Rotations

Rotating with potential permanent faculty advisors and lab/research groups is an integral part of the early years of a student’s academic career. These rotations provide students with multiple opportunities to work on different research projects in different labs/research groups with potential faculty advisors who could oversee their dissertation work. Students are expected to settle with a permanent advisor by <insert program’s deadline> so that they can begin their dissertation research in a timely manner.

In the Department of <department name> a rotation lasts for <a full quarter/x number of weeks, etc.> and students may rotate a total of <insert number>. While rotating, full funding for the student will be provided by <fellowship/assistantship> and the rotation advisor will not need to provide any funding. If a student settles with a permanent advisor after only one or two rotations, they will no longer need to rotate further. Once a student permanently settles with an advisor, the advisor will then begin providing the student’s funding.

Students are required to enroll in the Department’s research course <insert course here> and in the section with their rotation advisor listed as instructor. If no such section has been created, please contact the student services administrator as soon as possible. At the end of each rotation, the rotation advisor will provide feedback on the student’s performance to the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies and the student services administrator. This feedback is to ensure that the student is making satisfactory progress towards finding a permanent advisor. Should any concerns arise from this feedback, the student will be notified.

All of this information along with the Department’s advising expectations will be sent to the rotation advisor at the start of the rotation period.