Rotations and Lab Selection
Our rotation system is designed to give incoming graduate students the opportunity to sample different research areas and lab environments before choosing a permanent laboratory supervisor. In addition to giving additional breadth of training to new students, the rotation system improves the fit of the incoming student with their prospective PI and laboratory. During their first term, new students complete 5-week sessions in each of three laboratories. After this period, students select their lab in discussion with their prospective supervisor. Once the final placement has been confirmed, the student and supervisor complete an online agreement form. This formalizes the faculty member’s commitment to mentor the applicant and to provide him/her with a stipend.
Please Note: While all students have the opportunity to select their permanent supervisor after the rotation period, International Students (those who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada) are required to obtain a Sponsor prior to applying to the Graduate Program. This Sponsor is a Faculty member who commits to accepting the student into their laboratory if the student wishes to join after completing rotations.
Arranging Rotations
The Department arranges the first rotation for each student before they start the program. In July (late November for January starts), each student offered acceptance to our program will fill out a web-based survey as part of their acceptance package. New students will submit a ranked list of five choices of faculty member laboratories who have indicated they will be accepting rotation students in the given year. The first rotation is assigned based on the stated preferences of the student, but choices may be limited by the availability of space within faculty members' laboratories. The majority of students are placed within their top three selected labs for this rotation. Students are informed of their rotation assignment by August (mid-December for January starters).
Students are required to rotate in at least two different geographic nodes of the Department, and students should keep this in mind when listing preferred labs. The central departmental nodes are Medical Sciences Building (MSB), Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), Donnelly Centre (DC), Peter Gilgan Centre for Research & Learning (PGCRL), and MaRS West Tower (MaRS). Learn more about each research centre here.
The second and third rotation choices are entirely up to the student, with consent from the selected laboratory and approval from the Graduate Coordinator. Students should make second and third rotation choices only after starting in the program in September/January. Students can make more informed rotation choices once they gain firsthand experience in the department. The second and third rotations are arranged through direct communication between students and potential supervisors and must be finalized at least one week before the commencement of said rotation. These lab choices are submitted for approval through a link that will be sent to students by the Graduate Program Administrator. A departmental retreat held in late September/early October provides an excellent chance to view all the available research opportunities within the Department.
Students and faculty will not make any final decisions about supervisory choice until near the end of the mandatory rotation period. New students are encouraged to seek the advice of senior students in choosing their rotations. The Grad Team and Grad Coordinators are also available to counsel students regarding rotation selection.
Opting out of rotations for PhD students who have previously completed an MSc
PhD applicants who will receive their MSc before starting their graduate program in Biochemistry have the option of forgoing rotations and directly joining a lab. To be eligible for opting out of rotations, the applicant must arrange a prospective supervisor as part of their application package. An email from both the applicant and the prospective supervisor stating that both are willing to forgo the rotation process should be emailed to the Graduate Administrator and Graduate Program Coordinator when the survey for first rotations is sent out.
Failure to find a Permanent Lab
If a student cannot find a permanent thesis supervisor after four rotations, their enrolment in the program may be terminated. Admission to our program does not guarantee that a student will be accepted into a laboratory for their thesis work. However, it is extremely rare for an admitted student not to find a suitable laboratory to join.