For more information on Graduate Studies, please contact:
Dr.
Matt Vickaryous
Graduate Studies Co-Coordinator
Department of Biomedical Sciences, OVC
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON
N1G 2W1
Email: mvickary@uoguelph.ca
Focus of Graduate Studies
The focus of graduate training in the Department of Biomedical Sciences is in scientific disciplines which are basic to understand the structures and biological function of various organ and cellular systems in vertebrate animals. The research emphases within the department deal with scientific topics that are basic to veterinary medicine and problems which have application to the health of human beings and animals, in addtion to research in cell biology.
The Department offers the following degree programs:
The MSc and PhD programs provide emphasis in one of the department's three major divisions: Reproductive Biology; Developmental, Cell and Tissue Morphology and Biomedical Toxicology/Pharmacology and Neuroscience. A distinctive feature of both the research interests of the faculty, and the graduate training, is its interdisciplinary nature. Graduate students may also participate in Interdepartmental programs in toxicology, biophysics and neuroscienceif their faculty advisor is a member of the Interdepartmental graduate group.
For entry to the MSc program a BSc (Hons) or a DVM degree is required. A requirement for admission to the PhD program is the completion of an MSc program, although outstanding students may, subject to approval, transfer directly to the PhD program before completing their MSc degree.
Applications for admission to the DVSc program are handled through the Interdepartmental DVSc Program Committee of the Ontario Veterinary College. A DVM (or equivalent) degree is required for entry to the DVSc program.
Application fee is $100.00.
Fields of Study
Graduate work can be conducted in one of the following: Reproductive Biology; Developmental, Cell and Tissue Morphology and Biomedical Toxicology/Pharmacology and Neuroscience. The major areas of research generally span individual disciplines and include: reproductive biology, endocrinology, developmental biology, embryo technology, genetics, pharmacology-toxicology, inflammatory process and blood coagulation, digestive physiology, neurosciences, and biomechanics. The department participates in the interdepartmental toxicology, biophysics and neuroscience programs.
General Admission Requirements
Research in the Biomedical Sciences disciplines is characterized by the interaction of scientists from diverse academic disciplines. Accordingly, there are no specific prerequisite courses for the graduate programs in the Department. Each application is considered on an individual basis, taking into account the applicant's academic background and relevant experience. The decision to recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies that an applicant be admitted to the graduate program is based on the student's scholastic record and suitability for the proposed research program. Also considered is the availability of a suitable advisor, the availability of funds to support the research program and where necessary, the availability of a stipend for the student.
MSc Program
Students may take an
MSc degree in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis on aspects
of Reproductive Biology; Developmental, Cell and Tissue Morphology
and Biomedical Toxicology/Pharmacology and Neuroscience. The program requires
that the student successfully completes the requirements of
advanced level courses, executes a research project and prepares
a thesis as a means of developing research skills and extending
intellectual curiosity. The degree may qualify the student for
a leadership role in Biomedical Research, or serve as a prerequisite
for doctoral studies. A number of choices are available for
the thesis research project; these may include molecular, cellular,
immunological or developmental aspects of growth and differentiation,
physiological, morphological or biomechanical investigations
of normal function and disease processes in a variety of organs
and tissues, or pharmacological mechanisms related to therapy
and drug toxicology. There are two streams within the MSc Program, a traditional, two-year, thesis-based stream, and a one-year stream that consists of course work and a research project.
Admission Requirements (MSc)
Applicants should have an Honours BSc in biological sciences or a degree in veterinary medicine (or equivalent), with a minimum average "B+" standing for the last four semesters completed prior to entry into the graduate program. Letters of reference from two of the applicant's professors must be provided with the application. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's research interests and career goals, is required to assist in the selection of faculty advisors. Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter or Spring semester. Students who do not meet this "B+" minimum requirement but do meet the University minimum of "B-" may be admitted into a "provisional" category if there is additional evidence to suggest that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the graduate program (e.g. exemplary letters of recommendation, or evidence of prior work or research experience). Transfer to the "regular" category is recommended when the student obtains a minimum "B+" in two graduate courses approved by the Department's Graduate Program Committee in consultation with the student's Advisory Committee.
Degree Requirements (MSc)
MSc by Thesis
Students must obtain at least an overall weighted average of 'B-' in prescribed courses. The number of graduate course credits prescribed will not be fewer than 1.5 credits. Prescribed and additional courses are selected by the student in consultation with the student's advisory committee. The courses selected will depend on the student's prior experience and the nature of the research project. The student must also prepare and defend an acceptable thesis and meet the Department’s minimum scientific communication requirement. The minimum scientific communication requirement is one conference presentation (oral or poster) at a suitable Regional, National or International scientific conference. If this requirement has not been achieved, written justification must be provided to the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee outlining the reasons why these requirements have not been achieved. The Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee will provide a written response outlining the decision of the Graduate Program Committee to either grant or reject the request that the defence proceed even though the minimum scientific communication requirement has not been completed. All students are required to present two departmental seminars during their program. The thesis research proposal, developed by the student in consultation with the advisor, must receive approval from the supervisory committee no later than the end of the second semester of the program. The program is completed by the successful oral defence of a written thesis.
