The path to a Ph.D. degree in the Biochemistry Division involves several steps. These provide the theoretical underpinnings for a successful research career. All biochemistry majors also participate in the Journal club and in the Chemistry Department Colloquium program .
Students typically join a research group by the end of their first semester.
During the next spring, a student will spend time learning about their project, so that they can begin laboratory research in earnest during the succeeding summer. The written qualifying exam can be taken anytime during the first four semesters at Florida. The oral qualifying exam should be taken during the fourth semester of graduate studies. After passing these two examinations, the student is admitted to the Ph.D. program. Sometime during the fourth or fifth year, each student is required to write and defend an original research proposal outside their area of research expertise.