Interdepartmental Microbiology (IM)
 Graduate Student Handbook,   2007-2008  -  Table of Contents

 

INTRODUCTION

Message from the Chair
As a graduate student in the Interdepartmental Microbiology (IM) program, you have access to a wide range of opportunities to build your career as a microbiologist. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. Challenge yourself, your fellow students and the faculty to push beyond the boundaries of our current knowledge! Do this in all avenues of your education in courses, in the lab, at journal clubs, workshops, seminars, and professional meetings - and you will find your graduate experience to be richly rewarding. The faculty in the IM program endeavor to provide the range of opportunities necessary for scientific development, but your initiative in actively and creatively pursuing knowledge is the key to your education.

This handbook is designed to provide guidance on the policies and procedures of the IM program. Like our scientific knowledge, graduate programs evolve and change, and these changes are driven by the efforts and ingenuity of people. I encourage you to talk with your major professor to keep abreast of policy changes that have been instituted since the printing of this handbook, as well as to provide your ideas for program improvement to the Chair and members of the Supervisory Committee of Microbiology at any time.    Back 

Mission of the IM Program
Microbiology is integral to global well being through its central role in agricultural productivity, human health, environmental quality and restoration, industrial processes, and food production and safety, as well as its contribution to a basic understanding of all living systems. The mission of the Graduate Program at Iowa State University is to advance scientific discovery in microbiology by providing education and research opportunities for future microbiologists.    Back 

The Microbiology Major
The Graduate Major in Microbiology is an interdepartmental training program at Iowa State University that offers the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology, and a minor to students majoring in other programs. The IM program offers a broad range of research opportunities, including in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiology, virology, microbe interactions with animals, plants and arthropods, and the responses of those hosts to the microbes. Microbiology training is offered through approximately 56 faculty housed in thirteen departments: Agronomy; Animal Science; Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology; Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Entomology; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Genetics, Developmental and Cell Biology; Geology; Natural Resource Ecology and Management; Plant Pathology; Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine; Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine; and Veterinary Pathology, with some of these faculty having appointments at the National Animal Disease Center or the National Soil Tilth Laboratory. Currently, faculty and students are pursing research in many areas of microbiology, including microbial biochemistry, ecology, genetics and molecular biology; biogeochemistry; food safety and security; microbe-host interactions; bacteriology; immunology; mycology; parasitology; virology; and microbial genomics.

A major strength of the Graduate Major in Microbiology lies in the combined expertise of its diverse faculty. The large number of IM faculty in diverse areas of microbiology proides students with flexibility when choosing a research project and major professor, as well as with a spectrum of course offerings in microbiology and related disciplines. Activities, including seminars, journal clubs, and the Microbiology Graduate Student Organization (MGSO), provide opportunities for scientific and social interactions. These interactions are central to the program goal of providing broad and robust training while stimulating excellence in Microbiology research.    Back 

Administration
The activities of the Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program are administered by a Chair, a Supervisory Committee, and a Program Coordinator. Please feel free to contact them if you have any questions about the program. For the 2007-2008 academic year, these positions are held by the following people:

Chair: F. Chris Minion, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine

(1130 Veterinary Medicine, 515-294-6347, fcminion@iastate.edu)

Associate Chair: Adam Bogdanove, Plant Pathology

(423 Bessey Hall, 515-294-3421, ajbog@iastate.edu)

Supervisory Committee:

Aubrey Mendonca, Food Science-Human Nutrition

(2312 Food Science, 515-294-2950, amendon@iastate.edu)

Nancy Cornick, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine

(2130 Veterinary Medicine, 515-294-6499, ncornick@iastate.edu)

Bryony Bonning, Entomology

(401 Science II, 515-294-1989, bbonning@iastate.edu)

Program Coordinator:

Simi Venkatagiri

(207 Science I, 515-294-9052, microbiology@iastate.edu)    Back 

UPON ARRIVAL AT IOWA STATE

When you first arrive, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the number of things you must do. Here is a list of some of the most important.

1.   Visit the Interdepartmental Microbiology Program Office in 207 Science I and introduce yourself to Simi Venkatagiri, the Program Coordinator. Simi can help you find your way around the University administrative offices and answer questions you have about the IM program.

2.   Visit 1130 VMPM and introduce yourself to the Chair, F. Chris Minion.

3.   Read this HANDBOOK. It is especially important to read the section on Administrative Matters during your first few days. This handbook is available on-line at: www.micro.iastate.edu/

4.   Register for e-mail at Durham Hall and plan to check it regularly (at least daily). E-mail is the most common means of communication at Iowa State University.

5.   Obtain the following references and examine them carefully. These documents contain all the University regulations and requirements for graduation.

Graduate College Handbook

Graduate College Thesis Manual

They are available on the Web through the ISU Graduate College Homepage at:

http//www.grad-college.iastate.edu/publications/gchandbook/homepage.html

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/degree/thesisrequirements.html

Iowa State Graduate College forms are available on the internet at:

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html

6.   Other references you may wish to obtain at the ISU bookstore or on the web include:

General Catalog:

http://www.iastate.edu/~catalog/

Schedule of Classes:

http://www.iastate.edu/~catalog/schedule/

Iowa State University phone/e-mail directory (contains two-year calendar of academic dates and deadlines):

http://ph.iastate.edu/cgi-bin/phf

Additional references available on the web can be located through the Iowa State University Homepage:

http://www.iastate.edu     Note the alphabet at the top of this web page; you can click through to many subject headings.

7.   Other web sites of interest include:

Iowa State University forms, available on the internet

http://www.adp.iastate.edu/forms.html

ISU University-wide POLICY LIBRARY, available on the internet

http://www.policy.iastate.edu/

   Back 

GETTING STARTED - YOUR FIRST YEAR

Graduate Student Orientation
For new graduate students, the academic year begins with an orientation period which is designed to ease the transition to graduate study at Iowa State. It is a time to become acquainted with the Interdepartmental Microbiology program and its members and to prepare for registration and the start of classes. Along with this handbook, you should have received a schedule of important orientation activities from the IM program and from the Graduate College. Please refer to them for information about your responsibilities during orientation.

Which of the following sections that you need to read is determined by how you are being funded. Students may enter Interdepartmental Microbiology by either of two routes: direct admission into IM followed by the selection of a major professor, or direct admission into the laboratory of their major professor. Students entering directly into the IM program are usually supported for their first year on a Microbiology Research Assistantship and spend their first semester (M.S.) or first year (Ph.D) doing rotations and choosing a major professor. They should read the entire handbook. Students entering directly into the laboratory of their major professor must be accepted by the department of their major professor, hereafter called their “home department”, and must arrange for support through their major professor and home department. The latter students may skip sections dealing with temporary advisors, research rotations, and choosing a major professor.    Back 

Assignment of a Temporary Graduate Advisor
If you have entered the Interdepartmental Microbiology program directly, by the time of your arrival for the orientation program, you will have been assigned a faculty member who will act as your Temporary Graduate Advisor. If you have not been notified of your Temporary Graduate Advisor, please contact the Chair. The responsibilities of your advisor are to guide you in selecting courses during your first year, to discuss with you the research opportunities in IM, and to suggest laboratories for visits and rotations.

