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September 1, 2013
Dear New and Continuing Graduate Students:
On behalf of the faculty and staff in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, I want to
welcome you to the start of the 2013-2014 academic year. We are particularly pleased that you have
chosen to initiate your studies in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program. We wish all of
you great success in your research.
This is the 14th edition of a manual that has been prepared to provide information about the department
and degree requirements of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program. We hope that you
will find it of value and would welcome your suggestions for future editions.
No assembly of forms and short descriptions can explain everything or anticipate every situation, so you
should be aware that there are numerous additional sources of information. For example, the Graduate
Division's informative on-line site (www.gdnet.ucla.edu) has up to date details regarding degree
requirements and campus regulations.
We also want you to feel free to contact members of the department for assistance. Obviously, your
research mentor will be a key source of guidance on most matters that arise. Members of your doctoral
committee are another valuable resource. The department also has a dedicated staff able to help you with
the multiple administrative issues that are part of any large organization. Finally, you should convey
thoughts about the program and ideas for constructive change to your graduate student representatives.
As Graduate Program Director, I am happy to meet with you personally, and I hope you will feel free to
contact me. I can be reached by phone at 310-206-9535 or by e-mail at [email protected]. My
office is located in 11-232 Factor Building.
Again, welcome to the department. We wish you continued success and hope your stay here will be
enjoyable and profitable from both an educational and a personal perspective.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Dorshkind, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair (Research)
Director, Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program
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I.
OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Organization of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program
Faculty Roster
Student Roster
Important Phone Numbers
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THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
The Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) is an integral part of the research
enterprise of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and offers a program of study
leading to the Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology. All participating graduate program faculty are
members of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
The missions of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine are patient care,
residency/fellowship instruction, medical and dental school education, research, and graduate education.
History
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA was formed in the summer of 1951,
and Dr. Sydney Madden served as chair for the first twenty years. Subsequently, Drs. Julien Van Lancker
and Pasquale Cancilla served as chair for about ten years each. During these periods, multiple research
programs matured and the Experimental Pathology Ph.D. program was established. Dr. Jonathan Braun
became interim chair in 1994 and permanent chair in 1995. The graduate program name was changed
from “Experimental Pathology” to “Cellular and Molecular Pathology” in 2002.
Organization
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is organized into several divisions focused on i)
Clinical Services, ii) Research Services, iii) Resident and Fellowship Education, iv) Research, and v)
Integrative Anatomy (Figure 1). The heads of each of these units are members of the Pathology
Executive Committee, chaired by Dr. Braun, which serves as a forum for decision making and
communication to faculty and staff.
Clinical Services: The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine provides morphologic and
analytical diagnostic services through its Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology laboratories located
in Westwood and at additional UCLA affiliated hospitals in the greater Los Angeles area.
Research Services: The Immunogenetics laboratory, which provides clinical histocompatibility testing, is
a cornerstone of this division. In addition, several key core laboratories support basic and translational
research studies. For example, the recently established Clinical Microarray Core (CMC) is a high-
throughput genomic facility with a focus on complex genetic testing for the characterization of widely
prevalent diseases. The CMC offers Affymetrix GeneChip-based molecular diagnostic, prognostic, and
other personalized testing by gene expression profiling, high-throughput genotyping, copy number
variation assay, and other genetic analyses.
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Resident and Fellowship Education: The Department offers an outstanding program of clinical
education in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Residents experience both areas of pathology early in
their training and obtain hands-on experience that is augmented by conferences, problem-solving
sessions, and didactic presentations. The Department also offers fellowship training in Neuropathology,
Dermatopathology, GI/Liver Pathology, Transfusion Medicine, Hematopathology, Cytopathology,
Molecular Pathology, Cardio-Pulmonary Pathology, Women’s Health, Clinical Microbiology, and Surgical
Pathology.
Training of residents and fellows in general does not overlap with the graduate program. However,
fellows have the opportunity to pursue the Ph.D. degree in Cellular and Molecular Pathology through the
UCLA STAR program, described in Section III.
