Predoctoral Information
Postdoctoral Information
Required & Suggested Coursework
Predoctoral Trainee Requirements.
All pre-doctoral trainees are required to fulfill the degree requirements for their respective departments/curricula. Although these requirements differ slightly depending on the department/curriculum, students are generally expected to take courses and rotate through potential mentor laboratories during their first year. Once mentors have been chosen, those students that are selected for the DB training program will be required to take an additional course called Developmental Genetics, taught by Victoria Bautch (organizer), Larysa Pevny and Frank Conlon.
This required course provides a basic understanding of developmental processes in animal models, the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these processes, and exposure to relevant recent papers in the field of developmental genetics. The course covers the processes of early development from gametogenesis through neurulation, developmental neurobiology, and selected advanced topics that include heart development, sex determination, and stem-cell biology. The main objective is to understand and compare developmental mechanisms in various model systems, as well as the logic of methods used to study development. Exemplary related literature is covered in class discussions. This class is designed to ensure a significant amount of individual participation. In addition to this required course, trainees are strongly encouraged to take one or more relevant courses.
In addition to coursework, students take qualifying examinations as designed by their department/curriculum. This usually consists of a written exam during the second year followed by an oral exam during their third year, where they formulate and defend a research plan and demonstrate broad scientific knowledge in their specified discipline.
All trainees are required to participate in the Developmental Biology Journal Club where students and post-docs from developmental biology labs present current literature or their own work. This journal club will meet twice per month beginning in the Fall semester and will continue to meet until June. Trainees are required to present their work at least once per year in this forum..
The DB training program also sponsors the Developmental Biology Seminar Series to give trainees an opportunity to invite prominent developmental biologists from other institutions. Speakers are invited once per semester to present their research in a formal seminar open to the public.
Another important component of the training program is the annual Developmental Biology Symposium typically held during the last week of March. This is a gathering of the entire DB community that allows each participant to learn about DB-related research taking place at UNC-CH. As scientific research becomes an increasingly collaborative effort, we believe it is critical to provide as many opportunities, both formal and informal, for researchers to interact so that they can take full advantage of the wealth of resources available here at UNC. The Symposium is an all-day event featuring a prominent keynote speaker, with meals and social events to foster informal conversations and interactions among trainees, their peers, and faculty.
All predoctoral trainees are encouraged to present their work at local and national scientific meetings; however, those that are funded by this training grant will be required to present their work at least once per year using their allotted travel funds to subsidize costs.
Postdoctoral Trainee Requirements
Postdoctoral trainees in the DB training program are required to conduct novel research relevant to developmental biology. They will not have any course requirements or examinations. However, they will be required to participate in all the other training activities that are required of pre-doctoral trainees described above. These include two presentations per year at the Developmental Biology Journal Club (once to present a paper, and once to present their own work), hosting two seminar speakers per year (together with other trainees) and either an oral or poster presentation of their work at the annual Developmental Biology Symposium.
In addition, postdoctoral trainees that are funded by the training grant are required to present their work (poster or oral presentation) at a relevant scientific meeting using travel funds allotted in the grant. These activities provide valuable opportunities for postdocs to keep abreast of developmental biology research and also to discuss their own work with other DB researchers, which will contribute to their overall success as scientists.
Postdoctoral trainees are also encouraged to take advantage of the wealth of career development services available here at UNC-CH through the Office of Postdoctoral Studies (http://www.unc.edu/ops/ops.htm) and the Postdoctoral Association (http://www.unc.edu/pda/). These organizations provide a wide range of important training, mentoring and career opportunities such as:
• Postdoc funding opportunities
• Individual career counseling
• CV/resume/cover letter reviews
• Career development seminars and symposia
• Mock job interviews
• Professional development programs
• Grant-writing assistance
• Mentoring/management skills
• Stress management
Teaching opportunities are also available for interested postdoctoral trainees. During the summer, three core courses are offered by the Biology Department that postdoctoral fellows can teach: Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL45), Molecular Biology and Genetics (BIOL50) and Cell and Developmental Biology (BIOL52). Postdoctoral fellows often teach these courses and find this to be a valuable experience.
Each trainee is required to submit a progress report at the end of each year (spring) to the Program Directors. This report describes his/her recent research achievements as well as goals for the following year. The progress report also describes any other related training activities that occurred that year. For example, each trainee reports how he/she participated in the DB journal club, seminar series, and the annual symposium. Participation in other relevant activities, such as mentoring an undergraduate, writing/editing a manuscript, attending scientific meetings, etc. is also discussed.
Suggested Pre-doctoral Coursework
BIOL 624 Developmental Genetics (required)
The main objective is to understand and compare developmental mechanisms in various model systems, as well as the logic of methods used to study development. Developmental processes in animal models, the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these processes, the processes of early development from gametogenesis through neurulation, developmental neurobiology, and selected advanced topics that include heart development, sex determination, and stem-cell biology.
BIOL 441 Vertebrate Embryology
Principles of development including gametogenesis, fertilization, cleavage, germ layer formation, organogenesis, and techniques of experimental analysis of developmental processes.
BIOL 514 Evolution and Development
Examines the mechanisms by which organisms are built and evolve. In particular, it examines how novel and complex traits and organisms arise from interactions among genes and cells.
BIOL 443 Developmental Biology
An experimental approach to an understanding of developmental processes and the molecular mechanisms that control cell growth and differentiation.
CBIO 643 Cell Structure, Function and Growth Control I:
Comprehensive introduction to cell structure, function and transformation.
CBIO 644 Cell Structure, Function and Growth Control II:
Comprehensive introduction to cell structure, function and transformation.
CBIO 423 Developmental Toxicology and Teratology
Emphasis on current research relevant to the genesis of environmentally caused and genetically based birth defects.
GNET 631 Advanced Molecular Biology I
DNA structure , function and interactions in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, including chromosome structure, replication, recombination, repair and genome fluidity.
GNET 632 Advanced Molecular Biology II
RNA structure, function and processing in biological systems including transcription, gene regulation, translation and oncogenes.
GNET 621 Principles of Genetic Analysis I
Genetic analysis in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes.
GNET 622 Principles of Genetic Analysis II
Genetic analysis in higher eukaryotes; genomics.
GNET 625 Seminar in Genetics
Seminal papers in developmental genetics are presented and critical discussion is emphasized.
NBIO 422 Developmental Neurobiology
A survey of nervous system development emphasizing detailed analysis of selected research topics such as neural induction, neural crest development, neuronal differentiation, synapse formation, neurotrophic factors, glial development, and the effects of experience.
