Rotations and advisor selection process

The Program Committee at Hershey is responsible for advising and oversight of first year students, including guidance and courses of study.

To ensure that each student experiences the breadth of research opportunities within the Hershey contingent of the program, incoming students will participate in laboratory rotations. The first two rotations will be for 10-14 weeks in the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively. Students should submit the names of their first, second and third choice rotation mentor to the Genetics Program director. Every opportunity will be provided for students to rotate in their top choice laboratories; however, students must distribute themselves equally among the departments contributing to the support of the program. During this period, students will have the opportunity to hear presentations by all faculty members who have a position for a prospective student. Two additional rotations follow, each four-six weeks in duration, during the summer. For these rotations, students should contact potential mentors to decide upon mutually agreeable rotations.

After completion of rotations, the students will provide the program committee with the names of their first and second choices for dissertation studies. The potential mentor or his/her Chair must guarantee four additional years of support.

The program also provides that a PhD or MS student may be admitted directly into the laboratory of a participating faculty member, who will have guaranteed a full five years of support. In this case, the laboratory rotation provision is not applicable.

However, prior to admission to candidacy of such a student and formation of a doctoral committee, or during the first academic year of a student in the MS program, the program committee still has the responsibility for academic oversight.