Biophysics Graduate Student Mentoring Guidelines

Students will be assigned a 2-member advisory committee at the time they enroll in the Biophysics program. One of the purposes of this committee is for students to get to know faculty members who they can ask for advice and to expand the range of available expertise. Each student is expected to have an advisory committee throughout the entire period of the student’s education. 

First Year Students 

Students must meet with their 2-member advisor committee before the start of their first semester, and once per semester during their first year of enrollment. The committee meeting form must be completed and emailed to the Program Directors and Coordinator (biophysics@umd.edu) each semester. 

• First Fall Advising Form (August)
• Late Fall Advising Form (late October - early November)
• Spring Advising Form (late February - early March)

Second Year until Candidacy 

All students must complete a progress survey each semester. Once completed, the survey will generate an email to the student’s advisor (who can then forward the email to the advisory committee) outlining his/her progress for the semester. Note that completion of the progress survey is a prerequisite for registration. 

Post-Candidacy 

Students who have advanced to candidacy will complete the same progress survey each semester. This survey asks students to report their publications, presentations, and research progress. Once completed, the survey will generate an email to the student’s advisor (who can then forward the email to the dissertation committee) outlining his/her progress for the semester.