Masters by Course Work/Research Project
Students must obtain at least an overall weighted average of 'B-' in prescribed courses. The number of course credits prescribed will not be fewer than 4.0 credits with BIOM*6900 being a required course (the 1.0 credit for BIOM*6900 is included in the total required credits of 4.0). The courses selected will depend on the student's prior experience and the nature of the research project. All students are required to present one departmental seminar as a component of BIOM*6900. The program is completed when the written research report for BIOM*6900 is deemed appropriate by the Student’s Supervisory Committee.
PhD Program
Students may take a PhD program in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis on aspects of Reproductive Biology; Developmental, Cell and Tissue Morphology and Biomedical Toxicology/Pharmacology and Neuroscience. Wherever appropriate, students are encouraged to integrate the methodologies of more than one of these fields in their research project. The PhD program is research-oriented and provides instructional opportunities and experiences that are intended to develop the student's ability to formulate hypotheses and to design and execute experiments, or to conduct observational studies.
Admission Requirements (PhD)
Students entering a PhD program must show evidence of a potential for independent, productive and original research. Admission to a PhD program generally requires the completion of an approved MSc program by thesis, a minimum "B+" average in the prescribed courses taken during the Master's degree program and strong recommendations from referees based on a sound knowledge of the student's strengths and weaknesses. In addition, a short statement of the applicant's research interests and career goals is required. In those cases where the student is continuing her or his PhD program in an area related to the MSc program, the student will be expected to clearly explain how the PhD program represents a significant advance over that of the MSc program. In exceptional cases, where a candidate has demonstrated excellence in academic work and an extraordinary ability to plan and initiate original research, transfer to a PhD program without completion of the MSc program may be recommended; this transfer must take place before the end of the fourth semester in accordance with University regulations. There is an option for direct admission into a PhD program, however, approval must be obtained from the Board of Graduate studies (see page 21, section 15.1 (iii) of the 2000/2002 Graduate calendar . Students may be admitted into the Fall, Winter or Spring semester.
Degree Requirements (PhD)
The PhD program offers opportunities for students to become investigators in veterinary and human-health-related sciences. Students will be expected to demonstrate the originality and skill needed to contribute to the knowledge base in a manner that transcends the mere acquisition of data. All students are required to present departmental seminars (one per annum). Students must also successfully complete a qualifying examination. Details of the qualifying examination which includes written and oral components can be found on the Department’s website (http://www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/biom/graduate/). Successful completion of the qualifying examination is a prerequisite for continuation in the PhD program. The advisory committee is required to evaluate the student's research productivity periodically and to report on the student's progress to the Department Graduate Program Committee each semester in which the student is registered.
The PhD program culminates in the preparation, presentation and defence of the thesis, which contains a substantial component of original research. Preparation and defence of an acceptable thesis based on research data and hypotheses generated during the duration of the study are the main criteria used to assess the satisfactory completion of the PhD program. In addition the student must meet the Department’s minimum scientific communication requirements. The minimum scientific communication requirements are two manuscripts which must at least have been submitted to a scientific journal prior to the student graduating with their PhD degree. One of these manuscripts must be based on the student’s PhD research project and the student must be the first or senior author on this manuscript. The second manuscript may be either an original research manuscript or a review manuscript. The student is not required to be the first author on this manuscript but the manuscript must be generated during the student’s tenure as a PhD candidate (i.e. the manuscript cannot be based on work performed while an undergraduate student or work presented in an MSc thesis). Students transferring from the MSc program to the PhD program can use any publications generated while enrolled in the graduate program of the Department of Biomedical Sciences. If these requirements have not been achieved, written justification must be provided to the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee outlining the reasons why these requirements have not been achieved. The Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program Committee will provide a written response outlining the decision of the Graduate Program Committee to either grant or reject the request that the defence proceed even though the minimum scientific communication requirements have not been completed.
Qualifying Examination
Timing of the Qualifying Exam
Students entering the PhD program after completing a MSc degree or transferring into the PhD program must attempt the qualifying exam before the end of the second semester as a Ph.D. candidate. If a student does not complete their first attempt of the qualifying exam by the end of the second semester, they will receive an unsatisfactory for their first attempt (see Evaluation of the Qualifying Exam).
In the event that the student is unsuccessful in their first attempt of the qualifying exam, the second attempt must be completed before the end of the third semester. If a student has transferred into the PhD program, they may apply to transfer back to the MSc program if they fail their first attempt of the qualifying exam. If the student is unsuccessful in their second qualifying attempt they must withdraw from the PhD program and they are ineligible to transfer back to the MSc program.