During the first week of the orientation period, you will meet with your advisor for counseling and preparation of your schedule for the fall semester. If it is necessary to add or drop a course, or change sections of a course or the number of credits, use an Add/Drop Slip available from the IM Office in 207 Science I.    Back 

Research Rotations – Micro 697
First year students who enter the Interdepartmental Microbiology program directly as Research Assistants are required to do laboratory rotations (MICRO 697) to help them choose their major professor. First-year students who have entered directly into the laboratory of their major professor are not required to take MICRO 697 or do rotations. Rotation among laboratories within the home department is encouraged, but such policies are determined by the department. In addition to helping you choose a major professor, these research rotations provide an interdisciplinary research experience, give an opportunity to actively participate in the research program of the laboratories in which you are interested, and promote interaction and exchange of information among research groups.

Microbiology Research Assistants must do three full-length laboratory rotations during their first year, if you are a Ph.D. student, or two full-length laboratory rotations, if you are an M.S. student (unless otherwise noted in their offer letter). A full-length rotation is at least 6 weeks long; rotations typically last 6-8 weeks. You only need to identify one laboratory to rotate in at a time; however, it is not uncommon to set up all of the rotations near the beginning of the first semester. If you have made arrangements to do a rotation and later decide not to participate in that rotation, you must notify the faculty member of your decision as soon as possible after the decision has been made. The total number of credits of MICRO 697 per semester should be 1 to 6. After two weeks in a laboratory rotation, you are responsible for contacting your advisor to discuss how the rotation is proceeding. If you know after two weeks that this is not the area of research you wish to pursue, you should work with your advisor and the rotation lab manager to terminate the rotation. Students are required to participate in three full-length rotations.    Back 

Choosing a major professor
If you have entered the Interdepartmental Microbiology program directly, much of your first year will be devoted to the important process of selecting a major professor. This is the person who will guide you in your graduate studies and whose research group you will join. To help you decide on professors with whom to rotate, you should make use of the following information:

• A description of the IM faculty research on the IM homepage (www.micro.iastate.edu) and on the homepages of the individual faculty (click on the “Faculty” link on the IM homepage).
• Recent publications of the IM faculty (you can find often find references to these on the faculty homepages or by doing a literature search such as on the web in the Web of Science search engine [Library » Collections » Indexes and Abstracts » W » Web of Science » Go to Form0020Search » Click Last 5 years » Name [Einstein, A*]]
• Most important: Discussions with individual faculty members. Faculty can provide curriculum vitae and recent publication references. Students are strongly encouraged to contact and interact with at least six faculty during the rotation selection process.

When you have decided with whom you would like to rotate, you need to personally ask the faculty member whether you can rotate in his or her laboratory. As part of this discussion, you will need to tell him or her about your interests and inquire whether there might be space and funding for you after you finish your rotations. You should also discuss the project you might have for your research. If you and the faculty member agree to a rotation, you should do the following:

• decide upon mutually acceptable dates to begin and end your rotation in the lab. If your rotation includes holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, yoshould ask about the work schedule during this time and indicate if you plan to take any vacation days.
• discuss if there is an expectation of a presentation or short paper so you can plan for this during the rotation
• discuss the expectations regarding your work schedule (arrival and departure times)
• ask who your main contact will be during your rotation in the lab

During your rotations, you will conduct research but are not required to complete a project. Part of the process of choosing a lab is learning if there are any additional courses or other requirements that must be met in the home department of your chosen faculty mentor. These requirements vary with each department. On completion of each rotation, your performance will be evaluated and the faculty member will provide a written evaluation to the Chair. These evaluations will be used in the annual review of each student. You will be asked to evaluate the rotation experience in an interview with the program Chair at the end of the spring semester.

You should avoid choosinga major professor until after your rotations. If a faculty member attempts to get a commitment from you before the end of your rotations, you may discuss your interest in the lab, but you must state, “I can’t actually commit to a lab until my third rotation is completed.” Remember that as great as your present rotation may be, there is always the possibility that the next rotation will be even more interesting or promising.

After you finish all of your laboratory rotations, ask the faculty member with whom you would like to work whether he or she can accept you into his or her laboratory and arrange for your future financial support. Ask about the amount of the stipend and tuition support. These are things you need to know when deciding whether to join a specific lab. You can approach this question by indicating the present amount you receive from IM and ask if the faculty member will be able to provide the same support. Once a mutual agreement has been reached, please inform the Interdepartmental Microbiology program Chair and Program Coordinator. Students should initiate a “Request to Establish a Home Department for Students Admitted to Interdepartmental Majors” form found at www.grad-college.iastate.edu and bring that form to the IM administrative office.    Back 

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Degrees Offered
Interdepartmental Microbiology (IM) offers coursework and research experiences leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology, and a minor to students majoring in other programs. A Non-thesis Master of Science degree is not offered.    Back 

Admission to a DegreeProgram
The degree that a student may pursue in the IM program is specified at the time of the student’s admission into the program. Although a prior M.S. is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program, criteria for admission to the Ph.D. program are more stringent than to the M.S. program.

Students wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in Interdepartmental Microbiology after completing an MS in the IM program, or wishing to change the degree that they are pursing from an M.S. to a Ph.D., must re-apply to the IM program. This application must consist of a Curriculum Vita and an unofficial copy of their transcript. Students must also arrange for memos from their POS committee members indicating support or lack of support for entry of the student into doctoral candidacy. Memos communicated by e-mail are acceptable. These materials should be submitted to the Program Coordinator of the IM program. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, with the same criteria used in evaluating other applications to the Ph.D. program. The Admissions Committee will decide on one of the following options:

• The student may change from the M.S. to the Ph.D. program without completing the M.S.
• The student may pursue the Ph.D. after earning the M.S.
• The student is not allowed to pursue the Ph.D. in Microbiology.    Back 

Required Courses
It is expected that all graduate students entering the IM program will have a strong background in the biological sciences, including at least one semester of coursework in each general microbiology and general genetics, including exposure to molecular biology. Your Major Professor or Temporary Graduate Advisor will help you determine if you have deficiencies that should be addressed with additional background courses.

- The Microbiology Core Curriculum
To assure that all IM students develop a base of fundamental principles and information essential to microbiology, all students will take a series of “core courses” in addition to courses specific to individual interests. Students must receive a C or better in each course and at least a B average over all six core courses to fufill this requirement. This policy applies to IM minors as well as majors.

