Students complete three, five-week laboratory rotations during the first year. Students choose their first rotation in consultation with the First Year Mentor and the Dean prior to their arrival on campus in July. Subsequently, the First Year Mentor provides guidance for selection of the second and third rotations.
These rotations provide students with an opportunity to get to know the faculty, students, and postdocs in the laboratory. The rotations are conducted in the absence of coursework, allowing students to focus on developing a significant appreciation for ongoing research and potential thesis projects, the style and approach of the principal investigator, as well as the personality and dynamics of the laboratory.
Students prepare a two-page written summary at the end of each rotation, as well as give a 10-minute summary presentation to an audience consisting of the student cohort, the First Year Mentors, and the rotation mentors. Each student's performance in the rotation is assessed via written evaluation by the rotation mentor in discussion with the student.