If there are special circumstances preventing a student from meeting these requirements, a letter from the supervisor describing the circumstances must be submitted to the Graduate Program Committee. The graduate program committee will then determine whether an extension is warranted.
The Qualifying Exam Proposal
The qualifying exam process is initiated by the student, who must submit a 1 page abstract of their intended proposal to their supervisory committee. An abstract form is available on the Department of Biomedical Sciences website (www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/biom/graduate/). This 1 page abstract will contain a brief background or rationale for the project, a hypothesis, specific aims/objectives, a brief description of the experimental plan and a significance statement. If the supervisory committee approves the 1 page summary, the student will collect signatures from all committee members and then submit the signed summary page to the Department’s Graduate Secretary. Once an abstract is approved, the student has 6 weeks to submit the full written proposal to their supervisory committee.
The written proposal will be:
- A maximum of 20 double-spaced pages (not including references or figures).
- Each page will contain a maximum of 23 lines/page and a minimum font size of 12 points.
- Each page will have 1 inch margins.
- A maximum of 3 pages of appendices are permitted (can be used for figures, diagrams, etc.)
The written proposal should include relevant background information (~8-10 pages of the proposal), hypothesis, objectives/aims, experimental plan, overall significance of the proposal and a brief timeline for completion of the proposed experiments. The experimental plan must provide enough detail that the examination committee can determine whether or not the student understands the proposed experiments. The experimental plan should also include appropriate controls for the proposed experiments, the number of experimental replicates, and statistical analysis that may be used.
Evaluation of the Qualifying Exam
Each component of the qualifying exam (written proposal, seminar and oral examination) will be evaluated by each committee member. Each committee member will provide a brief statement regarding the acceptability of the seminar, written proposal, and oral examination on the provided Qualifying Examination Evaluation Form.
The student passes the Qualifying Exam if no more than one member of the examination committee votes unsatisfactory. An abstention is considered an unsatisfactory vote. If more than one member of the Examination Committee votes unsatisfactory, then it is deemed that the student has failed the Qualifying Exam. The Examination Committee will decide whether all or a portion of the written/oral examination should be repeated. The same Examination Committee will conduct the second examination.
In the event that a student receives an unsatisfactory rating in their second attempt, the student must withdraw from the PhD program.
Role of the Student
The student will identify an appropriate research project with their supervisor. The intention of the qualifying exam is to evaluate the student’s ability to identify a relevant, novel area of research, write a coherent research proposal and defend their proposal and ideas. With that in mind the student should receive minimal guidance from their supervisor or supervisory committee. The student can, and is encouraged to, discuss their ideas and research approach with other graduates students and post-doctoral fellows in the department. The student should be prepared to answer questions on their background knowledge of the topic and how their research proposal advances the current knowledge in their field. It is anticipated that approximately half of the questions during the oral exam will pertain to the student’s general knowledge of the topic.
Role of the Supervisor
The supervisor should guide the student towards an appropriate hypothesis, objectives and experimental approach. Since the qualifying exam is a measure of the student’s ability to identify and defend a relevant research topic, guidance from the supervisor should be minimal.
After an appropriate research topic and approach has been identified the supervisory will have the same role as the supervisory committee (see next section).
Role of the Supervisory Committee
The supervisory committee has two main roles. The first role is to determine whether the student has identified a relevant research topic with the appropriate objectives and experimental plan (this is based on the 1 page abstract). The student can hold a supervisory committee meeting to provide committee members with more details about the objectives or experimental plan. This will be left up to student and the supervisory committee. The second role of the supervisory committee is to determine whether the student’s final written report is suitable to proceed to the examination phase.
When evaluating the written report, the supervisory committee is not expected to provide detailed feedback unless the written report is unacceptable. If the report is unacceptable, specific comments should be provided to the student so the student can address the weaknesses of the proposal. The student will have 2 weeks to revise the written proposal before it is sent to the examination committee. The supervisory committee will not evaluate the revised version (unless they are a member of the examination committee). If a re-write is necessary, the Qualifying Examination must be completed no later than 2 weeks after the end of the second semester. Again, special circumstances preventing students from meeting this requirement will be considered by the Graduate Program Committee. The supervisor must provide the Graduate Program Committee with a letter outlining the special circumstances.
Examination Committee
The examination committee will consist of 2 members of the graduate program committee or 1 member of the graduate program committee and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences (1 member will act as Chair of the examination and neither of these individual will be members of the student’s supervisory committee), 2 members of the student’s supervisory committee, and 1 additional graduate faculty member who is not on the student’s supervisory committee. One member of the committee should be a graduate faculty member from outside the Department of Biomedical Sciences (this individual may or may not be on the student’s supervisory committee).
