FALL 2009 ORIENTATION

for DOMESTIC Genetics Graduate Students

BEFORE ARRIVAL at Iowa State.

 

________        send final copy of your transcript with degree awarded to

Office of Admissions
100 Alumni Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2011 USA   

 

_______ Be sure to have your supporting eligibility-to-work documents available. See page two of the I-9 form for a list of the acceptable documents. The whole sign-up packet should be filled out in advance before taking it to Human Resources. The whole packet can be found here under Sign-up Packet. For example acceptable documents could be a U.S. passport OR a Driver's License AND a Social Security Card.

 

________        Rotation students should be thinking about potential rotations.  You should have a good idea about 2 or 3 labs that you are interested in before you arrive.  We recommend that you wait until you arrive to contact faculty.  Opportunities to discover research and researchers on campus:  during orientation IG faculty will have an opportunity to meet with you on Thursday, August 20, 2009, during the Genetics Orientation, and we will provide you with a listing of faculty looking for students.  You may contact any genetics faculty member to discuss possible rotations.  Your temporary advisor is an excellent resource for the discussion of your scientific interests and this advisor can make recommendations as to faculty working in the area of your interest. Linda Wild (lmwild@iastate.edu) is a good source for faculty looking for students. You should plan to begin your first rotation on Wednesday, August 26.

 

UPON ARRIVAL AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY or MONDAY, August 17, 2009

 

Maps of campus can be found here:  http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/

 

            ________Obtain University ID card and University Email account. ID cards are also available in 530 Beardshear. Email accounts can be obtained from 197 Durham.

 

________Take a filled out an I-9 form to Human Resources at 3810 Beardshear Hall along with acceptable documents to verify your eligibility for payroll. Note the supporting documents on page 2 of the I-9 form that are required. For example, to verify your eligibility to work you can take your passport. You may also bring your social security card AND your driver's license. The beginning payroll date is based on when you complete this paperwork and the date on your letter of intent.  Example: if your letter of intent begins August 17 but the I-9 paperwork is processed on August 19, August 19 is the earliest we will be able to begin your payroll. The Payroll Signup Packet is available on line:

http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/records/  click on "Signup Packet" and should be filled out in advance.              

 

________ Student Health Insurance. Information on health insurance, dental, and pharmacy plans can be found here. Students on assistantship receive paid single health insurance and ISU Thielen Health Center pharmacy benefits. To sign up for your health insurance, go to ACCESS PLUS and sign in. Click on the STUDENT TAB and look at the menu on the left. Click on health insurance. Up at the top of the menu you will see in red "enroll". Go ahead and enroll. Because it takes some time for payroll to catch up, the computer system may charge you for health insurance, however, eventually that charge will be removed.

 

_______ Check in with Linda Wild in 2102 Molecular Biology Building (294-7697 or email her

at lmwild@iastate.edu to let her know you are on campus.

 

_______ Your Campus Address, if you are participating in rotations, is:  2102 Molecular

Biology.  Campus Phone:  515-294-7697.  Campus fax:  515-294-6669.  There is a mail

box in this office for you.

 

_______ Advise genetics@iastate.edu of your ISU email address when you have obtained it.

 

_______OSHA Lab Standard Training, in Class.

_______OSHA Lab Standard Training. This training should be completed by the end of the first week of classes. You may complete this training on-line. You need an ISU ID card to complete this activity. 

 

Environmental Health and Safety:  http://www.ehs.iastate.edu/cms/default.asp

Click on:                       Learning Center Login: 

LOGIN                        Click on New User Registration

                                    You will need to create a password for this activity                   

LOGIN                        using your University ID card number and the newly created

password

Click on:                       On-Line Courses: 

Take the following:

   An Introduction to On-Line Courses  (~~2 minutes)

   Lab Safety: Fundamental Concepts  (~~25 minutes)

               Fire Safety and Extinguisher Training  (~~16 minutes)

                Management of Unwanted Materials for Laboratory Personel  (~~25 minutes)

 

_______ Register on-line for classes through ACCESS PLUS.  You will need your

University ID Card.  Go to the ISU homepage:  http://www.iastate.edu and click on ACCESS PLUS.  Once you are in to your information, go to the Student Tab and then to Course Registration.  Listed below are core courses that can be taken by first semester Genetics graduate students.

 

                        Typically students take at least 12 credits. A typical schedule would be GDCB 510, BBMB 404, GENET 692, GENET 691, and Research. You may wish to download this checklist to see all requirements for completion of a genetics degree at Iowa State.

