Current Students

People and committee membership can change. Use the department website and program communications for the most current names and contacts.

Department chair: Leads department operations and represents the department within the university.

Director of Graduate Studies: Oversees the PhD and MS programs including recruitment, orientation, advising structures, curriculum planning and progress monitoring.

Graduate affairs committee: Advises the Director of Graduate Studies and supports graduate program policy. Students may contact committee members to discuss questions or concerns. When appropriate, the committee can help address conflicts in a confidential way.

Director of the MA program: Oversees the MA program including advising structures, student support and program operations.

MA advisory committee: Advises the MA program director and supports MA student progress and program policy.

Graduate coordinator: Coordinates paperwork, workflow and logistics for graduate programs. This is often the best first contact for form submission questions and process questions.

Research advisor: Your primary mentor for research direction, training, expectations and long-term planning. This role may also be called thesis advisor or dissertation advisor depending on your program.

Student organizations and representatives: Graduate student organizations support community, peer mentoring and student-led events. Student representatives may share student concerns with program leadership and help communicate updates back to students.

Graduate students typically receive support through two connected forms of advising.

Academic advising helps you plan your coursework, understand program expectations and stay on track. New students are often paired with an initial advisor while they explore research interests.

Research advising supports your lab training, project design and scientific development. Once you select a research advisor, they become your primary guide for research planning and progress.

Research is central to graduate study in Biological Sciences. Program structures are designed to help you explore research areas, find strong mentorship and develop independence over time.

Many students begin with structured research experiences that help them:

• Explore different lab environments and research questions
• Learn lab expectations and professional habits
• Identify a research advisor and long-term research direction

Your program office will share current expectations and common timelines for selecting a research advisor.

As you move forward, you will build skills that support independent research including:

• Experimental design and hypothesis testing
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Scientific writing and presentation
• Ethical research practice and responsible decision making

Some programs use committees and milestone reviews to support progress. These structures give you regular feedback and help ensure your training stays broad and rigorous.

Committees provide multiple perspectives on your work. They may help you refine research questions, troubleshoot challenges and plan a path to completion.

Committee structures vary by program and can include:

• A primary advisor
• Additional faculty members who bring complementary expertise
• A designated chair for certain meetings or milestones when applicable

Your program office can share the current process for forming committees and documenting committee meetings.

Some programs include structured milestones that assess readiness to move forward. These may include proposal conversations, qualifying style reviews, research progress reviews or other formats.

Your program will provide current guidance on:

• What the milestone is designed to evaluate
• How to prepare
• What materials are expected
• How outcomes are recorded

Graduate students develop communication and professional skills throughout the program. Seminars and related experiences help you:

• Practice scientific speaking and discussion
• Learn to communicate to both specialist and broad audiences
• Strengthen scientific writing and critical reading
• Build confidence presenting research in professional settings

Seminar structures vary by program. Your program will share current expectations for participation and presentation.

Communicating research is part of professional training in biology. Students are encouraged and in some cases expected to share their work in public-facing settings.

Common venues include:

• Department symposia and showcases
• Work-in-progress seminars
• Regional or national meetings
• Public thesis or dissertation defenses

If you have questions about what counts as a public presentation for your program, ask the Director of Graduate Studies, the program director or the Graduate Coordinator.

Graduate students are expected to:

• Make steady progress toward their degree
• Participate in coursework, seminars and research experiences as defined by the program
• Meet professional expectations in research and teaching environments
• Follow university policies on academic integrity and responsible conduct

For official academic standing policies, consult the Graduate School policies and the UB Degree and Course Catalog. If you are experiencing challenges that could affect progress, contact your advisor or program office early so you can plan next steps and support.

Graduate students complete required trainings determined by the university, the department and research environments. Requirements can change. Follow the instructions shared by your program office and the Graduate School.

Training commonly includes:

• Research ethics and responsible conduct
• Laboratory safety and compliance
• Equity and inclusion training
• Role-specific training for teaching responsibilities

If you are unsure what training applies to you, contact the Graduate Coordinator or your program director.

Graduate students may request exceptions or ask for review of a decision through a petition process. Petitions are reviewed by the appropriate program leadership group.

A strong petition usually includes:

• A clear request
• A brief explanation of why the request is needed
• Supporting documentation when relevant
• A plan for staying on track when appropriate

If you are considering changing programs, start with a conversation with your advisor and program director. They can help you understand options and next steps before paperwork is submitted

Funding structures vary by program and appointment type. Support may come from:

• Teaching assistantships
• Research assistantships
• Fellowships
• University or department opportunities

Because funding details and eligibility can change, use the current Fellowships and Scholarships page for up-to-date guidance. If you have questions about your support, start with your advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

Graduate study is stronger with community. Students can connect and build professional networks through:

• Graduate student organizations
• Journal clubs and peer study groups
• Workshops and skill-building events
• Mentoring and networking opportunities
• Department and campus events

The BGSA is comprised of and governed by graduate students in the department. It is affiliated with the university-wide Graduate Student Association (GSA). In addition to keeping students posted on departmental and university policies, procedures, and events, the organization assists in planning the annual symposium as well as journal clubs and social activities in the department. All graduate students are welcome and encouraged to participate in the group. Meetings are usually held monthly. Meeting announcements are made through the email listserv. 

The GSEU is the collective bargaining unit for Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Graduate Assistants (GAs) employed by SUNY and paid by the State of New York. All TAs and GAs employed by SUNY are part of the GSEU bargaining unit and pay the union a percentage of their income. However, to obtain full union benefits you must fill out a yellow membership form and return it to a union officer (your department rep, Chief Steward, or Business Agent) or mail it to the address on the form. These forms are distributed at health orientations, GSEU meetings, and general orientation activities. For more information, visit the GSA website.

For official policies, requirements and deadlines, use: