Requirements to graduate from the Cancer Biology Program with a PhD are as follows:
Grading System
Minimum grade requirements for Cancer Biology are governed by the guidelines and the policies of the graduate school as stated in the Bulletin of the Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Cancer Biology graduate students must maintain an average grade point of 3.0 or better (using the 4.0 scale) in each semester.
If a student achieves a “C” or worse in any Cancer Biology core course, the student will need to repeat the course in the following year and must obtain a “B” or better. Any student failing these requirements may be subject for dismissal from the program.
Advancing to Ph.D. Candidacy
- Pass their required courses as detailed above
- Pass a written and oral defense of an original research proposal (Candidacy Exam)
The format of this examination is two part: first, the is an evaluation of a written document that takes the form of an NIH-style R01 grant application in which the student describes their proposed research; second, the student must orally defend the proposal. The target is to pass the qualification exam before the end of the Fall Semester of the 3rd year. Details of this process are outlined below:
- During the fall semester of the second year, the student, together with their mentor and the Program Director, will identify potential members of an Advisory Committee. The committee will be composed of:
- The student’s faculty mentor
- A minimum of two faculty members with primary or secondary appointment in Cancer Biology (the primary mentor counts toward this number)
- One additional faculty member (either within or outside the department) who has research interests that closely overlap with your own
- One Faculty member from outside the Cancer Biology Department (they could have secondary Cancer Biology appointment) who will serve as the chair of the committee
- It is recommended, but not required, that all students include a clinical mentor on their committee
- The functions of the committee are to:
- Advise students on the course of their research
- Administer the Candidacy Examination
- Form the nucleus of the Dissertation Defense Committee
- The committee shares responsibility with the primary dissertation mentor for informing the student of the expectations concerning the progress of their research and of their performance in meeting those expectations. The committee will be responsible for assuring that the proposed dissertation research has goals that are achievable within an appropriate timeframe for receiving the Ph.D. degree.
- The student should aim to meet with the Advisory Committee at least 2 times during their second year to discuss your research project and progress.
- By the end of their second year/early third year, students will meet with their committee meeting during which the student will present the Aims and supporting research for the grant proposal that forms your candidacy exam. The committee will recommend changes or approve the proposal. It may be necessary to schedule several meetings. Students should Aim to obtain committee approval by the end of October in the Fall Semester of your 3rd year.
- Once the committee has approved the student’s proposal, the student may begin to write and set a date for the candidacy exam.
- The student will provide the committee with the written proposal at least two weeks prior to the oral exam. The committee will review the document, and if satisfied, will notify you that the exam can proceed. If not satisfied, they will notify you of needed changes, and the exam will be rescheduled.
- The examination is pass/fail. The criteria for evaluation include:
- Scientific quality of the written proposal
- Completeness of the written proposal
- Command of literature
- Understanding of concepts
- Ability to synthesize information into a testable hypothesis
- Ability to design and evaluate experiments
- Originality of the proposed research
- Students who pass the examination and who have fulfilled their coursework requirements will advance to Ph.D. candidacy. The earliest possible date the student can defend their dissertation for award of the Ph.D. degree is one year from the date of the candidacy exam.
For the full process, please email rasingh@wakehealth.edu.
PhD Dissertation Defense
The defense of the dissertation begins with a formal seminar to the entire University community.
The audience will be advised that the seminar is part of the examination and that they are encouraged to participate with questioning the candidate.
After the question-and-answer session, the seminar will be followed by a formal examination with the committee.
The overall guidelines for the dissertation follow the graduation requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
For the Proposal Format, please email rasingh@wakehealth.edu
Academic Probation and Dismissal
Any noncompliance with the Cancer Biology or Graduate School regulations and guidelines can be cause for dismissal from the program.
The admissions committee together with the curriculum committee and invited ad hoc members will discuss individual cases and make recommendations to the Program Director. The Program Director will consult with the Dean of the Graduate School and a decision on academic probation for a semester or dismissal will be made.
During academic probation, the student is required to fulfill minimal requirements during the next semester. If those requirements are not met, the student will be dismissed from the program.