Research: The responsibilities of the research division include administration of space, disbursement of
equipment funds, and review of requests for bridge funding. The CMP Graduate Program is a
component within the research division.
The Vice-Chair for Research heads a Research Committee that makes decisions regarding major
equipment purchases and reviews requests for space and bridge funding. The CMP Graduate Program
Director is a member of the Research Committee, thus ensuring that the interests of the CMP Graduate
Program are integrated into the division’s decision making process. Also, as noted above, the Vice-Chair
for Research is a member of the Department Executive Committee and represents graduate program
issues at that level.
Integrative Anatomy: This division focuses on curriculum development and instruction in the schools of
medicine and dentistry and operates independent of the CMP Graduate Program.
Administrative Services
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has a large administrative structure to support
its clinical and academic missions. The following units are of direct relevance to the CMP Graduate
Program:
Contracts and Grants Administration: This unit includes several fund managers, each of whom manages
the grants and contracts portfolios of individual research faculty members. The fund managers in this
office interact with departmental personnel officers and the CMP student affairs officers to facilitate the
appointment of CMP graduate students to research and training grants and to deal with any financial
issues that arise.
Information Services: This unit is responsible for supporting the Departmental network infrastructure,
the Departmental WEB site, and the clinical laboratory computer system.
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Facilities Management: This unit is responsible for coordinating space planning, laboratory moves,
construction, renovation, and equipment maintenance. The value of this Department-based unit can not
be overemphasized, because research investigators no longer have to take valuable time to find out who
to call to solve a physical plant or equipment maintenance problem.
Location of Research Laboratories
Faculty research laboratories are located in the main CHS complex (the 1P and 1-3 areas), the Brain
Research Institute/Neuropsychiatric Institute, the Rehabilitation Center, the Factor Building, the
Macdonald Medical Research Lab, and the Terasaki Life Sciences Building. In addition, the financial
management group and personnel operations are located in the Bank of America building in Westwood
Village.
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ORGANIZATION OF THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
GRADUATE PROGRAM
As described above, the head of the CMP Graduate Program is the Graduate Advisor, who reports to
the Vice-Chair for Research. For the 2013-2014 academic year, Dr. Kenneth Dorshkind serves as both.
The CMP Student Affairs Officer (SAO) provides administrative support to the Graduate Advisor and
graduate students. The Graduate Advisor and the SAO are the primary contacts for students enrolled in
the program, and both are available to provide advice and assistance.
The majority of student issues involve routine clarification or interpretation of graduate division or CMP
Graduate Program requirements. However, policy issues often arise that do not fall within these
confines. In this case, the Graduate Advisor first consults with members of the Graduate Program
Executive Committee, formed by the Graduate Advisor, the Vice-Chair for Research, and one to two
additional CMP faculty members. The 2013-2014 members of the CMP Graduate Executive Committee,
chaired by Dr. Dorshkind, are Drs. Steven Bensinger, Gay Crooks, Samuel French, and Tomas Ganz.
Figure 2. Organization of the
CMP Graduate Program.
However, for matters that involve reformulation of program policy or course requirements, the entire
CMP program faculty meets to discuss the matter. It is also important to emphasize that student input is
solicited whenever changes are made to the program. In this regard, the CMP graduate students elect two
representatives each year, and these individuals routinely meet with the Graduate Advisor and attend
CMP graduate faculty meetings.
Graduate Student Representatives
Two graduate student representatives are selected by the graduate students each year. These individuals
meet with the graduate students on a regular basis and convey general student concerns and issues to the
Graduate Advisor.
