Vanderbilt Neuroscience Graduate Program Trainee FAQs:

1. I just got permission from my committee to start writing my thesis. Am I still required to attend forum and seminar 75% of the time?

No. We hope that you will continue to take part in both events, but the requirement to do so is dropped after you are given permission to write.

2. I have published a first author paper. Is this all I need to graduate?

It is required that your first-author be accepted in a peer reviewed journal before you defend. Also, please consult the Handbook (available on the NSO website) for a full description of the requirements for degree completion. Ultimately, it is the decision of the Committee in concert with the Program Director as to your qualifications for graduation.

3. I am preparing for my qualifying exam. Am I still required to attend forum and seminar 75% of the time?

Yes. Preparation for qualifying exams is not expected to impact attendance at these events. However, the 25% grace can certainly be used for this if the student wishes.

4. I arrived 5-10 minutes late to forum/seminar. There were no seats available and I had to stand in the back hallway behind many other people. How will my attendance be counted?

If being tardy becomes a habit, we’ll take notice. Starting this summer, a sign-in system for forum will begin. If you are late, simply sign the sheet at the end of the presentation but try not to be late out of courtesy for the speakers involved.

5. I invited 2 faculty members to my forum but neither showed up. Will I be penalized?

No. Try to get a firm commitment beforehand, but you can’t control things after that.

6. I am busy writing a paper. Am I still required to attend forum/seminar?

Yes. See answer to question (3).

7. I am an international student who is planning to visit my home country for three weeks. Will I be in trouble for missing forum/seminar?

If you are gone for this long, you will miss one forum. Just attend all the rest and you’ll meet our goals. Extended absences can have a negative impact on your thesis progress and should be worked out well in advance with your mentor.

8. Is there such thing as an excused absence from forum?

Yes, for circumstances such as conferences, job interviews, family emergencies, illnesses, etc. In order to have an absence considered excused, please contact the DGS or the program coordinator as early as possible.

9. How often do we need to schedule committee meetings?

The Neuroscience Graduate Program office will schedule your committee meetings for you every nine months +/- a week or two to accommodate individual schedules. Committee meetings may be scheduled more often if the committee deems it necessary.

10. What is the purpose of the DGS? And how is that different from the Program Coordinator’s position?

(Taken from the 2006-2007 Handbook)
The Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for monitoring the progress of students throughout their training, meeting each student annually to discuss progress and potential problems. The DGS serves as faculty advisor for Integrative Track students until a thesis advisor is selected. The DGS also serves as a student advocate in cases of possible faculty irresponsibility or misconduct. In addition, the DGS will meet with new faculty to review program structure and advise them on special needs of developing trainees.

The Coordinator of Graduate Studies is the first person to contact with questions about specific program requirements or with whom to discuss personal or career development problems. Key responsibilities are to answer student questions, direct students to appropriate sources of information, and to assist students in problem-solving. The Coordinator also provides ongoing infrastructure support to the Program Director and Director of Graduate Studies by tracking each student’s progress, ensuring deadlines are met and requirements for the Neuroscience Ph.D. are accomplished.

For more information on the administrative structure of the program, see p. 22 of the Handbook.

11. May we remove a member of our committee and replace him/her with another member?

Yes, but only under very special circumstances. First, consult the DGS who will help the student evaluate cause and determine action. Committee members are ultimately appointed or dismissed by the Graduate School.

12. Are we required to submit an NRSA proposal?

No. Submission of a NRSA is between you and your PI. But we strongly encourage all of our students to experience grant writing as part of their training.

14. If I fail a course, do I have the option of retaking the class, or substituting it with another course?

If you obtain a C in a required course or an elective, you are on probation: two Cs are grounds for dismissal from the program. You may retake a course under special circumstances and with approval of the course director and the DGS. The new grade will count in your GPA but the old grade will remain on your transcript.

15. How long does it take to write a dissertation thesis?

About four to six months after the experiments are finished is not unheard of. However, if the bulk of the thesis has already been written in manuscript form and the schedule of the mentor permits the rapid return of drafts, as little as two months can result in a thesis. Remember that the committee needs the thesis at least two weeks prior to the defense. The thesis often will need some revision after the defense but the thesis committee should not be used to “proof” the document for typos, grammar, etc.

16. How long does it take to graduate from the Neuroscience Program (average and range, so far)?

Average: 5.7 years
Range: 4-8 years

17. Is there an official person who can inform my PI that I need study time (and shortened lab work hours) to prepare for my Phase I qualifying exam?

The DGS will contact each faculty member who has a qualifying student to advise him/her of your upcoming exam and your need for time away from the lab. We have organized the Phase I exam around one month to write and one month to study.

18. How much do grades matter?

For the purposes of the program, students need to keep a B-average (3.0) and get no more than one C grade. For grants, you are required to list all of your grades from undergraduate and graduate school on your NRSA application.

19. How will we be paid after quals? Will taxes be taken out? Will we have to pay our own Rec Center fees?

Change in stipend after quals: There is no change in the stipend upon successful completion of the qualifying exam.

Taxes: Whether taxes are taken out or not depends on the method of payment. If a US Citizen or Permanent Resident is on a training grant, individual NRSA, or on a VBI Institutional stipend, there is no tax withheld from their stipend check. Non-US students may have taxes withheld from their VBI Institutional stipend depending on the tax treaty with their home country. Students who are on their preceptor’s research funding will have taxes withheld from their check.

Fees: Students who are on training grants, individual NRSAs or VBI Institutional stipends will have all fees paid for them from their funding source. When a student goes onto their preceptor's research funding, the student will be responsible for paying their own activity fees each semester. If you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to inquire about your specific case by contacting Mary Michael-Woolman, the financial expert for the neuroscience graduate program.

20: Who presents at Forums?

Students in their second through fourth years of graduate school are required to present. Advanced students may present if they wish, and have the option to give a 20 or 45 minute presentation. Any students interested in doing this should contact the Program Coordinator so that forums will be scheduled with this in mind.

Last modified: Mon., 17th Sept., 2007
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