The Microbiology Core Curriculum for 2007-2008 consists of:

1.  Microbial diversity and phylogeny (Micro 551) 1 credit
2.  Bacterial molecular genetics and physiology (Micro 552) 1 credit
3.  Pathogenic microorganisms (Micro 553) 1 credit
4.  Virology (Micro 554) 1 credit
5.  Fungal Biology (Micro 555) 1 credit
6.  Microbial ecology and environmental monitoring (Micro 556) 1 credit

Additional courses required of all majors:

1.  Biochemistry (BBMB 404 and BBMB 405, or the equivalent)
2.  Professional Practices in Life Sciences (Micro 565A, or the equivalent) 0.5 credit    Back 

- Course Requirements for a Doctoral Degree
Ph.D. candidates majoring in Microbiology must take at least 72 credits; this includes credit from the Core Curriculum, other courses, and research. Requirements that must be met for the doctoral degree are the Microbiology Core Curriculum, shown above; at least 3 additional courses (9 credits) from an approved list of courses in the microbiological sciences, and students must receive a B or better in each course for the credit to apply to the major; and enrollment and credit in the Microbiology Seminar (Micro 604) at least five times (5 credits). Students must also make at least two formal scientific presentations; these include presentations given in Micro 604, at scientific conferences, or during departmental or interdepartmental seminar series. Fulfillment of this requirement requires approval by the POS committee. Additional course work may be selected to satisfy research interests, expectations of the POS committee, or home department requirements.    Back 

- Course Requirements for a Master of Science Degree
M.S. candidates majoring in Microbiology must take at least 30 credits; this includes credit from the Core Curriculum, other courses, and research. Requirements that must be met for the Master of Science degree are the Microbiology Core Curriculum, shown above; at least 1 additional course (3 credits) from an approved list of courses in the microbiological sciences, and students must receive a B or better for the credit to apply to the major; and enrollment and credit in the Microbiology Seminar (Micro 604) at least three times (3 credits). Students must also make at least one formal scientific presentation, which may be a presentation given in Micro 604, at a scientific conference, or during a departmental or interdepartmental seminar series. Fulfillment of this requirement requires approval by the POS committee. Additional course work may be selected to satisfy research interests, expectations of the POS committee, or home department requirements.    Back 

- Course Requirements for a Minor in Microbiology
Students can receive a Minor in Microbiology by completing the first six courses listed under the Microbiology Core Curriculum (6 credits), as well as one additional advanced course from the approved list of courses in the microbiological sciences (3 credits) and earning a B or above in each course.    Back 

“Testing Out” of Required Courses
If you feel that you already know the material covered in one or more of the required microbiology courses, you may petition to be excused from the requirement. To do this, first discuss the idea with your Temporary Graduate Advisor or major professor, your POS Committee (if you have one), and the course instructor. If they agree with your proposal, then you may submit a letter to the IM Chair requesting permission to be excused from the course requirement. The letter must include a description or documentation of your previous experience in that subject area. The IM Chair will submit the request to the IM Curriculum Committee for a decision.

A word of caution: if you are excused from a microbiology course requirement, do not forget to review the topics covered by the course prior to your preliminary or final exams. You will be expected to be as knowledgeable on this topic as all other students.    Back 

Transferability of Credits from other Institutions
The transferability of credits from other institutions will be determined on a case-by- case basis by the student’s POS committee and the IM Chair. Credits for seminars, workshops and colloquia are not transferable.    Back 

APPROVED LIST OF COURSES IN THE MICROBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

BACTERIOLOGY/GENETICS/PHYSIOLOGY

BBMB 403.  Biochemistry of Prokaryotes Micro 502.  Microbial Genetics Micro 530.  Procaryotic Diversity and Ecology Micro 577.  Bacterial-Plant Interactions Micro 586.  Medical Bacteriology VMPM 586L. Medical Bacteriology Laboratory

Alt Spring, offered 2008 Alt Fall, offered 2008 Alt Spring, offered 2007 Alt Spring, offered 2008 Fall Fall

Instructor: Alan DiSpirito Instructor: Greg Phillips Instructor: Instructor: Gwyn Beattie Instructor: Ronald Griffith Instructor: Ronald Griffith

VIROLOGY

Micro 508.  Virology Micro 509.  Plant Virology VMPM 587.  Animal Virology VMPM 587L. Laboratory in Animal Virology Micro (VMPM) 608.  Molecular Virology

Alt Fall, offered 2008 Alt Spring, offered 2007 Spring Spring Alt Spring, offered 2007

Instructor: Allen MIller Instructor: John Hill Instructor: Ken Platt Instructor: Ken Platt Instructors: C. Miller, B. Blitvich

MYCOLOGY

Biol   456.  Principles of Mycology EEOB 575.  Field Mycology EEOB 641.  General Mycology EEOB 642.  General Mycology

Fall Summer Fall Spring

Instructor: Leandro & Braun Instructor: Instructor: Instructor:

ALGAE

EEOB 501L.  Freshwater Algae

Summer

Instructor: J. Wee

OTHER EUCARYOTIC MICROORGANISMS

Bot 580L.  Ecology and Systematics of                Diatoms Pl P 574.   Plant Nematology

Fall Alt Fall, offered 2008

Instructor: Marty Spaulding Instructor: Thomas Baum

SOIL MICROBIOLOGY

Micro 585. Soil Microbiology and                Biochemistry Micro 685. Advanced Soil Biochemistry

Fall Alt Spring, offered 2008

Instructor: Tom Loynachan Instructor: Ali Tabatabai

AQUATIC/MARINE MICROBIOLOGY

Micro 587. Aquatic and Wetland Microbial                Ecology

Spring

Instructor: Bill Crumpton

FOOD MICROBIOLOGY

FS HN 504. Advanced Food Science-                Microbiology Micro 507. Microbiological Safety of Foods of                Animal Origins Micro 626. Advanced Food Microbiology

Spring Spring Alt Spring, offered 2008

Instructor: Jim Dickson Instructors: Aubrey Mendonca

PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS

Pl P   506. Plant-Pathogen Interactions Micro 692. Molecular Biology of Plant-Pathogen               Interactions

Spring Alt Spring, offered 2007

Instructors: Baum, Bronson Instructior: Bogdanove

ANIMAL-MICROBE INTERACTIONS

Micro 510X. Insect-Virus Interactions:               A Molecular Perspective Micro 625. Mechanisms of Bacterial               Pathogenesis VMPM 536. Zoonoses and Environmental               Health Ent 574.   Medical Microbiology VPTH 678.  Global Protozoology -                 Molecular Biology of Protozoa

Alt fall, offered 2007 Alt Spring, offered 2007 Alt Spring, offered 2007 Alt Spring, offered 2008 Fall

Instructors: Bonning, Bartholomay Instructor: Chris Minion Instructor: Instructor: Instructor: Jeff Beetham

IMMUNOLOGY

Micro  575. Immunology V MPM 520. Medical Immunology

Fall

Instructors: Joan Cunnick Instructior: Eileen Thacker

   Back 

ANNUAL REPORT OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES

All students majoring in Microbiology are required to submit an Annual Report of Student Activities to the IM Chair by August 15. The format for this report is provided in the appendices. This Annual Report will be used as a toolto assess the strengths and weaknesses of the IM program, as well as to monitor the progress of all students in the IM program.

NOTE: The IM Program must have up-to-date Annual Reports before the IM Chair will provide a signature of approval on forms needed for advancement through the degree program.