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CMP FACULTY ROSTER
Linda Baum, M.D., Ph.D. -- Glycans in cell-cell interactions and immune function
Email: [email protected]
Office: 4-730 MRL
Phone: 6-5985
Steven Bensinger, V.M.D., Ph.D. -- Metabolic regulation of immune function
Email: [email protected]
Office: 36-120 CHS
Phone: 5-9885
Judith Berliner, Ph.D. -- Lipid regulation of monocyte endothelial interactions -
implications for atherosclerosis
Email: [email protected]
Office: 4-760 MRL
Phone: 5-2436
Jonathan Braun, M.D., Ph.D. -- Mucosal immunology, immunologic imaging, and
inflammatory bowel disease
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-222 CHS
Phone: 4-7953
Alistair Cochran, M.D. -- Melanocytic tumors and the interactions of immunological,
molecular and genetic factors that determine whether metastatic spread occurs and favorable
or unfavorable outcome for individual patients
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-145C CHS
Phone: 5-2743
Gay Crooks, M.D. -- Human hematopoiesis and thymus development
Email: [email protected]
Office: 3014 TLSB
Phone: 6-0205
David Dawson, M.D., Ph.D. -- Epigenetics and growth signaling in pancreatic
carcinogenesis
Email: [email protected]
Office: 14-118 CHS
Phone: 7-2799
Kenneth Dorshkind, Ph.D. -- Lymphocyte development from embryogenesis through
senescence
Email: [email protected]
Office: 11-232 Factor
Phone: 6-9535
Thomas Drake, M.D. -- Integrating genetics and gene expression to study complex
disease pathogenesis
Email: [email protected]
Office: AL-124 CHS
Phone: 5-6975
Steven Dubinett, M.D. -- Inflammation in lung cancer progression and response to
therapy
Email: [email protected]
Office: 37-131 CHS
Phone: 7-2725
Rita Effros, Ph.D. -- Immunodeficiency of HIV & aging; Osteoimmunology: the link
between T cells and bone
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-344 CHS
Phone: 5-0748
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Michael Fishbein, M.D. -- Formation and progression of lung cancer
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-145H CHS
Phone: 5-9731
Samuel French, M.D., Ph.D. -- Hepatitis C Viral Mediated Hepatocarcinogenesis
Email: [email protected]
Office: 14-118 CHS
Phone: 7-2795
Tomas Ganz, M.D., Ph.D. -- Innate immunity in host defense and iron metabolism
Email: [email protected]
Office: 37-055 CHS
Phone: 5-6112
Ben Glasgow, M.D. -- Pathogenesis of ocular disease
Email: [email protected]
Office: B-279 JSEI
Phone: 5-6998
Wayne Grody, M.D., Ph.D. -- Molecular Genetics of Metabolic and Heritable
Neoplastic Diseases
Email: [email protected]
Office: 1P-249 CHS
Phone: 5-5648
Oliver Hankinson, Ph.D. -- Chemical carcinogenesis, role of hypoxia in tumor growth
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-244 Factor
Phone: 5-2936
Jiaoti Huang, M.D., Ph.D. -- Molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-229 CHS
Phone: 7-2264
Kathleen Kelly, Ph.D. -- Reproductive mucosal immune trafficking, inflammation and
pathogenesis of STDs
Email: [email protected]
Office: 1P-245 CHS
Phone: 6-5562
Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski, M.D. -- Liver and pancreas transplantation
Email: [email protected]
Office: 77-120 CHS
Phone: 5-4196
Siavash Kurdistani, M.D., Ph.D. -- Cancer Epigenetics
Email: [email protected]
Office: 377B BSRB
Phone: 4-5194
Benhur Lee, M.D. -- Viral Attachment and Entry, HIV and Emerging Viruses,
Glycobiology
Email: [email protected]
Office: 251A BSRB
Phone: 4-2132
Xin Liu, M.D., Ph.D. -- Molecular biology of cognition
Email: [email protected]
Office: 23-263 CHS
Phone: 4-5880
Michael Phelps, Ph.D. -- Molecular Imaging with PET and the biology of disease
Email: [email protected]
