Welcome New Fall 2022 Admits!
Congratulations and welcome to the Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (BMEB, MCDB, CB3, and MICRO Tracks) Graduate Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The PBSE Program is designed to provide you with an opportunity to understand “how to” gain academic and personal success in the area of Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Microbial Biology. During your years in the Ph.D. program at UCSC, your program/track Graduate Program Adviser will be your personal contact for all administrative processes and procedures required by the PBSE and the Graduate Division.
Please take a few moments to review the program information below, and feel free to email or call if you have any questions or concerns.
On behalf of the PBSE faculty, we welcome you and look forward to seeing you this Fall!
Sincerely,
Grace Kistler-Fair, Graduate Program Coordinator, MCD Biology
Travis Wiggans, Graduate Program Coordinator, MICRO
Karen Meece, Graduate Program Coordinator, CB3
Theo-Alyce Gordon, Graduate Program Coordinator, BMEB
PBSE RESEARCH CONFERENCE - all tracks join
Monday, September 12th, 2022 - Roaring Camp Railroads
Registration details will be posted shortly.
The PBSE Research Conference is a one-day event to introduce incoming grads to faculty, current grads, postdocs, and other researchers in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology, and Biomolecular Engineering. This event will include faculty research talks and posters.
*For those participating in the Grad. Prep.
MCDB DEPARTMENT GRADUATE STUDENT RETREAT - MCDB track (
October 2021 (exact date and format TBD)
Further information and registration details will be posted later in summer.
The goal of this event is to introduce new students to the research environment and community within the Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Department. The event will feature research talks from graduate students and a poster session.
BMEB DEPARTMENT GRADUATE STUDENT BOOTCAMP - BMEB track (
Tuesday, September 7th - Tuesday, September 21st (exact activities TBD)
Further information and registration details will be sent out later in summer by the Bootcamp Organizers.
The goal of bootcamp is to introduce new students to the research environment and community within the Biomolecular Engineering Department. It typically features faculty talks, workshops, social activities, and a collaborative research project.
PBSE GRADUATE ORIENTATION - attendance is required by all tracks
Monday, September 19th from 9:00am-5:
During orientation, you will attend several short sessions to get an overview of the departments and campus resources. You will also have several opportunities to meet and speak with new and current graduate students and there will be a brief program overview by PBSE Director, Professor Karen
Following the program overview, you will meet with your graduate advising committees for individual academic advising and review the required and recommended coursework for your track.
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT LUNCH - CB3 track students only
Date: Tuesday, September 14
Location: UCSC Campus, Physical Sciences Building
Time: 12:00pm
CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE - CB3 track students only
GRADUATE DIVISION ORIENTATION - all tracks join
- International student orientation
- Teaching Assistant/UAW info session
- Title IX training
- Overview of Graduate Division and campus resources
SIX WEEK ROTATIONS
Rotations in labs are six weeks long. During the seventh week,
- Lab rotation requests sent out: Sept. 5
- Rotation 1 requests due: Sept. 21, noon
- Rotation 1 dates: Sept. 26-Nov. 4
- Rotation 2 requests due: Nov. 7, noon
- Rotation 1 talks: Nov. 8-10
- Rotation 2 dates: Nov. 14-Jan. 13
- Rotation 3 requests due: Jan. 17, noon
- Rotation 2 talks: Jan. 18-20
- Rotation 3 dates: Jan. 23-March 3
- Rotation 3 poster session: March 10
ENROLLMENT: June 22
Enrollment and other services will be available to you using the Academic Information System (AIS), available through the MyUCSC Portal. New graduate students may begin the enrollment
Your CruzID is your UCSC account, sometimes referred to as your username, that gives you access to many campus services and systems. Your CruzID is the beginning part of your UCSC email address. For example, in the email sammyslug@ucsc.edu, then "
You will need your CruzID and Gold
CruzID: <cruzID>
Password: <Your Gold Password>
MCDB Track - please enroll in the following courses:
Class ID | Course | Credits | Grade option | Class Number | Course time/location | Instructor |