NOTE: A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is required for one-half tuition support by the Graduate College. If your overall GPA drops below 3.0, it is likely that you will have to pay this tuition yourself. The grading scale at ISU is: A (4.0), A- (3.67), B+ (3.33), B (3.0), B- (2.67), C+ ( 2.33), C (2.0), C- (1.67), D+ (1.33), D (1), and F (0). Research grades (699, 697) do not count towards GPA.    Back 

PROGRESSING THROUGH YOUR DEGREE PROGRAM

Program of Study Committee Appointment
After you have obtained a major professor and home department, you will, in consultation with your major professor, decide on a suitable program for completion of your graduate course work. It is then necessary to appoint a graduate Program of Study (POS) Committee. The composition and responsibilities of the POS committee will be in accordance with the Graduate College guidelines.

The POS committee should include faculty whose research interests can aid and complement your research interests, as well as faculty whose expertise will ensure that you graduate with a breadth of knowledge. The POS committee for a doctoral student must consist of at least five members of the Graduate Faculty. These faculty are listed in the back of the Graduate Catalog. The committee must include at least three faculty, including the major professor, from within the Interdepartmental Microbiology major. At least one faculty member must be either outside the Microbiology major outside your home department.

The POS committee for a master’s student must consist of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. It must include two members, including the major professor, from inside the Interdepartmental Microbiology major. One member of the committee must be either outside the major or outside your home department.

Once the chosen members of the POS committee have agreed to serve, you should complete the Graduate College form "Recommendation for Committee Appointment" and submit it to the Interdepartmental Microbiology program chair for approval. A copy of this form and instructions for its completion are available at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html . On the committee form, under major, print or type: Microbiology. After official appointment of the committee, copies of the form will be returned to you and your major professor. A third copy is placed in your file in the IM program office.

Changes to your committee made after the completion of the “Recommendation for Committee Appointment” form has been approved should be made on a “Request to Change Committee Appointment” form. A copy of this form is available at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html .    Back 

Program of Study
The next step is to call your committee together, inform them of your research plans, and ask for their evaluation of your plans. This is also the time to complete your Program of Study (POS) form. A copy of this form and instructions are available at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html . The Graduate College Program of Study is one of the more important documents you will encounter while in graduate school. In essence, it is a contract between you and the graduate school indicating the minimum course work which must be taken to complete a Ph.D. or M.S. degree. No changes can be made in it without the mutual approval of yourself, your committee, and the Graduate College. When filling out the POS form, be sure to use the correct course designators. It would be appreciated if the Core IM courses are listed together on the form followed by the required seminars.

Changes that occur in a student’s program of study, such as due to changed objectives or unavailability of courses, should be approved by the student’s committee and the IM Chair. Such changes need not be sent to the Graduate Dean for approval until the student is ready to file for graduation. When the student is preparing to graduate, a memo listing any changes to the originally filed program of study that have been approved by the committee and the DOGE should be sent to the Graduate College.

Other types of changes to the student’s program of study should be submitted to the Graduate College on a completed “Request to Change Program of Study” form. A copy of this form and instructions are available at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html .    Back 

POS Meetings
The recommended time-frame for completing the POS tasks is to 1) form the POS Committee and file and submit POS Committee Appointment Form by the end of the second semester; 2) prepare and submit a written description of the proposed research to POS Committee, have a POS Committee meeting, and file the POS Form by the end of the third semester.

Each year after the formation of your POS committee you should set up a time to meet with the members of your POS committee. IM recommends that Ph.D. students plan to do this in October of each school year following the Ph.D. Prelim (at least three committee members must be present), and recommends that M.S. students meet yearly until the final defense (at least two committee members must be present). Discussion should center around how your research is progressing and if there are areas that need to be addressed.

Scheduling a POS Committee meeting can sometimes be a nightmare; many professors have very full schedules. A recommended approach is to pick a two-week interval and then ask all POS committee members to list their free times during that interval. The student should estimate the time required for the meeting, in consultation with the major professor, and state this in their initial message to the POS committee members. The two-week interval should be at least several weeks in the future. After the faculty respond, the student can select one or a few times when everyone appears to be free, and when a room is available for the meeting, and again solicit the opinions of the POS committee members. This whole process needs to be completed in one or two days so that slots that were free during the initial inquiry remain free. E-mail generally works best for this process.    Back 

Preliminary Examination
Ph.D. candidates majoring in Microbiology must pass a Preliminary Examination. The purpose of the Preliminary Examination is to test 1) breadth of knowledge in the area of Microbiology, 2) depth of knowledge in a student’s particular research area, and 3) critical thinking skills especially as they pertain to the scientific method and hypothesis-based research. For this purpose, the Preliminary Exam must contain both a written and an oral component. The nature of the written component is determined by the POS Committee and the home department. One of the written examination tasks, frequently asked for by the major professor, may be the preparation of a detailed research proposal about the candidate’s dissertation research plans. If applicable, this proposal should be shared with the whole committee before the oral component of the exam.

To initiate your Preliminary Exam, a “Request for Preliminary Examination” form should be turned into the Graduate College at least two weeks prior to the date of your Preliminary Examination. “Request for Preliminary Examination” forms are available in IM Program Office and at the Graduate College. After processing your request, the Graduate College will send the IM Program Office the Preliminary Examination form, and this form should be given to your major professor. The results of the Preliminary Examination will be recorded on this form, it will be signed by all committee members, and it must be returned to the Graduate College. All committee members must be present at this examination. This examination should be completed by the end of the first semester of the third year of graduate training.

M.S. candidates are not required to take a Preliminary Examination.    Back 

Writing Your Thesis
All ISU theses will be digital ("ETDs" converted to a single file in PDF format) and submitted on-line beginning in Fall 2006. The procedures and requirements for all theses have changed completely starting in Fall 2006, so you must review the new requirements and deadlines in the documents at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/degree/thesisrequirements.html .

All graduate theses and dissertations submitted to Iowa State University must comply with the requirements established by the Graduate College, as stated in the current Thesis Manual. The Graduate College reviews the final thesis or dissertation and approves the final format before signing the final Approval Slip. Staff are available to advise students on formatting problems they may encounter. In addition, staff conduct several informational thesis seminars early each semester.    Back 

Preparing for Graduation
Each semester, the Graduate College publishes the deadline dates for submission of appropriate forms and paperwork. Early in the semester in which you expect to graduate, you must submit to the Graduate College an Application for Graduation (found at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/forms.html ), which shows the expected date of graduation, exact thesis or dissertation title and other data. If you do not graduate at the expected time, a new diploma slip must be submitted at a later time.