Office: 23-138 CHS
Phone: 5-6539
Dinesh Rao, M.D., Ph.D. -- Understanding the role of microRNAs in hematopoietic
development and cancer
Email: [email protected]
Office: 12-272 Factor
Phone: 5-1675
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Jianyu Rao, M.D. -- Cancer molecular signatures, biomarker and prevention
Email: [email protected]
Office: 10-952 Factor
Phone: 4-1567
Elaine Reed, Ph.D. -- Immunogenetics and transplant immunology
Email: [email protected]
Office: 15-20 Rehab
Phone: 4-4943
Jonathan Said, M.D. -- Lymphoma and urologic cancer biology and therapy
Email: [email protected]
Office: 13-226 CHS
Phone: 5-1149
Robert Schiestl, Ph.D. -- Gene-Environment-Nutrition interactions in predisposition
to cancer
Email: [email protected]
Office: 71-295 CHS
Phone: 7-2087
Ram Raj Singh, M.D. -- Autoimmune diseases: T, NKT and dendritic cells; Immune
tolerance; Biomarkers
Email: [email protected]
Office: 32-59 Rehab
Phone: 5-5410
Michael Teitell, M.D., Ph.D. -- Cancer mechanisms and nanosystems
Email: [email protected]
Office: 4-762 MRL
Phone: 6-6754
James Tidball, Ph.D. -- Pathophysiological mechanisms in muscular dystrophy
Email: [email protected]
Office: 5833 LSB
Phone: 6-3395
Peter Tontonoz, M.D., Ph.D. -- Nuclear hormone receptor family in metabolism and
inflammation
Email: [email protected]
Office: 4-726 MRL
Phone: 6-4546
Harry Vinters, M.D., Ph.D. -- Pathogenesis of degenerative, vascular and
malformative diseases of the nervous system
Email: [email protected]
Office: 18-170B NPI
Phone: 5-6191
Anna Wu, Ph.D. -- Engineered antibodies for cancer targeting and imaging
Email: [email protected]
Office: 4335 CNSI
Phone: 4-5088
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CMP STUDENT ROSTER 2013-2014
STUDENT MENTOR CONTACT
ARENSMAN, Michael
2011 (ACCESS)
DAWSON, David [email protected]
Lab: 8-240 Factor, x50618
CHIN, Julia
2012 (ACCESS)
CROOKS, Gay [email protected]
Lab: 3009A TLSB, x53535
CHOU, Jennifer
2009 (ACCESS)
EFFROS, Rita [email protected]
Lab : 18-111 CHS, x58786
CONTRERAS, Jorge
2011 (ACCESS)
RAO, Dinesh [email protected]
Lab: 11-544 Factor, x52548
DOCK, Jeffrey
2008 (ACCESS)
EFFROS, Rita [email protected]
Lab: 18-111 CHS, x58786
HONG, Jason
2012 (ACCESS)
TEITELL, Michael [email protected]
Lab: 4-567 MRL, x66821
JACOBS, Jonathan
2001 (STAR)
BRAUN, Jonathan [email protected]
Lab: 4-525 MRL, x51469
KERSHAW, Kathleen
2013 (ACCESS)
DAWSON, David [email protected]
Lab: 8-240 Factor, x50618
KIM, Airie
2009 (STAR)
GANZ, Tomas [email protected]
Lab: 52-164 CHS, x57499
KING, Jennifer
2012 (STAR)
RAO, Dinesh [email protected]
Lab: 11-544 Factor, x52548
MCMORRAN, Brian
2013 (ACCESS)
BAUM, Linda [email protected]
Lab: MRL 4-730, x66329
RODRIGUEZ –
MALAVE, Norma
2011 (ACCESS)
RAO, Dinesh [email protected]
Lab: 11-544 Factor, x52548
RONG, Xin
2010 (ACCESS)
TONTONOZ, Peter [email protected]
Lab: 6-629 MRL, x54622
SALEHI, Sahar
2012 (ACCESS)
REED, Elaine [email protected]
Lab: A5-38 Rehab, x44945
SEET, Christopher
2012 (STAR)
CROOKS, Gay [email protected]
Lab: 3009A TLSB, x53535
TRAN, Cynthia
2011 (ACCESS)
SINGH, Ram Raj [email protected]
Lab: 35-40 Rehab, x63608
WALSH, Nicole
2008 (ACCESS)
TEITELL, Michael [email protected]
Lab: 4-567 MRL, x66821
WANG, Jiexin
2011 (ACCESS)
TONTONOZ, Peter [email protected]
Lab: 6-629 MRL, x54622
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IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
CONTACT POSITION PHONE OFFICE
Dr. Kenneth
Dorshkind
Graduate Program
Director 6-9535 11-232 Factor
Christina Kim
Graduate Program
Student Affairs
Manager
5-8119 1P-166 CHS
Doug Smoot
Graduate Program
Student Affairs
Officer
6-1770 1P-171 CHS
Josephine Alviar Personnel and
Payroll 4-1355 Suite 730, BofA Bldg.
