Letter from Director

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What distinguishes CMB from other PIBS programs?
CMB trains students to maintain a broad perspective in their biomedical research. In this regard, CMB is the only Ph.D.-granting graduate program at Michigan that fosters a broad approach in biomedical sciences. Our graduates are competent to approach scientific problems from multiple perspectives. The breadth in training derives from several features of the program, including:

1. Coursework: Since CMB is a University-wide interdisciplinary program, CMB students have the option to take courses throughout the University, and are not restricted to certain departments or areas. Further, a strong effort is made to individualize each student's coursework according to his/her research interests. In contrast, most discipline-based Ph.D. programs, even those whose names are similar (eg CDB, MCDB), train students according to a specific discipline and often require specific department-based coursework.

2. Student seminars: Each week CMB students and faculty gather for a seminar presented by a current CMB student. Beginning students present work from the current literature, and more advanced students present their own research. Since CMB faculty labs represent 23 different departments at the University, seminars each week are on the wide range of topics on which students are doing their research. For example, one week's seminar might be on the biochemistry of protein folding, another on molecular motors and chaperones, or microbial pathogenesis, the molecular basis of fat cell differentiation, obesity and diabetes, or on DNA repair in cancer cells. CMB students become conversant in the breadth of these areas of research, and in the latest strategies used to analyze them.

3. Program events: Each time CMB students and faculty gather for presentations such as poster sessions and platform presentations, our events represent the broad array of research interests in the Program. Often these gatherings lead to new collaborations among CMB students and faculty.

Q2. What is PIBS?
PIBS is an "application gateway" to thirteen different graduate programs in the biomedical sciences at the University of Michigan. CMB is one of these thirteen programs. Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee composed of faculty and students from all thirteen programs. When applicants are invited to visit PIBS, they are hosted by the graduate program which they indicate is their primary interest.

First year students are PIBS students, and do not commit to a specific graduate program until the end of the first year of graduate study. During the first year as PIBS students, they explore at least two labs where the research interests them (research rotations) and consult with faculty advisors for each of the programs that interest them. The curriculum is designed to be flexible so that students can enter their program of choice based on the lab and research that interests them rather than on coursework.

Q3. Can I apply directly to CMB?
Students applying for the first year of graduate study apply to PIBS rather than directly to CMB. A student interested specifically in CMB is welcome to be involved in CMB Program activities during the first year, and can officially join CMB at the end of the first year. In exceptional cases, students beyond the first year can apply as transfer students directly to CMB. Transfer applications are reviewed by the CMB Program Committee.

Q4. Will I receive financial support during graduate school?
Students in good standing receive financial support throughout their graduate studies. Financial support includes a competitive stipend for living expenses, determined by PIBS with agreement of all participating departments. Support also includes tuition, health insurance and fees.

Financial support is provided by PIBS for the first year. Second year CMB students are generally supported by the CMB Program through an NIH Training Grant and contributions from the Rackham Graduate School and the Medical School. Financial support in the third year and beyond is provided by the mentor until the student completes the Ph.D. During these years, the mentor may encourage a student to apply for appropriate specialized training support from internal and external sources. CMB students often compete successfully for such support, which replaces the mentor’s contribution.

Q5. How will I find rotation labs and colleagues with common research interests at UM?
Each entering PIBS student is advised by PIBS Directors to identify areas of interest, and is directed to faculty advisers in appropriate programs and departments. The faculty advisers discuss the student’s interests and direct them to individual faculty to discuss possible research rotation opportunities. Often students find additional information on websites for PIBS, specific Programs such as CMB, and individual faculty, where faculty are often grouped by research interest area for convenience. PIBS also maintains a list of rotation projects submitted by mentors.

Students contact individual faculty members and then meet with each individually to discuss possible rotation projects and to find out about the lab. PIBS students can choose rotation mentors in any department. Through the rotation and dissertation research labs, students meet other investigators and students with similar research interests, through collaborations, joint lab meetings, and attendance at seminars. In addition, the research community at UM provides many opportunities for participation in a host of informal research-in-progress groups that bring together investigators with similar research interests. Further, through CMB, students often find colleagues with similar interests through CMB student seminars and other events.