After the dissertation or thesis has been completed, you should consult with your major professor and POS Committee to arrange a time for the Final Research Seminar and Final Examination. You must also request permission from the Graduate College to schedule the Final Examination using the “Request for Final Examination” form. This form is available in the IM Program office and at the Graduat College. When the Graduate College receives this request they will send a “Report of Final Examination” for reporting the examination result to the IM Program Coordinator, who will then provide the form to your major professor.    Back 

Final Research Seminar
All students are required to present a formal, public seminar describing their completed research. The seminar must be announced at least 2 weeks in advance to the Interdepartmental Microbiology faculty and students. You must notify the Chair and the IM Program Coordinator, and they will make the announcements.    Back 

Final Examination (Defense)
The Final Examination for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees is an oral defense of the Ph.D. dissertation or M.S. thesis. All members of your POS committee must be present. This examination reviews the thesis and your knowledge of relevant subjects.    Back 

Thesis Signatures and Exit Interview
When the thesis is complete, you will need to obtain written approval of the thesis from all of the POS Committee members before contacting the IM Chair for the final signature. This written approval can be obtained in two forms:

1. obtain the signatures of all of the POS committee members on the title page of the thesis (the Graduate College requires only the signature of the major professor and the DOGE on the thesis itself, but accepts theses with all of the POS Committee signatures), or
2. obtain an “Interdepartmental Microbiology Thesis Approval Form” from the IM Program Coordinator and complete it. This form allows the approval of the thesis to be indicated either by a written signature (recommended if the professor and student are both on campus), or by an e-mail message from the POS Committee member sent directly to the IM Chair.

The Graduate College requires that all theses have the signature of the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) of the Graduate Program. For the IM program, the Chair is the DOGE of the program. After you have obtained written approval from all of the POS Committee members, including your major professor, you will need to schedule at least a 15 minute meeting with the IM Chair for an exit interview.    Back 

ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

The activities listed below are not required, but are encouraged.

Bioethics Training
Students are encouraged to attend bioethics training sessions that are usually offered each year, generally in the spring. These approved courses can vary each year so announcements will be made via e-mail when such courses are available. An example of a course is Life Science Ethics (GDCB 565C) which was offered spring of 2006.    Back 

Microbiology Graduate Student Organization (M.G.S.O.)
The M.G.S.O. is an academically oriented organization whose main purpose is to unite fellow graduate students pursuing similar career goals in areas of Microbiology. It is an active forum for the discussion of microbiology related topics and actively sponsors guest speakers.    Back 

The Graduate Student Senate
Information on the Graduate Student Senate, G44 Memorial Union, can be found at www.grad-college.iastate.edu/gpss/. The Interdepartmental Microbiology Program has a student elected representative on this council, and the election for this representative is administered by the Microbiology Graduate Student Organization.    Back 

Student Meetings with the Chair
The IM program will have yearly or bi-yearly spring meetings (usually in May) in which students in their second year or beyond are encouraged to meet with the Chair and Supervisory Committee. The purpose of these meetings is to provide feedback on how the program is doing and what can be done to improve it.    Back 

Prospective Student Recruitment
The IM program occasionally requests students to meet for lunch or evening meals in an informal atmosphere with prospective graduate students. This is an opportunity for the prospective student to get the “real scoop” on graduate training at ISU. IM pays for the meals. Notices of meeting opportunities are made through e-mail to all of students.    Back 

Meetings with Visiting Scientists
The IM program occasionally offers opportunities for students to meet with visiting scientists for lunch or evening meals. IM pays for the meals. Notices of such opportunities are made through e-mail to all students, and participation in such meetings is strongly encouraged.    Back 

Training in Grant Writing
Students are encouraged to participate in activities that provide experience in grant writing. The following courses offer such experience: Writing Proposals and Grant Applications (Engl 509), a special section is sometimes offered for non-English major graduate students; Grant Proposal Writing (FSHN 695); Entomology 590E Special Research Topics: Communications in Biological Sciences (Ent 590E).    Back 

Preparing Future Faculty Program
Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) is a national program for postdoctoral fellows and M.S. and Ph.D. students that is designed to provide supplemental preparation for a faculty career through a combination of seminars, mentoring, and practical classroom and service experiences (www.grad-college.iastate.edu/about/pff.html). The PFF program at ISU is designed to be flexible, so students can participate in the program for as few as one or as many as four semesters, and semester components can be altered to fit individual circumstances.    Back 

Preparing Material for Research Presentations
The Instructional Technology Center office on campus provides services relating to visual and audio media, including loaning equipment to departments, students, faculty, and staff. Although most of the equipment used in 1200 Communications Building is free to students, you will need to pay for some things.    Back 

Computer Short Courses & Services
Academic Information Technologies (AIT) offers Short Courses on a wide range of topics related to the use of technologies, including beginning and advanced courses on the use of Project Vincent, Virtual Tour of Gopherspace, World Wide Web, and Microsoft Word for Windows and MacIntosh. The Solution Center, 195 Durham (296-6000, email: solution@iastate.edu) can assist with questions regarding short course registration, computers, software or the network. Because of the student computing fees paid by all students, you can take the short courses for free. The Computation Center Newsletter is free if requested and can be sent to your campus mailing address.    Back 

AccessPlus
AccessPlus is your secure and personalized online resource for accessing your important and confidential university information and web applications. AccessPlus is available to Iowa State University students and faculty/staff, day or night, seven days a week, from anywhere in the world.

To login to AccessPlus, all you need is your Social Security Number or University ID, and your university PIN. Once inside AccessPlus, your tabs and menus are customized to meet your specific needs. For example, only registered students can view their current course schedule, and only faculty/staff can view their most recent pay information.

AccessPlus offers a wide range of services from changing your address and managing your CyCash account to viewing or even paying your university bill online. Some of the other may services available for students through AccessPlus include:

• class registration
• class schedules
• financial aid
• grade reports and transcripts
• job board
• residence halls and dining
• graduate student status
• university bill
• payroll and benefits    Back 

SURVIVING IT ALL

One of the first genuine shocks for many students in graduate school is how hard they need to work to keep up with classes, research, and other responsibilities. Most students find that they need to work harder as graduate students than at any time before in their lives, and the number of hours per week can be staggering. If you are like most students and discover that there simply are not enough hours in the day, then the best way to survive is to learn how to select your priorities and focus on them. Your professor, other faculty, and your fellow students can give you advice. If you feel so overwhelmed that you cannot function efficiently, counseling services are also available on campus specifically to help students who are having trouble meting their persona land professional obligations. Student Counseling Services are available on the third floor of the Student Services Building. Their phone number is 294-5056.    Back 

CHECKLIST FOR COMPLETION OF COURSE AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

*The transferability of credits from other institutions will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the student’s POS Committee and the IM Chair. To waive a course requirement, send a memo, signed by your major professor (on behalf of your POS Committee) and the instructor of the course you wish to waive, to the IM Chair. The memo should state that you have already received satisfactory instruction in the subject matter covered by the required course. Credits for seminars, workshops and colloquia are not transferable.    Back 

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Your Appointment
Most students in Interdepartmental Microbiology receive some form of financial support. However, the amount, source of the support, and responsibilities associated with it, vary from situation to situation. Students entering directly may be awarded a research assistantship (RA) funded by Interdepartmental Microbiology during their first year; thus, for these students, the amount of the stipend for the first year is usually determined by the IM program. Stipends for students supported by the faculty are determined by the faculty, but must be above the minimum stipend set by the IM program. As typically arranged by the faculty, some students may be awarded a teaching assistantship (TA). The responsibilities associated with your stipends depend on whether you have an RA or a TA. Information about TA and RA support is available in the Graduate College Handbook.