It is anticipated that approximately half of the questions from the Examination Committee will pertain to the student’s general knowledge of the topic (i.e. background information of the proposal and how the proposal would advance our understanding of a particular topic).
The supervisor can suggest examination committee members however the examination committee will be determined by one of the co-Chairs of Graduate Program Committee or the Department Chair. The student’s supervisor will not be a member of the examination committee. The supervisor may be present during the examination and will be given the opportunity to make a statement at the end of the oral examination (after the student has left the room). The supervisor will not be present during the examination committee’s deliberations about the performance of the student. If there are deficiencies noted by the Examination Committee the Supervisor will receive a letter outlining these deficiencies.
GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS ON SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS
Seminar Requirements
The ability of researchers to communicate their scientific ideas and data concisely and cohesively via oral presentations is a valuable and important skill. In order to facilitate the development of this skill, graduate students in the Department of Biomedical Sciences are required to present two (MSc level) or three (PhD or DVSc level) departmental research seminars during the course of their studies as part of their degree requirements. There will be no exception to this requirement. Under special circumstances, and in consultation with the student's supervisor and advisory committee, students who transfer from an MSc program to a PhD or DVSc program may be required to give an additional (4th) seminar, should their course of study change as a result of the transfer.
Timing of Seminars
For an MSc program, the first seminar should be presented
in the second or third semester. The second and final seminar
should be completed by the end of the fifth semester, or at
least three months before the intended date of thesis defense.
For a PhD or DVSc program, the first seminar should be
presented by the end of the third semester. The second seminar
should be presented between the fifth and eighth semesters,
after the successful completion of the Qualifying Examination.
The third and final seminar should be completed by the end of
the eleventh semester, or at least three months before the intended
date of thesis defense. All students and faculty supervisors
are expected to adhere to these time guidelines [see table below].
Format of Seminars
All seminars should be 30-40 minutes in duration and should
be presented using slides or computer-based presentation programs
(i.e. PowerPoint Presentations, CorelDraw Presentations, etc).
Slides should be clearly legible, with an appropriate balance
between text, diagrams, and figures in order to enhance the
audience's understanding of the topic being presented.
For an MSc program, the topic of both seminars should be directly
related to the student's research project. The first seminar
should be comprised of a fairly extensive review of the recent
literature (majority of seminar), followed by presentation of
the student's hypothesis, research objectives and scientific
methods, as well as any preliminary data. The second seminar
should briefly summarize the existing literature, reiterate
the hypothesis/research objectives, and focus on the student's
research findings and conclusions.
For a PhD or DVSc program, the first seminar should be
comprised of a fairly extensive review of the recent literature
(majority of seminar), followed by presentation of the student's
hypothesis, research objectives and scientific methods, as well
as any preliminary data. The subsequent seminars should briefly
summarize the existing literature, reiterate the hypothesis/research
objectives, and focus on the student's research findings and
conclusions. For the PhD and DVSc programs ONLY, either
the second or third seminar may be on a scientific topic other
than their specific research topic, but still relevant to the
research interests of themselves, their faculty supervisor,
and the Department or Biomedical Sciences. Examples of such
topics include a literature review focused on one of the subjects
covered in the student's Qualifying Exam, an explanation of
a specialized scientific protocol that the student may be using
or helping to develop (i.e. microarray technology or in vitro
fertilization techniques), or a current events topic directly
related to research in Biomedical Sciences (i.e. the Human Genome
Project or cancer vaccines). Students may only present an "off-topic"
seminar with the approval of their faculty supervisor.
Graduate student seminars will be held on Friday afternoons.
Scheduling of these seminars will be arranged by a graduate
student Seminar Coordinator. Each student is responsible for
contacting the Seminar Coordinator in a timely fashion with
their seminar topic and preferred date of presentation, as per
the time guidelines discussed above.
Although attendance will not be taken at the seminar presentations,
students and faculty are expected to attend as many seminars
as possible in order to support their peers as well as to expand
their knowledge of the broad research interests represented
within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Students will
be asked to complete evaluation and comment forms which will
be used to provide feedback to the presenter and to determine
year-end seminar award winners [see below].
Seminar Awards
Each year (September-August), monetary awards will be presented for the best MSc research seminar and the best PhD/DVSc research seminar. Off-topic seminars will not be considered for these awards. The winners of the seminar awards will be determined via peer evaluation by using cumulative numerical rankings from the student evaluation forms and tabulated by the student Seminar Coordinator.
| Program | First seminar | Second seminar | Third seminar |
| M.Sc. | 2nd or 3rd semester | 5th semester, or at least 3 months before defense date | N/A |
| Ph.D./D.V.Sc. | By end of 3rd semester | 5th to 8th semester after qualifying exam | 11th semester, or at least 3 months before defense date |