Kristine Fisher Personnel, Payroll
and Parking 6-5008 Suite 730, BofA Bldg.
David Islas Research
Administration 6-2877 Suite 400A, BofA Bldg.
Carmen Kistner Purchasing 5-9162 Suite 400A, BofA Bldg.
Noel Lau Computer Helpdesk 5-6270 A2-260 CHS
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II.
THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM
Outline of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program
Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program Requirements
Time to Degree Policy
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OUTLINE OF THE CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR
PATHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM
YEAR 1 (ACCESS)
Complete All ACCESS Requirements
YEAR 2
(ENTRY INTO THE CMP
GRADUATE PROGRAM)
Complete First TA Requirement
Complete Pathology M237 (or APPROVED
equivalent course if M237 taken during ACCESS
year)
Nominate Doctoral Committee (by 12/1)
Convene First Committee Meeting - present initial
research objectives and set timeline for Oral
Qualifying Exam (by 6/1)
YEAR 3
Complete Course Requirements
Complete Second TA Requirement
Complete Written and Oral Qualifying Exam
(a.k.a. Second Committee Meeting by 6/1)
Advance to Candidacy
YEAR 4
Convene Third Committee Meeting - present
research update/progress (by 6/1)
YEAR 5
Convene Fourth Committee Meeting - discuss
dissertation goals and set timeline for Final Oral
Exam
Complete Final Oral Exam (by mid-Spring
Quarter; see Graduate Division deadline)
File Dissertation
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CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
GRADUATE PROGRAM REQUIRMENTS
Only students who have been admitted to UCLA through UCLA ACCESS may enter the CMP Graduate
Program. Students are not admitted directly. Following completion of the year 1 ACCESS core
curriculum, students in good standing may enter the CMP Graduate Program following acceptance into
the laboratory of a CMP Graduate Program faculty member. They then undertake a program of
coursework and research that leads to the Ph.D. degree in Cellular and Molecular Pathology.
A. Coursework and Teaching Requirements:
i. Coursework:
All students are required to complete Pathology M237 “Cellular and Molecular Basis of Disease” (or an
approved equivalent course if M237 was taken during year 1 in ACCESS), and one of the following
options:
a. Three 298 seminar courses; at least one must focus on mechanism(s) of disease. The seminar
must be a separate and distinct 2 unit seminar course, not associated with another course.
Additionally, the seminar must require that each student make at least one formal presentation.
b. Pathology 294 “Basic Concepts in Oncology” and one 298 seminar course. (Note: If Pathology
294 was taken during year 1 to satisfy an ACCESS course requirement, it cannot be used to meet
this option in the CMP program)
c. Pathology 240 “Transplantation Immunobiology” and one 298 seminar course.
Students are required to be enrolled in at least 12 units each quarter. In addition to formal courses and
seminars, the 12 unit requirement may be met by enrollment in Pathology 596 (Directed Individual Study or
Research) or Pathology 599 (Preparation of Ph.D. Dissertation). Enrollment in Pathology 599 occurs only
after advancement to candidacy.
Additional advanced didactic courses may be substituted for up to two of the 298 seminar courses if
approved by the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program Director. Students considering
this option should seek approval BEFORE enrolling in such courses, as curriculum substitutions may
not be retroactively approved.
The Academic Calendar and Schedule of Classes may be obtained online at
http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/schedulehome.aspx.