CMB Program - 2966 Taubman Medical Library - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI 48109-0619
(734) 764-5428 (voice) - (734) 647-6232 (fax) - cmbgrad@umich.edu
Copyright © 2006 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109


. How to Apply Timeline to Degree Financial Support Frequently Asked Questions UM & Ann Arbor . Contact Us Site Map	Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Q1. What distinguishes CMB from other PIBS programs? CMB trains students to maintain a broad perspective in their biomedical research. In this regard, CMB is the only Ph.D.-granting graduate program at Michigan that fosters a broad approach in biomedical sciences. Our graduates are competent to approach scientific problems from multiple perspectives. The breadth in training derives from several features of the program, including: 1. Coursework: Since CMB is a University-wide interdisciplinary program, CMB students have the option to take courses throughout the University, and are not restricted to certain departments or areas. Further, a strong effort is made to individualize each student's coursework according to his/her research interests. In contrast, most discipline-based Ph.D. programs, even those whose names are similar (eg CDB, MCDB), train students according to a specific discipline and often require specific department-based coursework. 2. Student seminars: Each week CMB students and faculty gather for a seminar presented by a current CMB student. Beginning students present work from the current literature, and more advanced students present their own research. Since CMB faculty labs represent 23 different departments at the University, seminars each week are on the wide range of topics on which students are doing their research. For example, one week's seminar might be on the biochemistry of protein folding, another on molecular motors and chaperones, or microbial pathogenesis, the molecular basis of fat cell differentiation, obesity and diabetes, or on DNA repair in cancer cells. CMB students become conversant in the breadth of these areas of research, and in the latest strategies used to analyze them. 3. Program events: Each time CMB students and faculty gather for presentations such as poster sessions and platform presentations, our events represent the broad array of research interests in the Program. Often these gatherings lead to new collaborations among CMB students and faculty. Q2. What is PIBS? PIBS is an "application gateway" to thirteen different graduate programs in the biomedical sciences at the University of Michigan. CMB is one of these thirteen programs. Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee composed of faculty and students from all thirteen programs. When applicants are invited to visit PIBS, they are hosted by the graduate program which they indicate is their primary interest. First year students are PIBS students, and do not commit to a specific graduate program until the end of the first year of graduate study. During the first year as PIBS students, they explore at least two labs where the research interests them (research rotations) and consult with faculty advisors for each of the programs that interest them. The curriculum is designed to be flexible so that students can enter their program of choice based on the lab and research that interests them rather than on coursework. Q3. Can I apply directly to CMB? Students applying for the first year of graduate study apply to PIBS rather than directly to CMB. A student interested specifically in CMB is welcome to be involved in CMB Program activities during the first year, and can officially join CMB at the end of the first year. In exceptional cases, students beyond the first year can apply as transfer students directly to CMB. Transfer applications are reviewed by the CMB Program Committee. Q4. Will I receive financial support during graduate school? Students in good standing receive financial support throughout their graduate studies. Financial support includes a competitive stipend for living expenses, determined by PIBS with agreement of all participating departments. Support also includes tuition, health insurance and fees. Financial support is provided by PIBS for the first year. Second year CMB students are generally supported by the CMB Program through an NIH Training Grant and contributions from the Rackham Graduate School and the Medical School. Financial support in the third year and beyond is provided by the mentor until the student completes the Ph.D. During these years, the mentor may encourage a student to apply for appropriate specialized training support from internal and external sources. CMB students often compete successfully for such support, which replaces the mentor’s contribution. Q5. How will I find rotation labs and colleagues with common research interests at UM? Each entering PIBS student is advised by PIBS Directors to identify areas of interest, and is directed to faculty advisers in appropriate programs and departments. The faculty advisers discuss the student’s interests and direct them to individual faculty to discuss possible research rotation opportunities. Often students find additional information on websites for PIBS, specific Programs such as CMB, and individual faculty, where faculty are often grouped by research interest area for convenience. PIBS also maintains a list of rotation projects submitted by mentors. Students contact individual faculty members and then meet with each individually to discuss possible rotation projects and to find out about the lab. PIBS students can choose rotation mentors in any department. Through the rotation and dissertation research labs, students meet other investigators and students with similar research interests, through collaborations, joint lab meetings, and attendance at seminars. In addition, the research community at UM provides many opportunities for participation in a host of informal research-in-progress groups that bring together investigators with similar research interests. Further, through CMB, students often find colleagues with similar interests through CMB student seminars and other events.


CMB Program - 2966 Taubman Medical Library - University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI 48109-0619 (734) 764-5428 (voice) - (734) 647-6232 (fax) - cmbgrad@umich.edu Copyright © 2006 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109