As a student progresses through the doctoral program, the advisor's role is replaced by the dissertation mentor to reflect the increasing focus on an area of specialization. Research Rotations Students begin gaining research experience immediately by participating in research rotations. Students are strongly encouraged to complete three separate research rotations by the end of their third semester of enrollment. The rotations can be performed under the mentorship of any of the participating faculty of the department and must be of at least one semester in duration. Each student s advisor not only helps in the selection of rotations, but also makes sure that appropriate mentoring takes place.
Laboratory rotations serve two important purposes.
One, they provide an opportunity for each student to be exposed to and learn in some detail several different areas of biomedical engineering research. This broadening experience, prior to the subsequent necessary specializing, should prove to be useful as their careers develop. Second, the rotations serve as a testing ground to prepare both students and potential research mentors for the long-term affiliation that is associated with a doctoral dissertation research. The formal selection of a research mentor typically takes place after the student has passed the qualifying examination. These credits can be taken any time prior to graduation.