Overview
The goal of the seminar requirement is to give each student training and experience in oral presentations. Students are required to give an oral presentation beginning the second year of the CMB Program and each year thereafter. Second and third-year students can give either a Journal Club Presentation or Formal Research Seminar, while fourth, fifth, and sixth-year students must give a Formal Research Seminar. A Journal Club Presentation is a presentation about literature pertaining to a specific research topic. A Formal Research Seminar is a presentation given by a student regarding their independent research topic. The requirements can be satisfied through a number of seminar series within individual CMB focus groups and departments across the UW-Madison campus. Additionally, certain courses may also satisfy the seminar requirement. A list of seminars students have used towards the requirement can be found on the CMB Seminars page. Students should consult with their Thesis Advisor as to the appropriate seminar presentation opportunity. The yearly seminar requirement must be completed by the August 31 deadline. Failure to do so will result in a hold being placed on the student’s registration.
Requirements to Complete
- Students should discuss Journal Club or Formal Research options with their Thesis Advisor
- At least three CMB faculty trainers must be present at the seminar and must sign the Seminar Requirement form, available on the CMB Forms section of the CMB website (signatures are not required if the presentation is given at a national or international conference not attended by CMB faculty trainers)
- To meet the requirement of having three CMB faculty trainers attend your seminar, we encourage you to invite your thesis committee members. Be sure to give them advance notice.
- Poster Presentations do not count towards seminar requirements.
Journal Club Presentation:
- Journal Club Presentations can be completed by second and third-year students
- It is expected that the student will attend the Journal Club on a regular basis
- The presentation must be a 30-minute campus talk
Formal Research Seminar:
- Formal Research Seminars must be completed by fourth, fifth, and sixth-year students
- Provides a training component in which student presenters are provided with critical feedback on their research presentation
- The presentation must be a 10-minute national talk or 30-minute campus talk
- A joint lab meeting may count as a Formal Research Seminar if the presentation is at least 30-minutes and at least three CMB faculty trainers are present
Submit the Following Materials:
- Submit the signed Seminar Requirement form to the CMB Office by the August 31 deadline (failure to do so will result in a hold being placed on the student’s registration)