Student Orientation

Before You Start
Your Start Date
Registering for Classes
New International Student Orientation
Biosciences Orientation (August 17-21)
Payroll
Health Insurance

Before Your Start

  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor the week of August 10-14 to discuss classes. 

You must meet with your advisor prior to Wednesday, August 19th.  Your advisor will provide you with your registration number. Please contact Jodi Graff if your advisor does not do so.  

  • Choose your first rotation lab, get the faculty member’s approval, and email your choice to Andy Russo for final approval.  You must have Andy Russo’s approval before you make a final commitment to the lab.

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Your Start Date

Please confirm your start date is correct by clicking here. 

If you will be starting your first rotation on a date other than the one listed, please contact Jodi immediately.

Your payroll appointment begins on your scheduled start date.

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Registering for Classes

Please schedule an appointment with your advisor prior to Wednesday, August 20th to select your courses.

Your advisor will contact the Biosciences Program after the meeting and you will be sent an email when you are cleared to register on-line.

Click here for instructions for registering on-line.

After you meet with your advisor contact Jodi and you will be cleared to register. You will be registering for a total of 15 semester hours (s.h.).

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

Biosciences Critical Thinking & Communication (2 s.h.)
Time:
   Mondays 12:30 - 2:20 p.m. , Room & Building TBA
   
Biostatistics for Biomedical Research (1 s.h.)
Time:   Module III 11/2/09 - 12/11/09: Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:00 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
    Contact Jodi to receive the 3-digit permission code that will allow you to register for this course.
     
Biosciences Research (s.h. arranged)
Time:   ARR
  This course represents your research rotation.  The number of credit hours for this course is determined by the number of credits needed to make your total registration 15 s.h.
   
*650:270:001 Principles of Scholarly Integrity (1 s.h.)
Time:  

For the 2009/2010 academic year, course registration is open to students in the following Graduate College programs only:  Anatomy & Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biosciences, Biostatistics, Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Computer Science, Epidemiology, Free Radical & Radiation Biology, Genetics, Health Management & Policy, Human Toxicology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Neuroscience, Nursing (PhD only), Occupational & Environmental Health, Pharmacology, Pharmacy (PhD only) and Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science.

Students complete a four-hour orientation workshop to introduce principles of scholarly integrity.  Course completion requires participation in eight, 90-minute topical workshops over four semesters.  Small groups will discuss topics focusing on issues of student/mentor responsibilities for the pursuit of scholarly work (ownership, authorship, plagiarism/falsification/fabrication of data); the student/mentor relationship and promoting an intellectual dialogue (communication, collaboration, grievance management); and student responsibilities involving the institution, the scholarly community, and society (intellectual property, conflict of interest, fiscal responsibilities, human/animal subjects).
     
  You may choose elective course(s) on the list of approved fall electives
*
 Required Course

You can purchase text books at University Book Store.

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New International Student Orientation

It is very important that you plan your arrival so that you can report to the Office of International Student and Scholars (OISS) on August 11th.   

If you arrive early for Fall 2009, you may contact oiss@uiowa.edu.

This orientation is required for all new F-1 and J-1 students.

If you have any questions about International Student Orientation, please contact oiss@uiowa.edu.

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Biosciences Orientation*

*Attendance required.  If you are unable to attend, please contact Jodi Graff.

Monday, August 17th

  • Individual appointments with Jodi Graff in 1178 Med Labs to complete paperwork necessary to receive stipend.  Contact Jodi at 319-335-8305 or email to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday, August 18th

  • All Biomedical PhD Programs Welcome Picnic
    Location: Eckstein Medical Research Building (EMRB) Atrium & Patio
    Noon

  • Individual appointments with Jodi Graff in 1178 Med Labs to complete paperwork necessary to receive stipend.  Contact Jodi at 319-335-8305 or email to schedule an appointment.

Wednesday, August 19th

  • Summer End of Rotation Presentations*
    Location: 1117 Medical Education & Research Facility (MERF)
    9:45 a.m. - 10:21 a.m.
    Presenters include:
    • Arliss Dudley-Cash (Sluka Lab)
    • Caralyn Flack (Wilson Lab)
    • Drew Fayram (Allen Lab)

  • Welcome Meeting*
    Location: 1221 Medical Education & Research Facility (MERF)
    10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
    Meeting with Program Coordinator Jodi Graff
  • Lunch
    Location: 2136 Medical Education & Research Facility (MERF)
    11:30 p.m.

  • Faculty Talks*
    1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
    Location:  2156 and 2166 Medical Education Research Facility (MERF)
    Biosciences Program faculty members will give 12 minute talks about their research.  The presentations are a mechanism for you to choose future research rotations.

    Graduate College Information Fair and Welcome & Reception
    3:00 - 6:30 PM
    Location: Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), Room #180
    New Graduate Students come learn about the campus & your community.
    Hosted by the Graduate College & the Graduate Student Senate.

Thursday, August 20th

  • Bagels & Biochemistry
    11:00 a.m.
    Location: 4-333 Bowen Science Building
  • Introductory orientation workshop (participation is required)*
    650:270 Principles of Scholarly Integrity
    1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
    Location: IMU Main Lounge
    Brief presentations by speakers and panelist (TBA)
    Round table discussion with faculty facilitators

    You will be assigned to a section to attend four 90-minute workshops over the 2009/2010 academic year – 2 Fall, 2 Spring workshops.
    Contact Minnetta Gardinier, PhD, Associate Dean, Graduate College, if you have questions.

  • Dinner
    6:30 p.m.
    Location:  Jodi Graff’s home.  Contact Jodi for directions
    You and a guest or you and your family are invited to attend dinner at Jodi’s home.  Please contact Jodi if you are in need of transportation.

Friday, August 21st

  • Faculty Talks*
    1:00 – 3:45 p.m.
    Location:  2126, 2136, and 1135 Medical Education Research Facility (MERF)
    Biosciences Program faculty members will give 12 minute talks about their research.  The presentations are a mechanism for you to choose future research rotations.

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Payroll

Please schedule an appointment with Jodi Graff within 3 days of your start date to complete the necessary paperwork to be placed on payroll and receive health insurance.

Please complete the following forms and bring them to your appointment:

Employment Eligibility Verification

During your appointment you will need to provide Jodi Graff with the following documentation to establish identity and employment eligibility (see list of Acceptable Documents below). 

You must bring one item from column A or one item from column B and one item from column C to your appointment.

International students, please also bring your I-20 form to your appointment.

List of Acceptable Documents:

 

List A

OR

List B

AND

List C

1

U.S. Passport

 

Driver's License

 

U.S. Social Security Card

2

Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
(INS Form N-560 or N-561)

 

ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities

 

Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
(Form -545 or Form DS-1350

3

Certificate of Naturalization (INS Form N-550 or N-570)

 

School ID card with a photograph

 

Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, or municipal authority.

4

Unexpired foreign passport

 

Voter's registration card

 

Native American tribal document

5

Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph
(INS Form I-151 or I-551)

 

U.S. Military card or draft record

 

U.S. Citizen ID Card
(INS Form I-197)

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Health Insurance

The University of Iowa provides a wide range of comprehensive health insurance plans.

If you have any questions, please contact the Benefits Office directly at 319-335-2676.

Insurance coverage begins the first day of the month following the first day of employment.

 

Biosciences Program
The University of Iowa
1178 Medical Laboratories
Iowa City, IA 52242-1181

Phone: 1-800-551-6787 or 319-335-8305
Fax: 319-335-7656
E-mail: biosciences@uiowa.edu
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