All graduate students on assistantships have signed a Graduate Assistantship Letter of Intent that lists the terms and conditions of their appointment. Generally, graduate assistantship appointments are on a "one-half time" basis. "Half-time" is the maximum time appointment for graduate students since the other half of your time is spent as a student in graduate studies and research. Appointments may be terminated by mutual consent or for cause as described in the Graduate College Handbook. If you have any questions regarding your appointment, see the IM Program Coordinator.

Although the university charges tuition and fees for graduate students, all or a majority of the cost of tuition is covered for most Microbiology students. For current information on tuition and fees, please refer to the University Registrar website. For 2007-2009, all PhD students on assistantships will receive a Tuition Scholarship of 100% of the cost of tuition. All MS students on assistantships will receive a Tuition Scholarship of at least 50% of the cost of tuition.

Payday at the University is the last working day of each month. Your paycheck will be sent through campus mail to you by the ISU Treasurer to the university address you have given to the Human Resources Office (Room 3810, Beardshear), or you may authorize the Treasurer to deposit your check in a bank of your choice by completing an authorization form available at the Human Resources Office. It is strongly recommended that you have your check sent to a banking institution. If applicable, deductions are made for Federal and State income taxes.    Back 

Grants for Research
The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) provides funds to support graduate student research. GSS will provide up to a maximum of $300 to each person submitting a research proposal. The projects for which you submit the proposals must be unrelated to your thesis or dissertation research. It is appropriate for you to apply for these funds during your first year while you are rotating through research labs. You can obtain the "Request for Professional Advancement Grant" form on the web at http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/forms/files/PAGApplication.doc and clicking on Professional Travel Grant (PAG).    Back 

Grants for Professional Travel
Attendance and presentation of research results at professional meetings is an essential part of your training. All students should, if possible, attend at least one national or international meeting during their degree program.

To assist you in doing this, support for travel to professional meetings and conferences is available from the Graduate College, the Graduate Student Senate, the IM Program and some departments. To request travel funds from the Graduate College and Graduate Student Senate, complete the "Request for Professional Advancement Grant" form (available at http://www.grad-college.iastae.edu/forms/forms.html). The form needs to be signed by your major professor and the IM Chair. To request travel funds from the IM Program, submit this form as well as an abstract, if you are submitting one, to the IM Chair, or if requesting funds only from the IM Program, submit your request directly to the IM Chair. For first-year graduate students on rotation, your college is the Graduate College and the signature of the IM Chair will be sufficient. You may only receive one Professional Advancement Grant for travel each fiscal year. The IM Program will provide support as funds are available.

Some funding agencies have a 90-day limit for turning in travel expense vouchers. If your trip is being supported in part by funds from your major professor, be sure to turn in your travel expense voucher soon after you return to insure that you will be reimbursed.    Back 

BENEFITS

ISU Student Health Insurance Program
Group Hospital, Surgical, and Medical Insurance: http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/sship/homepage.html

Single student coverage under the ISU Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program is provided free of charge to all graduate assistants at ISU. For new to ISU students, an ISU Insurance Program booklet should be mailed to you through campus mail as soon as you are entered on the payroll system. Students enroll for Health Insurance by going on line to AccessPlus then to https://accessplus.iastate.edu/frontdoor/login.jsp, clicking on the Student Tab and clicking through on Health Insurance and following the instructions provided for registration.

Newly employed personnel should not drop any other insurance they may have until they know the beginning date of the ISU insurance. The ISU Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program is available for the spouse/domestic partner of students and the children of students. For details and enrollment cutoff dates on the ISU Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program, please contact the student insurance representative (515-294-4820).

All international students, whether on assistantship or not, are required to carry the ISU Student Health Insurance or to be covered by another health insurance policy. For more information, contact the International Education Services (IES) in Room 252 Memorial Union (515-294-1120).    Back 

Prescription Drug Benefit Program
Graduate students on assistantship receive single coverage free of charge in a prescription drug benefit program that reduces the cost of generic and prescription drugs available at the Student Health Center Pharmacy. Information on this benefit can be found at: http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/sship/doc/GradPostDoc.pdf.    Back 

Health Service
As a student, you are eligible to use the ISU Student Health Service. Thielen Student Health Center is a complete outpatient medical clinic located west of Beyer Hall. The health fee covers consultations with medical staff and subsidizes charges for services, such as laboratory tests, immunizations, x-rays, and pharmaceuticals. A range of services is offered. including medical exams (physicals), women's health care, sports medicine, physical therapy, STD testing and treatment, travel immunizations, and a full-service pharmacy. Specialty services offered at a reduced rate include psychiatry, orthopedics, and ear, nose and throat.

A mandatory Student Health fee (2007-08) of $92.00 per semester is assessed to all students registered for five or more credits ($46.00 for summer session). This health fee pays for some services offered at the Student Health Center. The health facility fee goes towards the building of the new Student Health Center. For students enrolled for under five credits, the health fee is optional. The Thielen Student Health Center is located at Sheldon and Union Drive on the northwest side of campus. See http://www.public.iastate.edu/~health/homepage.html.

Additional information on the student group plan medical insurance and the benefits of the mandatory health fee may be obtained at: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/finance/healthinsurance.html

Dental insurance is available for a fee: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/finance/healthinsurance.html.    Back 

Vacations and Sick Leave
Research assistants with half-time appointments (C base) earn vacation at a rate of eight hours per month. Because you are half-time, this is equivalent to two calendar days. To take vacation, you must obtain the approval of your major professor and notify the office staff in your home department. If you are a first year student on a rotation, you must obtain approval from your Temporary Graduate Advisor and notify the IM Program Coordinator. Accumulated vacation time is forfeited upon completion of your appointment. (See your Graduate College Handbook for detailed information.)

To obtain approval for vacation time you need to fill out an Absence Request card. In your first year, the card needs to be signed by your Temporary Graduate Advisor and submitted to the IM Program Coordinator. In later years, the Absence Requests will be handled by your home department. Students on assistantships are employees of ISU and therefore are allowed off on university holidays with subsequent absences to be taken as vacation.

Teaching assistants are subject to the academic calendar and do not accumulate vacation time. However, they are not required by the University to work when classes are not in session. Teaching Assistants are strongly advised to notify the instructor under whose supervision they are teaching of any vacations or travel plans that could influence their ability to carry out their teaching responsibilities. Graduate assistants on teaching assistantships must also get approval from their major professor before taking a vacation from their research responsibilities.