 

                                    GDCB 510                              3 credits           Transmission Genetics

                                    BBMB 404                             3 credits Biochemistry

                                    GENET 692                             1 credit Conceptual Foundations of Genetics

                                    GENET 691                             1 credit Seminar in Genetics

                                    GENET 697 or GENET 699    1 to 4 credits           Research Rotations/Research

                                                GENET 699 is for students who have a major professor.  (contact

                                                lmwild@iastate.edu for registration number)

 

On-Line Web site for availability:   Schedule of Classes

 

The Interdepartmental Genetics Handbook lists all required IG Courses. Course requirements for a Ph.D. degree in Genetics. Course requirements for an M.S. degree in Genetics.

 

_______ If you have any questions about taking the above courses, contact your major professor or temporary advisor to set up a time to discuss courses/registration for fall semester.  For example, you may have taken upper level courses similar to these courses at your previous institution.  All final decisions regarding whether a previous taken course meets the requirement is up to your program of study committee and the Chair of IG. 

 

__________ Contact your advisor or major professor and set up a time to meet to discuss expectations. If you are participating in rotations discuss the areas of interest you have and let advisor provide you with names and research projects that could be of interest to you.

 

TUESDAY, August 18

____________ If you are a student participating in rotations, contact faculty about meeting with them to discuss potential rotations.

 

WEDNESDAY, August 19

____________Activities as needed. Good day to meet with your advisor. Good day to meet with faculty looking for rotation students.

 

THURSDAY, August 20

 

Orientation with Genetics faculty: 8:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology

  • 8:30 Welcome and Introductions; Roger Wise, Plant Pathology will moderate this activity
  • 9:00 til 11:45 Research Introductions by 8 genetics faculty.
  • 12:00 Lunch with 15 genetics faculty including Drena Dobbs, Susan Carpenter, Jo Anne Powell-Coffman (Associate Chair, Genetics), Gustavo MacIntosh, Marit Nilsen-Hamilton, Clark Coffman (Core Advisor), Yanhai Yin, Tom Peterson, and Ravi Singh Core Advisor.
  • 1:15 Discuss IG handbook with Genetics Chair, Phil Becraft
  • 2:00 End of Meeting

 

FRIDAY, August 21

 

_________ Continue meeting with faculty to discuss future rotations.

__________ Optional: Student poster session in Atrium of the Molecular Biology building, tentatively 1-3 p.m.; refreshments. Chance to see research of a variety of students and faculty in the life sciences on campus.

 

MONDAY, August 24, 2009

 

            CLASSES START. You can print out a class schedule showing class times and locations by going to ACCESS PLUS and opening the STUDENT TAB and clicking on CLASS SCHEDULE.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

___________ Your first rotation should begin WEDNESDAY, August 26. Let Linda (lmwild@iastate.edu) know who you will do your first rotation with.

___________ REQUIRED. Attendance at all four new graduate student afternoon information meetings. 4:00 p.m. in 1102 Molecular Biology. Pizza provided.

  • Wednesday, September 16 with IG advanced graduate students and IG Core Advisors, Clark Coffman (GDCB) and Ravi Singh (Biomedical Sciences).
  • Wednesday, October 14 with IG Core Advisors, Clark Coffman (GDCB) and Ravi Singh (Biomedical Sciences).
  • Wednesday, November 11 with IG advanced graduate students and IG Core Advisors, Clark Coffman (GDCB) and Ravi Singh (Biomedical Sciences).
  • Wednesday, December 9 with IG Core Advisors, Clark Coffman (GDCB) and Ravi Singh (Biomedical Sciences).

Scientific Ethics Orientation
This has been set for Tuesday, September 22 AND Tuesday, September 29 from 5:10 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. in 1652 Gilman. This activity is REQUIRED OF ALL NEW STUDENTS. Students who are unable to attend will be expected to take a 2 credit full semester course in the spring, Plant Pathology 565A, Responsible Conduct of Research. Good scientific practices and professional ethics in the life sciences.

Discrimination and Harassment Prevention--Graduate Students
November 4, 2009; 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3150 Beardshear
The purpose of this training is to help graduate students/assistants understand what discrimination and harassment is and how it relates to the Iowa State University's Discrimination and Harassment policy. The participants will learn what discrimination and harassment is, how to prevent it, and what the reporting procedures are.
To Enroll go to ACCESS PLUS, Employee Tab, HRS training, and register for this course.