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ii. Teaching Requirement:
Students are required to serve as teaching assistants for two (2) quarters and complete a course in
teaching principles and methods. One quarter of teaching and the methods course are usually completed
during year 2 of study. The ACCESS program office maintains a Teaching Assistant course list and a
sign-up list for teaching preferences. Note that students for whom English is not the native language
must pass the TOP (Test of Oral Proficiency) Exam with a minimum score of 50 before they can be
hired as a teaching assistant. A student scoring 45 may serve as a teaching assistant if concurrently
enrolled in an English as a Second Language course specifically aimed at improving spoken
communication (ESL 39A, 39B, 39C, 38 and 108). Additional information regarding teaching
assignments is available from the ACCESS office in 172 Boyer Hall.
The CMP Graduate Program does not encourage teaching beyond 2 quarters, as this can significantly
impede research progress and timely graduation.
B. Nomination of Doctoral Committee
The Doctoral Committee, which conducts the Oral Qualifying Examination and guides the student in the
preparation and defense of the dissertation, should be selected by December 1 following entry into the
CMP Graduate Program.
The committee is made up of at least four graduate program faculty. This number includes the research
mentor, who serves as Chair of the Committee, two additional CMP faculty members, and one eligible
faculty member from outside the Department. The Nomination of Doctoral Committee form may be
obtained online at www.gdnet.ucla.edu/forms.asp. The form is submitted to the Graduate Division for
final review and approval.
The Doctoral Committee may be reconstituted if the student wishes to make any changes to the
membership after the initial nomination has been approved by the Graduate Division. A Reconstitution
of Doctoral Committee form may be obtained online at www.gdnet.ucla.edu/forms.asp. A committee
may be reconstituted for a variety of reasons, including if the student wishes to add additional members
or if a member cannot fulfill his/her responsibilities (sabbatical, transfer, etc.) and must be replaced.
The duties of the doctoral committee extend beyond simply administering the oral examination. Most
importantly, committee members can provide valuable feedback and suggestions regarding thesis
research. Consequently, it is important to choose committee members based on their familiarity with the
research to be conducted.
C. Annual Committee Meetings
Students are required to meet with their doctoral committee at least once a year. During the first meeting,
which is held within 6 months after appointing the committee, students discuss their interests, outline a
possible research project, and set a time for their Oral Qualifying Examination. It is recommended that a
1-2 page outline of potential goals for the project be submitted to the committee at least one week prior
to the meeting.
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Students are expected to present research updates during subsequent meetings. The aim of these
meetings is to provide the student with constructive comments that will facilitate their work and avoid
subsequent time-consuming problems. A 1-2 page written summary of research results must be provided
to members one week prior to each committee meeting. These meetings should not extend beyond 90
minutes. Thus, it is important that the presentation succinctly summarize past progress and future goals.
At the conclusion of every meeting, each committee member must fill out a Report of Annual
Committee Meeting, which will be turned in to the Graduate Program Student Affairs Office and
included in the student's file.
D. Written and Oral Qualifying Examination
In order to advance to candidacy, students must prepare a written proposal that is orally presented to the
doctoral committee. The Oral Qualifying Examination should be scheduled and completed by June 1 of
year 3.
i. The Written Proposal
Approximately two months prior to the prospective oral exam date, the student should choose the oral
examination topic. It is recommended that a one page proposal that lists the topic and key aims be
submitted to the doctoral committee for approval one month prior to the exam date. Once the oral
exam topic is chosen, the student then prepares the written proposal to be presented to the doctoral
committee.
The written proposal, in the form of an NIH grant application, must be submitted to the committee one
week in advance of the scheduled examination. The student and thesis advisor should plan for 4-6 weeks
for completion of the written proposal and study for the oral examination. The proposal must include
the following sections:
1. Abstract The question to be addressed and the approaches to be taken should be succinctly described. The
abstract should be ½ page or less.
2. Specific Aims Provide a short introductory paragraph that delineates the broad, long-term objectives and what the
specific research is intended to accomplish. State the hypotheses to be defended. One page or less is
recommended.
3. Background and Significance Briefly sketch the background leading to the present proposal, critically evaluate existing knowledge in
the field, and identify gaps that the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance of the work
to a basic biological or clinical issue. Remember that this section must provide a rationale for the specific
aims that have been formulated. Up to three pages is recommended.