Graduate assistants of any type on half-time appointments accumulate six hours of sick leave per month. Since you are on a half-time appointment, this is equivalent to one-and-a-half calendar days. If you will be absent because of an illness, you should call your major professor as soon as possible on the day you are sick and must be absent. On your return, you will need to fill out an Absence Request form for sick leave. You should also use the form in advance when you have a planned absence for medical reasons. Maternity/Paternity leave can be taken as sick leave and/or vacation. Accumulated sick leave is forfeited upon completion of your appointment.    Back 

Injuries and Injury Reports
If you are injured while performing your duties as a Graduate Assistant, you must stop by the office of your home department or the IM Program Office and fill out an Employers First Report of Injury (http://www.ats.iastate.edu/forms/univform/stuacc.doc) as soon as you are able to do so. As a rule, the University's Worker's Compensation insurance carrier will pay for your medical care.    Back 

Student Counseling
Student Counseling Service (SCS) provides a wide range of services to help students gain the most from their college experience. SCS offers career counseling, personal counseling, group counseling, and workshops. Most services provided by SCS are short-term in nature, and SCS can assist students needing long-term assistance with referrals to community services.

Some of the typical issues SCS assists students with include career decision-making, coping with relationship problems, low self esteem, stress, loneliness, depression, cultural differences, sexual assault recovery, trauma, childhood abuse, conflicts over sexuality, substance abuse, eating disorders, academic motivation, and other concerns. Other services include the Substance Abuse Prevention Program, Career Resource Center, Learning Disabilities Screening, Placement Testing, and consultation and training to faculty and staff to assist them in addressing the psychological needs of students.

A list of the current semester's groups and workshopsis available: http://www.scs.iastate.edu

Other social services and social resources include:

Recreation Services Office: http://www.recservices.iastate.edu

Legal Assistance: http://www.dso.iastate.edu/sls

Student Organizations: http://www.sac.iastate.edu

An Excellent source of Information for all things graduate student - the Iowa State University Graduate Orientation Handbook: http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/gpss/ - Look at "Orientation Handbook" link on the left menu downtowards the bottom.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Administrative Assistance
There are a number of offices on campus to help with the administration of your graduate program. The main one for Microbiology students is the Interdepartmental Microbiology Office. Simi Venkatagiri is the IM Program Coordinator and can provide help with questions about all administrative procedures. (Academic advice about courses and rotations will be provided by your Temporary Graduate Advisor or major professor).

Simi Venkatagiri
Interdepartmental Microbiology Program
207 Science I
PHONE 515-294-9052
FAX 515-294-6019
E-mail: microbiology@iastate.edu    Back 

Office and Home Address
The Interdepartmental Microbiology program needs to know your local address and telephone number and also needs to be informed of any changes in your address or phone number that may occur during your tenure in the program.

All first year IM RAs will have a mailbox in the IM Program Office. Your permanent office (desk) address will be determined once you have chosen a major professor. If you do laboratory rotations, you should be given a temporary desk in each laboratory as you proceed through your rotations. You may also be assigned temporary office space for your first academic year.    Back 

Communication
It is vital that you maintain good contact with Interdepartmental Microbiology personnel throughout your graduate program. This is most easily done using e-mail.

E-mail.   E-mail should be checked at least daily as this is the primary means of keeping students and faculty informed about program activities. You may use the following e-mail addresses to reach all students and faculty in the program:

micrograd@iastate.edu    (reaches all IM graduate students)
microfac@iastate.edu    (reaches all IM faculty members)

Internet.   Most of the information that pertains to the program in general can be found at the following web site:

www.micro.iastate.edu

Mail Service.   You will normally pick up your mail in your home department. If you have not yet chosen a home department, a temporary mailbox will be assigned to you in 207 Science I. You should check for mail on a regular basis (at least twice a week). If the office door is unlocked but closed, please feel free to come into the office to obtain your mail.

Telephone.   Local calls (phone numbers in Ames may be made on most campus phones. Long distance calls must not be made on University phones.    Back 

Transportation
Bicycles.   You can park your bicycle at many locations on campus. Except for walks labeled as bike paths, bicycle riders must not use campus sidewalks. A bicycle used between sundown and sunrise (in the dark) must be equipped with a headlight, tail lights or an adequate reflector, and a warning device. Bicycles using only on campus can be registered free through the ISU Parking office. Bicycles used off campus must be registered by the city of Ames. The cost for bike registration for the city of Ames is $5 for a two-year permit. The licenses may be obtained from various locations in Ames (Hy-Vee, all bike shops in Ames, Ames City Offices - Finance, the University Book Store, Cub Foods) or from the Parking Systems Office in the Armory on campus.

Buses.   The city of Ames has an excellent bus system called CyRide. During the school year the buses leave from most locations every 20 minutes. If you show a current, paid University fee card, you can ride for free.
http://www.cyride.com/

Cars and Parking.   A copy of the ISU Traffic and Parking Regulations can be obtained from Public Safety, Parking Division, 27 Armory. Connsult the section covering students.
http://www.dps.iastate.edu/parking/    Back 

Apppendices

ANNUAL REPORT OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University
August 1 to July 31

All students majoring in Microbiology are required to submit an Annual Report to the IM Chair by August 15 of each year. This Annual Report will be used as a tool to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the IM program, as well as to monitor your progress. The information that is to be included, as well as a suggested format for reporting your activities for the last year, is described below. Use only the headings for which you have something significant to report, and report items in only one location (in the category which you feel is most appropriate). Please include activities that have occurred during the period from August 1 of the previous calendar year to July 31 of the year of the submission of the report. In addition to the Annual Report of Student Activities, please provide a current Curriculum Vita that reflects your cumulative career activities. Provide the completed Annual Report to the IM Program Coordinator by September 15.

1. Introduction
• Name
• Dates covered by this Annual Report: (e.g., August 1, 2006 - July 31, 2007)
• Semester that you first registered for courses
• Date of Approval of Program of Studies
• Date of Preliminary Exam
• Date that POS Committee last met
• Awards and Honors

2. Academic Performance
• Courses taken during the reporting year (list course name, number, instructor, credits, semester taken, and grade)

3. Research Activities
• Research Project (describe progress made in research during the reporting year)

4. Publications
• For publications during the last year, provide authors, date, title, name of journal or publication, volume, and pages, and for each publication, estimate the percentage of the total contributions to the publication that were your contributions in each of the following areas: Concept development and design (X%); data acquisition (X%); data analysis (X%); writing (X%)
1. Refereed journal articles (Published, in press and in the review process. Do not include articles in preparation)
2. Non‑refereed journal articles, newsletters, and conference proceedings in technical, semi‑technical and popular publications.
3. Books and chapters in books.
4. Published abstracts.
5. Published book reviews and letters or comments to the editor.
6. General audience publications such as bulletins, pamphlets, brochures, state‑of-the‑art updates, fact sheets, home study materials, etc.

5. Presentations
• Presentations (include oral and written presentations at scientific conferences, on campus, such as in seminar series, and at other professional meetings; provide the name of the presentation, date, name of the conference/meeting/seminar series, the type of presentation, such as a talk or poster, and estimate the attendance at your presentation)

6. Grants
• Grants (For proposals that you have submitted or that list you as a participant, provide the following: title of proposal, name of granting agency, amount of funds requested, effective dates of grant, principal investigators, and your role in the grant. Provide this information for both proposals submitted and grants funded; indicate funded grants.)

