Student
progress throughout their thesis research will be monitored by a Student
Advisory Committee (SAC). The purpose of the SAC is to provide critical
feedback on the research plan, to assess experimental progress, and to advise
the student when to write/defend the Thesis. The SAC is charged with aiding the
student in moving efficiently towards the PhD degree, while at the same time
maximizing the significance and impact of the thesis research.
The
Neuroscience Graduate Education Committee (NGEC) regularly reviews SAC meeting
notes to monitor committee concerns and to evaluate student progress. Students should note that SAC guidelines
in the Department of Neuroscience are slightly different from those of other
departments. It is essential that students follow the guidelines set below
to reduce delayed receipt
of meeting notes, avoid incompleteness and inconsistencies, and ultimately reduce
time to graduation, as suggested by NIH guidelines. The NGEC Bylaws are available online.
Neuroscience SAC
guidelines
1-
The GEC must approve all new advisory
committees. Students and mentors should submit a list of desired SAC
members (minimum of 3 faculty) to the GEC within the first year of having
declared a lab. Guidelines for selecting SAC members are:
a. Associates, Instructors, or
Postdoctoral Fellows may not serve on the SAC.
b. The mentor or co-mentor are not considered
members of the SAC.
c. At least one SAC member should
have an appointment in Neuroscience.
d. At least one SAC member should be
a senior faculty member (Associate or Professor) who has successfully mentored at least one graduate
student.
2-
One member of the SAC must be designated chair. Scientific collaborators of the student thesis work may not serve as
chair of the SAC.
3-
Students in their first three years after having
declared a lab must have at least ONE advisory meeting per year. After
that, students must have TWO meetings per year. The GEC will ensure that this
schedule is met.
4-
Every committee member must fill out an advisory form during the meeting.
Summaries from the SAC chair are helpful, but the Neuroscience GEC requests an assessment from each member. Assessments
should be candid, and focus on student progress, problems, publications, and
always mindful of a 5-year graduation goal.
5-
Students must send completed advisory
forms to Joann Leone: <joann.leone@einsteinmed.edu> within two weeks
of the meeting date, in addition to the Einstein Graduate School.
6-
The GEC may suggest changes to advisory committees and will meet with students
and mentors if SAC concerns are not being addressed.
Anita Autry Education Committee Co-Chair
Myles Akabas
Anna Francesconi
Bryen Jordan Education Committee Chair
Peri Kurshan
Jose Luis Pena
Lucas Sjulson
Committee Responsibilities
- Reviewing the policies, guidelines and courses for the Graduate Program in Neuroscience
- Liaison with the Einstein Graduate Division
- Reviewing actions of the Student Advisory Committee
- Ensure that all Departmental and Graduate School requirements are met prior to graduation