Biol 200A | Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature | 5 Units | Letter (ABC) | 11138 | Th 1:30PM-4:55PM, Biomed 200 | Ward, Greider |
Biol 200E | Experimental Design | 3 Units | Letter (ABC) | 11137 | MW 9:00AM-11:00AM, Biomed 200 (6 weeks/split with 288) | Bhalla |
Biol 288 | Pedagogy in STEM | 2 Units | S/U | 11136 | MW 9:00AM-11:00AM, Biomed 200 (4 weeks/split with 200E) | Hartzog |
Biol 291 | Monday Seminar Series | 2 Units | S/U | 11128 | Mon 12:00PM-1:05PM, N. Sci Annex 101 | Carpenter, Turner-Evans |
Biol 292 | Friday Seminar Series | 0 Units | S/U | 11127 | Fri 12:00PM-1:05PM, N. Sci Annex 101 | Carpenter, Turner-Evans |
Biol 297A | Independent Study/Lab Rotation | 5 Units | S/U | Rotations | Staff |
CB3 Track - please enroll in the following courses:
Class ID | Course | Credits | Class Number | Instructor |
CHEM 291 | Chemistry & Biochemistry Research Seminar | 5 Units | 24006 | Sanchez |
CHEM 296 | Teaching Chemistry | 2 Units | 22319 | Roland |
CHEM 200A | Advanced Biochemistry: Biophysical Methods | 5 Units | 22314 | Rubin |
CHEM 271 | Chemical Biology | 5 Units | 24507 | McKinnie |
CHEM 297A | Independent Study | 5 Units | 17525 | Stone |
BMEB Track - please enroll in the following courses:
Class ID | Course | Credits | Grading Option | Class Number | Time/Location | Instructor |
BME 205 | Bioinformatics Models and Algorithms | 5 Units | Letter OR S/U | 22192 | MWF 10:40-11:45AM, Porter Acad 144 | Bernick |
BME 280B | Seminar on Thursdays | 2 Units | S/U | 22197 | Th 11:40AM-1:15PM, Biomed 200 | Brooks |
BME 296-04 | Lab Rotation (PhDs Only) | 5 Units | S/U | 16363 | TBD | Corbett-Detig |
MICRO Track - please be sure to enroll in METX 200 for a letter grade (ABC grading) and in METX 292 with the S/U option.
Please enroll in the following courses:
Class ID | Course | Credits | Class Number | Instructor |
METX 200 | Inter Approaches in Environ Toxicology | 5 Units | 22872 | Yildiz |
METX 292 | Intro Grad Seminar | 0 Units | 21706 | Yildiz |
You will enroll in additional courses after you attend your advisory meeting during PBSE Orientation. All students are required to enroll in at least 15 units/quarter.
STATEMENT OF LEGAL RESIDENCE
The Statement of Legal Residence should be completed (even if you believe that you are a California resident) and submitted to the Office of the Registrar so that your resident status can be determined for tuition purposes. Failure to return the completed form will result in your status being classified as a non-resident and being billed accordingly.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Please visit International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) for more information: https://isss.ucsc.edu/students/newlyadmitted/index.html.
All international students must complete an I-20/DS-2019 Request. Students currently attending another U.S. school will need to discuss a SEVIS transfer with that school. You should receive an email directly from ISSS about preparing and submitting these forms.
PAYROLL INFORMATION
Paychecks for Teaching Assistants, Graduate Student Researcher, Fellowship recipients
- Student Business Services is responsible for financial aid, fellowship and scholarship checks. SBS sends your payment as either direct deposit, or paper check to your permanent addresses as stated in your MyUCSC account, depending on the funding classification and your MyUCSC student account setup. It is highly recommended that you establish direct deposit as a payment option as soon as possible.
- Make sure your MyUCSC Student Portal is up to date with your current address and all contact information. We recommend checking your MyUCSC student Portal at least once a month to check for any bills or fees posted to your account.
PBSci and BSOE Accounts Payable distributes your Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Research (GSR) checks to your home mailingaddress as listed on UCPath, unless your UCPath account is set up asdirect deposit.
The departments strongly urge all students to sign up for direct deposit with FAST, SBS and PBSci/BSOE Accounts Payable.
Direct Deposit-Student Business Services Office | |
Direct Deposit-PBSci/BSOE Payroll Office |
Stipend Amounts:
PBSE (BMEB, CB3, MCDB, and MICRO tracks) pays its Graduate Student Researchers a quarterly stipend of $8,973 and its Teaching Assistants $7,523. Effective 10/1/2021, Teaching Assistants will increase to $7,748 per quarter, and Graduate Student Researchers will increase to $9,242 per quarter.
Registration/tuition fees ($6,443 per quarter) are charged to the faculty advisor's grants when supported as a GSR and to the Graduate Division if supported as a TA. Teaching Assistants may be required to pay a small offset fee (~$340) to the Registrar each quarter.