7. Teaching Activities
• Courses taught and Evaluation (list course number,course title, semester taught, credit hours, and number enrolled; describe your teaching responsibilities; if possible, include evidence of evaluate teaching effectiveness, including student evaluation summaries)
• Course development (describe innovative teaching techniques and materials developed)
• Mentor activities (describe activities in which you mentored other scientists in microbiology, including children, highschool students, undergraduate students, other graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, visiting scientists, and faculty)
• Other teaching accomplishments, including peer review of teaching activities and other significant activities of the past year not already discussed.

8. Professional Improvement Activities
• Membership in Professional and Honor Societies (including MGSO).
• Meetings, Conferences and Workshops attended

9. Institutional and Professional Service
• Committee Activities (Indicate membership on institutional and professional committees, offices held and length of service; describe activities)
• Other significant institutional and professional activities not already discussed

10. Other information useful in assessing your activities
    
    
11. Program Feedback
• If you have any comments, suggestions, or feedback on your courses, the IM program, or other factors that are influencing your training program, you are welcome to include them.

Please attach a current Curriculum Vita to this completed Annual Report of Student Activities and send it via e-mail to your Major Advisor, with the request that your Major Advisor review it and when approved, forward it to the IM Program Coordinator (sgiri@iastate.edu).

NOTE:   The IM Program must have up-to-date Annual Reports before the IM Chair will provide a signature of approval on forms needed for advancement through the degree program.    Back 

Faculty in the Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program

To Contact all IM Faculty: To Contact all IM Graduate Students:

microfac@iastate.edu micrograd@iastate.edu

Name	Office/Lab	E-mail	Department	Office address
Venkatagiri, Simi  Program Coord	4-9052 Fax 4-6019	microbiology@iastate.edu	Interdept. Microbiology	207 Science I
Allison, Milton	4-3439	mallison@iastate.edu	Animal Science	313C Kildee
Bartholomay, Lyric	4-0594	lyricb@iastate.edu	Entomology	442 Science II
Beattie, Gwyn	4-5571/4-3198	gbeattie@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	306 Science I
Beattie, Sam	4-3357	beatties@iastate.edu	Food Science	133 Mackay
Beetham, Jeffrey	4-0873/4-0868	jbeetham@iastate.edu	Vet Pathology/Entomology	2714 Vet Med
Bellaire, Bryan	4-1006	bbella@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	1136 Vet Med
Beitz, Don	4-5626	dcbeitz@iastate.edu	Animal Science	133 Kildee
Blanchong, Julie	4-9699	julieb@iastate.edu	NREM	339 Science II
Blitvich, Brad	4-9861	blitvich@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2178 Vet Med
Bobik, Thomas	4-4165	bobik@iastate.edu	Biochem, Biophys & Mol Biol	2164 Mol Biol Bldg
Bogdanove, Adam	4-3421/4-3502	ajbog@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	432 Bessey
Bonning Bryony	4-1989/4-3963	bbonning@iastate.edu	Entomology	401 Science II
Boylston, Terri	4-0077	tboylsto@iastate.edu	Food Sci/Human Nutrition	2547 Food Sciences
Brehm-Stecher, Byron	4-6469	byron@iastate.edu	Food Sci/Human Nutrition	2581 Food Science
Cornick, Nancy	4-6499/4-4096	ncornick@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2130 Vet Med
Cunnick, Joan	4-2070/4-7863	jcunnick@iastate.edu	Animal Science	384 Science I
Dickson, James	4-4733/4-3165	jdickson@iastate.edu	Animal Science	215 F Meat Lab, Kildee
Ellis, Tomothy	4-8922	tge@iastate.edu	Civil, Cons. & Environ Eng.	374 Town Engineering
Fang, Jiasong	4-6583	jsfang@iastate.edu	Geological & Atmos Science	360 Science I
Gleason, Mark	4-0579/4-0589	mgleason@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	313 Bessey
Griffith, Ron	4-0902	rgriffit@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2164 Vet Med
Halverson, Larry	4-0495/4-9729	larryh@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	304 Science I
Harrington, Thomas	4-0582/4-3921	tcharrin@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	221 Bessey
Harris, Hank	4-1664/4-1993	hharris@iastate.edu	Animal Science	11 Kildee
Hill John	4-3561/4-3949	johnhill@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	403B Bessey
Loynachan, Tom	4-3064	teloynac@iastate.edu	Agronomy	1126 Agronomy
Mendonca, Aubrey	4-2950	amendon@iastate.edu	Food Sci/Human Nutrition	2312 Food Science
Miller, Cathy	4-4797	clm@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	1130 Vet Med
Miller, W. Allen	4-2436/4-4754	wamiller@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	413 Bessey
Minion, Chris	4-6347	fcminion@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	1130 Vet Med
Moorman, Thomas	4-2308	moorman@nstl.gov	Agronomy	318 Soil Tilth Lab
Nolan, Lisa K.	4-3534	lknolan@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2178 Vet Med
Nutter, Forrest	4-8737/4-0642	fwn@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	315 Bessey
Nystrom, Evelyn	663-7346	enystrom@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	NADC, 2300 Dayton Road
Ong, Say Kee	4-3927	skong@iastate.edu	Civil, Constr & Environ Eng	486 Town Engineering
Parkin, Timothy	4-6888	parkin@nstl.gov	Natl Soil Tilth Lab	316 Soil Tilth Lab
Phillips, Greg	4-1525/4-8824	gregory@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	Building 6, VMRI
Pometto, Anthony	4-9425	apometto@iastate.edu	Food Sci/Human Nutrition	2312 Food Science
Reynold, Don	4-9348	dlr@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2520 Vet Med
Richt, Juergen A.	663-7366	jricht@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro & Prev Medicine	2180 Vet Med
Rosenbusch, Ricardo	4-6170	rfrosenb@iastate.edu	Vet Med Research Institute	Bldg. 5, VMRI
Scupham, Alexandra	663-7772	ascupham@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	NADC, 2300 Dayton Ave.
Sebranek, Joseph	4-1090	sebranek@iastate.edu	Animal Science	215C Meat Lab, Kildee
Sharma, Vijay	663-7406	vsharma@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	NADC, 2300 Dayton Ave.
Sponseller, Brett	4-8500	baspon@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2134 Vet Med
Stanton, Thad	663-7495	tstanton@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	NADC, B1, 2300 N. Dayton Ave.
Thacker, Eileen	4-5097	ethacker@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	2118 Vet Med
Vaughn, Eric M.	296-7016	evaughn@bi-vetmedica.com	Boehringer Ingelheim V. Inc	2501 N.Loop Dr.,Suit 100
Voytas, Dan	4-1963/4-0159	voytas@iastate.edu	Gen Dev Cell Biology	2208 Molecular Biol Bldg
Wannemuehler, Mike	4-3270	mjwannem@iastate.edu	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	1118 Vet Med
Wesley, Irene	663-7291	jwesely@nadc.ars.usda.gov	Vet Micro and Prev Medicine	NADC, 2300 Dayton Ave.
Whitham, Steven	4-4952/4-5531	swhitham@iastate.edu	Plant Pathology	419 Bessey
Yang, Bing	4-7322	gdcb@iastate.edu	Gen Dev Cell