Following is an example of a typical course of study for an MPath trainee who is a student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program. Eligibility for MPath support is not restricted to any one graduate program.
MPath Traineeship-eligible students typically enroll in two didactic courses and a required student seminar course (MMI 901 / Bact 731) in each semester of their first two years. During the Fall and optionally the early Spring of their first year, each student undertakes at least three lab rotations of six to eight weeks duration. Students may join a lab for thesis research as early as the end of the Fall semester (~ December 15) or as late as February 15 of the Spring semester. By the end of the first year of enrollment, the student assembles a thesis committee consisting of the advisor and four other faculty members, at least one of which must be from a department other than the advisor’s. The student prepares and distributes to the thesis committee a research plan for the next year and an outline of educational background, courses taken at the UW so far, and future coursework plan designed by the student and advisor. A first thesis committee meeting is held during the Summer for review of the research and course plan and discussion of any recommendations. Thereafter, thesis committee meetings are held at least annually to provide a formal opportunity for interaction with co-mentors and to assess progress toward the Ph.D. degree. MDTP requires written reports of these committee meetings prepared by the student and thesis advisor.
A Preliminary Examination is required by end of the third year of enrollment and is typically taken during the Fall semester of the third year. It consists of a written thesis proposal using an abbreviated (10-15 page) NIH R01 format and an oral defense of that proposal before the thesis committee. If a student does not pass the Preliminary Examination, s/he may be offered the chance to re-take it; most students pass in the initial attempt and virtually all ultimately pass this exam. The student achieves Dissertator status after passing the Preliminary Examination and completing all coursework and other graduate program requirements except the dissertation.
MDTP requires ten credits in the major including at least three courses from a list of ten approved MMI and Bacteriology courses (including all of this training program’s required courses), and ten credits in the minor which is usually a "distributed minor" with courses from different departments including MMI and Bacteriology. Also in the third year of enrollment, the student makes their first formal research presentation in the required student seminar course; often this event immediately precedes the oral defense of the Preliminary Examination. Thereafter, the student delivers a research presentation in the student seminar series annually for a total of three years (enrollment years 3-5). It should be noted that the student seminar series is not the first or only opportunity for presentations. Graduate students typically present informally in lab meetings starting immediately upon joining a lab, can optionally participate in research focus group meetings (MPHRG presentations are a requirement of MPath Trainees), can optionally enroll in journal club courses (MMI 900 will be a requirement of training grant trainees), and typically make poster or oral presentations at scientific meetings during their graduate training.
Usually during the fifth or sixth year of enrollment, the student writes their dissertation which typically consists of an introduction and data chapters including published and submitted manuscripts and work-in-progress, and optionally a conclusions/future directions chapter. After distribution of the dissertation to the thesis committee, the student presents an open seminar followed by an oral defense before the thesis committee. In an effort to encourage timely progress, graduate program guidelines dictate that a student and advisor must make a special request with justification for continuation of enrollment beyond the sixth year.
The MPath Steering Committee will annually assess progress of each trainee toward a degree and adherence to training program requirements, based upon a written report submitted by the trainee and thesis advisor (trainer in program). If adequate progress is being made and requirements are being fulfilled, a trainee typically will receive training grant support for one or two years at some time during their second through fifth year of graduate school. If a trainee is or becomes supported by other sources, s/he will be encouraged to participate in all aspects of the training program and follow program guidelines as an unfunded trainee.
