Ph.D. Curriculum

All required courses must be completed with a grade "B" or better. It is mandatory that a student repeat the class if he or she receives less than a "B" grade.

Coursework:

Cancer Biology graduate students must be registered in all quarters. Courses may be taken for Pass/Fail unless designated otherwise. All required courses MUST BE taken with a letter grade. Students must complete the following courses (or their equivalents) by the end of their second year:

Molecular, Cellular, and Genetic Basis of Cancer
CBIO 241
This is the core course in the Cancer Biology Program. Lectures and discussion sections will focus on key experiments and classic primary research papers in cancer biology. Required for all first year Cancer Biology graduate students.  Must be taken for a grade.
(5 units, Autumn)

Advanced Genetics
GENE 203
Explores the genetic toolbox. Analytic methods and modern synthetic genetic manipulation, including original papers. Emphasis is on use of genetic tools in dissecting complex biological pathways, developmental processes, and regulatory systems. Graduate students in any one of the biological sciences are welcome, but those with minimal experience in genetics should prepare themselves by working through problems in Suzuki, et al, or Hart, et al. Required for all first year Cancer Biology graduate students.
(3 units, Autumn)

Cell Biology of Physiological Processes
BIOSCI 214
Basic mechanisms of membrane and cellular biogenesis in relation to physiological processes. Emphasis on regulatory and signaling mechanisms involved in coordinating complex cellular phenomena such as cellular organization, function, and differentiation. Topics: cellular compartmentalization, transport and trafficking of macromolecules, organelle biogenesis, cell division motility and adhesion, and multicellularity. Required for all first year Cancer Biology graduate students.
(5 units, Winter)

Cancer Biology Journal Club
CBIO 280
Focus is on recent papers in the literature to be presented by graduate students. When possible, these papers will relate to and their discussion will precede upcoming cancer-related seminars at Stanford. Attendance at the relevant seminar will be expected. In addition, our students act as hosts for visiting speakers in the Cancer Biology Seminar Series.  Required for and limited to all 1st and 2nd year graduate students in the Cancer Biology Program.
(1 unit, AWS)

Research
CBIO 399
Required for all graduate students in the Cancer Biology Program.
(1-10 units, AWSS)

The Responsible Conduct of Research
MED 255
Required for all trainees. The course is a mixture of four didactic lectures and three group discussions. No exams. Attendance at 5 of the 7 sessions is required. Completion of the course fulfills the NIH/ADAMHA requirement for the instruction in the ethical conduct of research. The lecture format provides an overview of the major topics concerning ethics in research, authorship, and conflict of interest at the academic-commercial interface. Group sessions use a case study format to allow for more extended discourse between the students and faculty and among the students themselves. Relevant to graduate, medical, and postdoctoral students of all levels and disciplines.
(1 unit, Winter)

Cancer Biology Electives (at least one of the following)
Biological Macromolecules (SBIO 241)
Genomics (GENE 211)
Cell Signaling (Chemical and Systems Biology 210)

Cancer Biology-Related Graduate-Level Electives (6 units)
Recommended courses include:
Advanced Immunology (IMMUNOL 201)
Animal Viruses (MI206)
Biological Macromolecules (SBIO 241)
Cancer Epidemiology (HRP 230)
Computational Molecular Biology (BIOC 218)
Developmental Biology (DBIO 201)
Epigenetics (GENE206/PATH206)
Genomics (GENE 211)
Human and Mouse Genetics (GENE 214)
Introduction to Biotechnology (CHEMENG 450)
Principles of Biological Techniques (IMMUNOL 215)
Teaching in Cancer Biology (CBIO260)*

Cancer Biology graduate students are encouraged to serve as
teaching assistants for Cancer Biology (CBIO101), a spring
quarter course designed for upper division undergraduates.

Stanford Bulletin (lists all courses offered)

Additional Requirements:

Laboratory Rotations
A minimum of three one-quarter laboratory rotations will be required of all new students during the first year. Students must choose a thesis advisor prior to the end of summer quarter, first year, but not before the end of spring quarter, first year.

Qualifying Exam
The exam will consist of an NIH-style written grant proposal not to exceed ten pages (excluding references) and an oral examination. The examining committee will consist of three faculty members from the Cancer Biology Program and will not include the student's thesis advisor. The composition of this committee will be chosen by the student and thesis advisor and must be submitted to and approved by the Program Director prior to the end of autumn quarter, second year. The exam must be taken prior to the end of spring quarter, second year. If necessary, one retake will be permitted prior to the end of summer quarter, second year.

Asilomar Conference
Every student, beginning in the second year, must present a progress report of research results at the annual Asilomar Conference. A minimum of three presentations must be made prior to graduation, at least one of which must be an oral presentation.

Annual Dissertation Reading Committee Meetings
In year three and beyond, each student is required to have an annual meeting of his/her Dissertation Reading Committee in order to assess progress towards the degree and to provide advice.

Dissertation and Oral Examination
The major accomplishment of each successful Ph.D. student is the presentation of a written dissertation resulting from independent investigation that contributes to knowledge in the area of cancer biology.  A University Oral Examination is also required for the Ph.D. degree.  In the Cancer Biology Program, a public seminar (one hour) is presented by the Ph.D. candidate, followed by a closed-door oral examination.  The University Oral Examination Committee consists of at least four examiners and a chair from a different academic department than the student's advisor.  Note that the chair may be a faculty member in the Cancer Biology Program provided that he/she is not in the same academic department as the student's advisor.  All members of the Committee are normally members of the Academic Council, and the oral examination chair must be.  With the prior approval of the Program Director or School Dean, one of the examiners may be a person who is not a member of the Academic Council if that individual contributes expertise not readily available from the Stanford faculty. Official responsibility for selecting the oral examination chair rests with the Department.  Cancer Biology delegates this to the student and dissertation advisor.

Other University Requirements for Graduation
Please consult the Graduate Student Handbook.