Ok, so you're on the grad school search and must have several questions. We grad students are at your service to give you answers. If you're still unsure, send us an email and we can post a new answer to:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BIOLOGY GRAD LIFE
How long is the program?
PhD - average is 5 years
MS - average is 2.5 years
The length of the degree program varies by individual and depends on a number of factors, including your own level of motivation, the clarity of your project objectives, the complexity of your project, and the personality and research style of your advisor. Talk to people in the labs you’re interested in to get a better idea of what to expect.
How big is the campus?
~11,600 students (8,350 undergrads and 3,250 grad/MBA/law students)
How many grad students are in the biology department?
Generally, we average just over 100 students, this year there are 115 of us.
What is the average size of a lab?
Lab sizes vary from just a few students to more than 15 grad students and post-docs.
What do CPD, EEE, and ID mean?
These are the 3 research “clusters” in the Department of Biological Sciences and their areas of study. We are in the process of reorganizing the research areas within the department, will eventually move away from these cluster designations. However, the websites below do provide very helpful information about the major areas of research in our department.
CPD: Cellular & Physiological Dynamics WEBPAGE
Cancer, cellular processes, neurosciences, nutrition & disease, reproductive biology, physiological ecology
EEE: Ecology Evolution & Environment WEBPAGE
Conservation biology, population & evolutionary genetics, aquatic ecology, disease ecology, physiological ecology, community & population ecology
Biology Friday Afternoon Seminar Series (BioFrASS). Student presentations organized by...students.
ID: Infectious Disease WEBPAGE
Host/pathogen interactions, arthropod vectors, immunology, bioinformatics & genomics, population & evolutionary genetics, disease ecology
Center for Tropical Disease Research and Training (http://ctdrt.bio.nd.edu/index.php)
What if my interests aren't focused to one cluster area or advisor yet?
It's ok if you haven't specifically decided on one area of study. It is often possible to do what is called a 'rotation' and spend a few weeks working in each lab to help you decide which lab is the best fit for you. When you first start considering Notre Dame for graduate study, check out the web pages of the professors you are interested in and contact them to see if there is space available in their lab. Once you have a few options picked out, the interview weekend is a good chance to talk to the professors and their current students. Approximately half of the students entering the program will choose an advisor before joining the department.
Will I have to provide my own funding?
Most student projects are fully funded through their advisor’s grants. Some student grants are available through various agencies and you are encouraged to apply (plus it looks really good on your CV).
What if I have a family?
The program is pretty family-friendly, and Notre Dame provides on-campus apartments for married students with or without children, and on-campus day care is available (see the Early Childhood Development Center’s website at http://hr.nd.edu/worklife/ecdc.shtml). The Graduate Student Union also hosts a family-related blog.
I don't have a car, how will I get around South Bend?
There are plenty of walkers and bikers who don't have a car to their name, and yes, it's do-able. obviously, it is a whole lot easier if you live closer to campus, and there are plenty of close housing options. Many students also bike around campus - full bike racks attest to this. The city of South Bend continues to develop new bike lakes, paths, and routes.
If I have other questions, who can I contact?
Don't hesitate to send a current graduate student an email. We are a friendly bunch and would love to hear from you! If you know what lab you are interested in, check to see if they have a labpage and email links. You can also contact a BGSO officer, and we will help you out, or direct your inquiry to someone who can!
What is recruitment/interview weekend like at ND?
We have a special committee with faculty and student members who plan Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend each year. We have yet to finalize the date for the 2009 recruitment, but it is usually held in February. The weekend not only includes a chance to meet your potential advisor and lab, but also includes many opportunities to interact and socialize with current grad students and tours of the department and campus. We also have a dinner at a professor's house for prospective students, and a banquet party at the end of the weekend hosted by grad students.
If you have any questions about Graduate Student Recruitment Weekend, contact Colleen or Natalie who are BGSO officers and also on the recruitment committee for 2009.
How do I apply to ND grad school?
Biology Department has an application webpage that describes this process.
OTHER INFORMATION
directions to ND: http://www.nd.edu/visitors/dir.shtml
Local area map: http://www.nd.edu/visitors/southbend.shtml
Notre Dame Health Insurance: http://uhs.nd.edu/html/insure_bill.html
Frequently Asked Questions
