IGERT Training

IGERT Training Requirements | The Fundamentals | Training in Research | Exposure to Recent Developments

IGERT Training Requirements (top)

IGERT trainees are typically provided with two years of fellowship support, conditional upon adequate progress to be evaluated at the end of the first year. Funded trainees are expected to remain associated with the program throughout their graduate career at IU. A number of requirements associated with the program are designed to insure that the IGERT trainees acquire a high level of expertise in the training grant’s area of focus.

The Fundamentals (top)

Rotations --- Students who are admitted to the IU Biology graduate training groups with the intention of joining the IGERT will be required to do one rotation in the area of evolution, one in the area of development, and one in the area of genomics. (This requirement may be relaxed for students in their second year or beyond).

Basic Courses --- Trainees are required to take one major course in each of the three main areas of the grant. Additional primary course requirements for all students in the program are Molecular Evolution and Evolution of Development.

Training in Research (top)

Co-advisors for Thesis Research --- IGERT trainees are expected to have joint advisors in two of the three main areas of the grant, with the student’s research project clearly spanning the interests of the two labs.  Students are expected to regularly attend the weekly meetings and participate in the normal activities of both labs. Since the function of the IGERT is to promote truly interdisciplinary training, in the ideal situation, there should be no real distinction between the two advisors.

Exposure to Recent Developments (top)

Seminar Series --- Attached to the IGERT program is a specific seminar series, at which both internal and external speakers are invited to present research relevant to the evolution, development, and genomics focus of the grant. Other seminars throughout the year, which fit into the current departmental group-specific series, are also sponsored by IGERT.  IGERT trainees are expected to attend all IGERT sponsored seminars. Trainees are encouraged to get involved in the development of the IGERT seminar schedule. Opportunities exist for bringing in visiting scientists for extended periods.

Evolutionary Development / Evolutionary Genomics Journal Club --- This is held on a weekly basis for ten weeks each semester. The Journal Club can consist of a series of research talks, or informal journal discussions, depending on current interest. 

Mini-symposium --- Alternating between Indiana University and the University of Oregon, a mini-symposium will be held each year on a topic of relevance to the training program. In the fall of 2006, a conference on the Origin of Novel Features will be held at the IU.

Internships --- Discretionary funds are available for the support of trainees’ extended stays at other universities and/or industry, especially when this will facilitate research progress.