training/biosafety-required-training/

You will also be required to take an in person chemical safety class. This courses teaches you how to work safely in the laboratory with hazardous materials in accordance with the OSHA Lab Standard. It is available for registration through UW-Madison’s OHRD site: https://www.ohrd.wisc.edu/OHRDCatalogPortal/Default.aspx?tabid=29&CourseGroupKey=18911

First- year program admitted students are funded by the program during rotations.  After officially joining a lab the student’s funding switches to their mentor, typically as a Research Assistant. Some students will  join the program with their own funding (AOF, NSF) for the first year.

First- year direct admit students are funded by their mentor, typically as Research Assistants beginning in their first semester.

Students will most often continue to be funded as Research Assistants on their mentor’s grants as long as they are making satisfactory academic progress.  However, Genetics PhD students have been highly successful in securing their own funding.

Stipend and Fees

The stipend for 2024-2025 is $36,000. The stipend for 2025-2026 will be $38,000. Students (TAs and RAs) are required to be segregated fees every semester. Pre-disssertator rates can be found here and segregated fees can be paid using the deferred deadlines for Fall and Spring (not available for Summer).

Other Funding Sources

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program  
SciMed Graduate Research Scholars Program
Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowships
NIH F31
UW-Madison Training Grants
UW-Madison External Fellowship Database
Funding and Financial Aid Information from UW-Madison Graduate School

The majority of our recent graduates have current positions in science-related fields. Doctoral Career Outcomes for the Genetics PhD can be found here. 

Individual Development Plan

The program and NIH require that every student establishes and annually updates an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP helps students to assess current skills, interests, and strengths and to make a plan for developing those to meet academic and professional goals. 

The Graduate School has resources available for learning more about IDP’s, self-assement, and writing the IDP.  https://grad.wisc.edu/professional-development/individual-development-plan/

Professional Development

Each Fall the Program will host a day-long Professional Development Symposium. We maintain a Genetics PHD Program LinkedIn group to allow current students and alumni to connect.  In addition, we will have several career development workshops and programs throughout the year including things such as book clubs, career panels, networking events, and interviewing workshops. 

Professional Development Resources:

Graduate School Career Development Programming 

Discover PD

Graduate School Networking Page

Beyond the Professoriate

WARF Ambassador program:

Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp

Delta program

WiSCIENCE

PEOPLE Program

Summer Research Opportunity Program

Principals of Supervision and Management:

Lynda.com

DoIT Student Technology Training: 

Doctoral minor in entrepreneurship

Certificate in strategic innovation

Employment Resources:

UW-Madison Post-doc positions

Post- doc jobs

PHound

Science Jobs

American Society for Cell Biology

USA Jobs

State of Wisconsin Government Jobs

BioForward

Careers in Consulting

Meet a few of our alumni!

Stone Travel Award

Genetics students are eligible to apply for the Stone Travel Award for funding to attend conferences or meetings in which they are giving an oral or written presentation. The Stone Travel Award is made possible by Professor Emeritus, Bill Stone. To apply send the following to the Graduate Program Manager:

Name of Genetics Graduate Student
Title of meeting
Location of the meeting
Dates of meeting
Estimated total cost of travel
Brief statement from faculty mentor supporting the nomination and indicating whether the student would attend the meeting without an award.

Stone awardees must follow UW-Madison’s travel policies and procedures.

Graduate School Research Grants

The Graduate School offers a Student Research Grants Competition for students who are presenting their research at a conference or who need additional research travel support in preparation of their thesis. 

Graduate school can be a stressful time and we understand that students often need extra support.

University Health Services (UHS) offers a safe and confidential environment with a variety of support services available free of charge and open to all graduate students.

• Getting started: UHS offers drop-in mental health consultations Let’s Talk  Monday-Friday. They also offer mental health counseling services, psychiatric services, wellness services, and disordered eating assessments and treatment.
• 24-hour crisis services: UHS has 24-hour crisis intervention services for students or those who are concerned about a student. Call 608-265-5600 (option 9), 24 hours a day, any day of the year
• If you’re concerned about someone you know, UHS has helpful resources for faculty and friends of students.
• UHS also offers individual, couple/partner, and group counseling, as well as stress management and psychiatry services.

Specific groups are available for graduate students.  Additional groups are available for graduate address relationships, depression, anxiety, and other topics.  Groups typically meet one to two hours weekly, and may run from four to 12 weeks per semester.

The Office of Student Assistance has a staff member dedicated to supporting graduate students.

Other Resources:
Employee Assistance Office
The Opean Seat Food Pantry
Badger FARE
Basic Needs Team
UW Madison Office of Financial Aid

The Graduate Program Manager and the Graduate Program Director are always available to help students and to discuss stressful situations.

Formally, the Genetics Training Program follows the CALS Grievance Policy as outlined on our Guide page.

Many people in Genetics are available and willing to help as you navigate graduate school, curriculum and other requirements, mentor and peer relationships, and other aspects of your time here.

Program Leadership

Nicole Perna, PhD
Professor & Director of Graduate Studies
Nicole oversees all aspects of the program

John Pool, PhD
Professor & Chair of Admissions
John heads all pre-enrollment activities.

Martha Reck, EdD
Graduate Program Manager
Martha directs day-to-day activities and serves as a point of contact for all students.

Francisco Pelegri, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Laboratory of Genetics

Genetics Training Program Steering Committee

The Steering Committee meets monthly to advise the DGS and provide input on programmatic changes and direction. Membership includes 4 trainers outside of Genetics (1 serves as co-chair of the committee), 2 Genetics faculty members, and one current Genetics PhD student. The Director of Graduate Studies, Chair of Admissions, and Program Manager serve as Ex-Officio members. Trainers and faculty serve (renewable) 3-year terms and are appointed by the Chair of Genetics. The graduate student member rotates annually and is nominated by the Graduate Program Manager.  

2024-2025 Steering Committee:
Jake Brunkard, Associate Professor, Genetics
Daniela Drummond-Barbosa, Professor, Genetics
Reid Alish, Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery
Katie Drerup, Assistant Professor, Integrative Biology
Christina Hull, Professor, Biomolecular Chemistry and MMI
Mark Mandel, Professor, MMI
Valentina Lo Sardo, Assistant Professor, Cell and Regenerative Biology
William Spurley, 3rd year Graduate Student, Payseur Lab

Graduate Student Committee

The Graduate Student Committee is charged with representing students’ concerns to program leadership, building community within the program, and pursuing projects and tasks of interest to the student body. Each class cohort (years 1-5) nominates a representative annually. 

2024-2025 Graduate Student Committee:
1st year : Carolina de Medeiros Vieira
2nd year: Rachel Kasper
3rd year: Avery Imes
4th year: Phil Bergmann
5th year: Cesi Deng
6th year: Xiaoya Zhang

Genetics Office Staff

The Genetics Training Program is supported by the Genetics Administrative Office Staff. 

Their pictures and roles can be found here.