- GSR and TA pay dates are as follows:
- Nov 1, Dec 1, Jan 1 (Fall)
- Feb 1, March 1, April 1 (Winter)
- May 1, June 1, July 1 (Spring)
- Quarterly fellowships (Regents' Fellowships, Cota-Robles, Chancellor's Fellowship, Dean's Fellowship, and Graduate Fellowships) pay dates are on the first day of each quarter.
Fellowships awarded for less than the full academic year will be paid in equal installments Fall and/or Winter quarter (if the award is larger than
If you are waiting for a check, then it is always a good idea to check with the correct office to confirm the status of your account (outstanding bills, address information, correct set-up). Incorrect mailing addresses and outstanding bills can cause unexpected delays and minimize disbursement payments.
CAMPUS MAILING ADDRESS
MCDB Track students - Your mailing address is:
CB3 Track students - Your mailing address is:
BMEB Track students - Your mailing address is:
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
[Your Name], [Faculty Sponsor’s Lab]
430B Physical Sciences Building
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Fax: 831-459-4719
Mail stop Code: PSB-METX
EMAIL ACCOUNT
Virtually all information will be communicated to you via an electronic mail account set up for you in the standard format of @ucsc.edu. Your email accounts are already set-up. Please get in the habit of checking your e-mail frequently as announcements about fellowships, employment, and department requirements are posted on a weekly basis.
By early summer you should have received an
STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS
All incoming students will need to get their pictures taken (or upload their ID picture) before the start of the fall quarter for their student identification cards. ID Card Services is located on the first floor of the Bay Tree Bookstore building in between the Digital Copy Center and the Express Store in the UCSC Quarry. Refer to the ID Services website for their Fall incoming student ID services schedule.
HELPFUL EMAIL ADDRESSES
Title | Name | Email Address |
BMEB Grad Program Coordinator |
Theo-Alyce Gordon | thkgordo@ucsc.edu |
MCDB Grad Program Coordinator | Grace Kistler-Fair | |
CB3 Grad Program Coordinator | Karen Meece | kmeece@ucsc.edu |
MICRO Grad Program Coordinator | Travis Wiggans | metxadmn@ucsc.edu |
Graduate Division | Dana Eugenio | dmeugeni@ucsc.edu |
Email Account Tech Support | ITS Help Desk | help@ucsc.edu |
Enrollment Support | Office of the Registrar | registrar@ucsc.edu |
HELPFUL URLs
Student Portal-MyUCSC | http://my.ucsc.edu |
AIS FAQ | http://registrar.ucsc.edu/faqs/students/index.html |
Virtual UCSC Map | http://maps.ucsc.edu/ |
Housing Information | http://housing.ucsc.edu/housing/graduate.html |
Office of Registrar | http://reg.ucsc.edu/ |
Student Business Services | http://sbs.ucsc.edu/ |
UC SHIP/Student Health Center |
https://healthcenter.ucsc.edu/billing-insurance/insurance.html |
http://pbsbo.ucsc.edu/acapers/index.html | |
BSOE Payroll | https://organization.soe.ucsc.edu/business-office/about-hr |
UCPath | https://ucpath.ucsc.edu/ |
SAVE THE DATE
Event | When | Where | Event Information |
Sept. 12 |
Roaring Camp Railroads | A one-day conference to introduce new graduate students to faculty, grads, postdocs and other researchers in PBSE | |
MCD Biology Grad. Student Research Conference |
October (exact date TBD) |
(MCD students only) Conference to introduce new students to the research environment within the Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology Department |
|
BMEB Bootcamp |
Sept. 7 - Sept. 21 |
TBD |
(BME students only) Various activities to introduce new students to the research environment within the Biomolecular Engineering Department |
PBSE Welcome and Orientation |
Sept. 19 9:00am-5:00pm |
PSB 240 |
Introduction to the graduate program in PBSE, training sessions, and individual advising sessions. *Attendance required |
Chemistry Orientation |
Sept. 14 12:00pm |
Physical Sciences Building, Room 110 |
(CB3 students only) Lunch with Chemistry Department |
Chemistry Conference |
Sept. 17 TBD |
UCSC Arboretum |
(CB3 students only) |
Graduate Division TA and New Grad Orientation | September 21 | Virtual | New teaching assistant orientation, training sessions, and information regarding the campus and the Graduate Division. |
Instruction Begins | September 22 |
Your attendance is mandatory at the PBSE Orientation and Graduate Division Orientation.