4. Research Design Describe the research design and the procedures that will be used to address the specific aims. Include
how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Indicate possible outcomes of experiments and
19
how these will influence the direction of the studies. Discuss potential difficulties and limitations. The
experimental methods should not include too many details regarding buffers, concentrations of
antibodies, etc., although the committee may ask the student about such details during the oral
presentation. This section should form the major portion of the application and should be at least four
pages in length.
Sections 1-4 should be no more than 10 single-spaced pages in length. Font size should be at least 11 or
12 point with ½ inch margins on all sides. Adherence to these formatting instructions is mandatory for
the submission of the proposal.
5. References The proposal should be a scholarly document and appropriate references should be cited to indicate
knowledge of key papers in the field and to support statements that have been made. Each reference
must include the title, names of all authors, book or journal, volume number, page numbers, and year of
publication. Select only those references pertinent to the proposal. References are not included in the
page count.
ii. Written Proposal Guidelines
1. The written proposal may be related or unrelated to the general interest of the laboratory.
However, the proposal cannot focus on the student’s proposed dissertation research or a
reformulation of any proposal written by any member of the laboratory.
2. The student may discuss the general choice of topic with the research mentor. However, once the
topic is approved, the student may no longer discuss any aspect of the proposal with the mentor
or any other committee member.
iii. Oral Examination Guidelines
1. The student must be registered during the terms in which the oral examination is taken.
2. The Oral Qualifying Examination may not be held unless a doctoral committee has been
appointed by the Graduate Division.
3. The examination is open only to the committee members and the student.
4. All members of the committee must be present during the entire examination.
5. Each member of the committee must sign the Report on the Oral Qualifying Examination form,
indicating his/her presence during the examination, and record a decision of “pass” or “not
pass”. You may obtain this form from the SAO.
6. The student will not be advanced to candidacy if more than one member votes “not passed”.
7. If a majority of the committee so recommends, the Oral Qualifying Examination may be
repeated once within 6 months.
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E. Advancement to Candidacy
Upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examination, students will be advanced to
candidacy. Students who fail either the written or oral aspect of this Qualifying Exam must retake the
examination within six months. The student is automatically billed for the doctoral advancement to
candidacy fee ($90.00) at the time advancement occurs.
F. FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION (DEFENSE OF THE DISSERTATION)
A final oral presentation and defense of the student’s Ph.D. dissertation to members of the doctoral
committee is required for completion of the degree. The Ph.D. dissertation should be an original body of
work performed by the Candidate. The purpose of the dissertation is to demonstrate ability for
independent investigation and proficiency in the field. As a general guideline, it is expected that by the time of
graduation, CMP students will have completed significant work, suitable for the publication of at least one first author
paper in a high quality, peer-reviewed journal. Ultimately, however, it is up to the Doctoral Committee to determine
whether the student’s progress merits award of the Ph.D.
The official UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Formatting and Filing Guide contains established
criteria for uniformity in the format of theses and dissertations. The regulations included in it supersede
any style manual instructions regarding format. It also includes information on filing dates and
procedures, registration of copyright, and guidelines for submission. The guide can be found at
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/library/degreeinfo.htm
Staff from the UCLA Graduate Division will present information on University regulations governing
manuscript preparation and completion of degree requirements. Students who plan to file a thesis or
dissertation during the quarter are encouraged to attend. Visit the link at
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/library/thesismtg.htm for important dates, locations, and deadlines.
A final copy of the dissertation should be submitted to the Doctoral Committee no less than one week
before the scheduled doctoral defense date. After the examination, all necessary changes to the
manuscript should be made within two weeks.
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TIME TO DEGREE POLICY
The general expectation is that students will make sufficient progress to earn the Ph.D. degree within five
years from entry into UCLA ACCESS to completion of all CMP Graduate Program requirements.
Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal
University Policy: A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons.
The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by
the Academic Senate to remain in good standing. Other examples include failure of examinations, lack
of timely progress toward the degree, and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students
(those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon
recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students,
including the appeal procedure, are outlined in the graduate division publication “Standards and
Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA”. (See: www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/library/spfgs.pdf)
Additional CMP Graduate Program Policy: Failure of the qualifying examination twice leads to disqualification. Failure to convene annual meetings
and complete the required Annual Student Progress Report in a timely fashion will result in official
reevaluation of the student's status, dismissal, or a recommendation for transfer to another mentor's
laboratory. The student may appeal by letter to the Graduate Executive Committee. Mentors and
students are responsible for ensuring that these requirements are fulfilled. Each stage of the student's
progress will be monitored yearly and recorded in the student's file.
The Master’s Degree
The Master of Science degree may be awarded only in special cases to students who were admitted into
the doctoral program, have advanced to candidacy, and are unable to complete the full Ph.D. curriculum.
Further details on the M.S. degree in these instances can be obtained from the Graduate Program
Director. The department does not admit students whose sole objective is the Master’s degree.
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III.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS FOR MSTP AND STAR STUDENTS
Outline of Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program Requirements for MSTP
and STAR Students
Cellular and Molecular Pathology Program Requirements
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OUTLINE OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR MSTP AND STAR STUDENTS
YEAR 1
Complete Course Requirements
Nominate Doctoral Committee (by 12/1)
Convene First Committee Meeting - present PhD
proposal and set timeline for Oral Qualifying
Exam (by 6/1)
YEAR 2
Complete Written and Oral Qualifying Exam
(a.k.a. Second Committee meeting by 6/1)
Advance to Candidacy
YEAR 3
Convene Third Committee Meeting - present
research update/progress (by 6/1)
YEAR 4
Write Dissertation
Complete Final Oral Exam (by mid-Spring
Quarter; see Graduate Division deadline)
File Dissertation
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CMP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR MSTP AND STAR STUDENTS
CMP graduate students who enter into the program through the MSTP or STAR programs undertake a
program of study similar to those who enter via UCLA ACCESS. For example, the requirement for
annual committee meetings, the written and oral examination, and laboratory research are identical for all
students. However, there are two distinctions for MSTP and STAR students.
The first is that the required coursework differs. MSTP and STAR students must complete two advanced
general didactic courses (4 - 6 units) and one of the following options:
a. two 298 (or equivalent) seminar courses (2 units), or
b. an advanced didactic course in the area of specialization (4-6 units), and one 298 (or equivalent)
seminar course (2 units)
The second major difference is that MSTP and STAR students are not required to serve as Teaching
Assistants.
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GRADUATE STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Committee will review requests from
graduate students for up to $1000 in travel support to attend scientific meetings at which they are
presenting work. Students are eligible to receive up to two Travel Awards during their graduate
program career, based on pre-trip approval..
In order to be eligible to receive travel award and other program funding, all program requirements, including annual
committee meetings, completion of the written and oral examination, and advancement to candidacy, must be completed on
schedule.
If you wish to be considered for this travel award, please complete an Application for CMP Graduate
Student Travel Award and have it approved by your faculty research mentor prior to your trip.
Return the completed form to:
Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Research Committee
c/o Doug Smoot, Graduate Program Student Affairs Officer
1P-171 CHS
Mailcode: 173216
The Application for CMP Graduate Student Travel Award as well as the other departmental forms
mentioned in this manual may be downloaded from the CMP Graduate Program website at
http://pathology.ucla.edu/workfiles/CMP/applicationTravelAward.doc.
OTHER SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING STUDENTS
Please visit the Graduate Division website for a comprehensive list of financial support opportunities:
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/stusup/index.html
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GRADUATE DIVISION FORMS
The following Graduate Division forms are available online at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/forms.asp.
1. Nomination of Doctoral Committee (including regulations)
2. Reconstitution of Doctoral Committee (including instructions)
3. Filing Fee Application
CMP GRADUATE PROGRAM FORMS
CMP Graduate Program forms are available at http://www.pathology.ucla.edu/cmp-phd. Navigate to
the “Curriculum” page, and you will see the links under the ”Links to CMP Forms” heading.
1. Report of Annual Committee Meeting
2. Annual Student Progress Report
3. Application for CMP Graduate Student Travel Award
4. CMP Graduate Student Final Information Sheet