EHS Administration.

Preamble: The Ph.D program in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) was founded in 1997, and, as was the case with all degree-granting programs seeking establishment, a petition needed to be submitted to Columbia University as well as to the State of New York. In order for the Ph.D program to be recognized and properly accredited, it first had to be thoroughly defined. The proposal that was prepared by Drs. Graziano and Brandt-Rauf successfully accomplished this task.

The initial program was meant to focus on Environmental Toxicology, defined in the department's purpose statement as "the development of an understanding of the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of environmental agents on various disease processes". Environmental Toxicology therefore served "as the fundamental scientific basis for current environmental policy decision-making." We as the faculty realize that our interests are more extensive than what is delineated above, and therefore, the areas suitable for a Doctoral degree need only fit within the interests of our faculty.

The program was further defined, stating that "the training of Doctoral candidates will primarily involve laboratory-based investigations that address the toxicological mechanisms of environmental agents. Through their specific individual research, it is anticipated that doctoral candidates will acquire a general understanding of the application of modern scientific methods and techniques in order to solve problems related to how environmental exposures can affect human health. In addition, since the science of Environmental Toxicology has far-reaching societal implications, it will also be expected that Doctoral candidates, through their coursework and research, will develop an appreciation for these areas of environmental health sciences- including environmental health risk assessment and policy."

The Ph.D program in EHS: What qualifies as appropriate research for a Ph.D? It is important to clarify that our program's use of the term "laboratory-based research" encompasses research topics that focus both on "wet bench" work as well as studies that do not have a significant wet laboratory component and are largely epidemiological in nature. For this latter type of research, it is expected that the student will develop a novel or unique approach to the analysis of his/her data; barring any extenuating circumstances, it is anticipated that the student will participate in data collection and analysis. One important aspect of the student's training is to gain an understanding of what is involved in generating primary data. If the student's thesis project is one that does not involve data collection or laboratory analysis of samples, the student must carry out at least one laboratory rotation in which they generate primary data and/or carry out laboratory analysis of samples.

Courses

There is no required number of credits that a student must acquire. However, each student must complete the following courses in their first 2 years of the program unless he/she has satisfactorily completed graduate-level (or equivalent) coursework upon enrollment:

Environmental Health Sciences

Introduction to Biostatistics

Principles of Epidemiology

Two of the following courses:

Molecular Toxicology

Fundamentals of Toxicology

Molecular Pharmacology

Biochem/Mol Biol-Eukaryotes I

Biochem/Mol Biol-Eukaryotes II *

Two graduate-level courses in any area of interest to the student** such as:

Prokaryotic genetics

Cancer Biology

Biomarkers

Epidemiology

Neuroscience

Molecular Epidemiology

Journal Club - In addition, all Ph.D. candidates must attend Journal Club every semester-except during the final semester when they are committed to composing their theses.

Ethics Course - course in Ethics called RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH AND RELATED POLICY ISSUES is given by the University every spring semester. All PhD candidates must complete this course in the Spring Semester of their second year. If there is a conflict with other courses this can be taken in the third year. The course description can be seen at http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/research/rcr-crse.htm.

* A course more applicable to the student=s ultimate interests can be substituted here.
** Elective courses not shown on the list must be approved by the Director of the Ph.D. program.

Students are expected to obtain a grade of a B or higher in every course for which they are registered. If a student receives two grades below a B they will be required to meet with the Ph.D. Committee, and, if deemed appropriate, could be asked to leave the program.

Rotations

Every student must complete 3 rotations. In general, all rotations are to be carried out with a faculty member who has a primary or joint appointment in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. For students funded on the Training Grant, a non-faculty member who is on the Training Grant Faculty is an acceptable alternative. If it is deemed to be beneficial to the student's training, one rotation outside of the department will be permitted with the approval of the Director of the Ph.D program.

Each rotation is for one semester and consists of a minimum of 12 weeks, working for at least 20 hours per week. During that time, in collaboration with the faculty member, the student is expected to carry out a research project. The aim of this project is to familiarize the student with the research interests of that particular investigator. At the end of the rotation, the student is responsible for writing a brief 2-3 page summary of their laboratory experience to be reviewed by the laboratory head and returned to the Director of the Doctoral program to be kept on file.

Students are encouraged to begin rotations in the first semester, but must begin by the second semester. The three rotations will finish no later than the end of the 2nd fall semester. Upon completion of the last rotation, the student will have identified an advisor, at which time a thesis project needs to be formulated. The thesis project is part of the Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Examination must be completed by the end of the 4th semester (spring of year 2).

Teaching: All students must teach during their graduate training. Teaching consists of one of the following: 1) being a Teaching Assistant in the Core Course for ONE semester, 2) giving a minimum of one lecture per year in a graduate course, typically in a course taught by the student's mentor, and 3) an equivalent effort that can be developed between the student, their advisor, and the Director of the Ph.D program.

Qualifying Examinations

Written proposal. Qualifying Examinations are to be completed and defended by the end of the 4th semester in the program. This should be spring semester of the second year. The qualifying exams are composed of two written proposals: 1) the thesis proposal of the student conceived in collaboration with the student's mentor but the work of the student, and 2) a topic of interest to the student concerning some aspect of environmental science. It must be on a topic separate from the thesis proposal. The uniqueness of the second proposal should be decided upon by the student's mentor and if necessary, in consultation with the Director of the Ph.D program. Once the thesis topic and the topic of the second proposal are decided, the student will write a one-page Abstract and submit it to the Qualifying Examination Committee for approval. Once approved, the student will write up each as a complete proposal.

Format of the Proposals: The proposals must be 10-15 pages long, single spaced, with one-inch margins, in 12-point font, and must include the following:

Abstract

The abstract is to be 250 words or lessCdescribing the purpose, significance, and approach of the proposal.

The Abstract is not included in the page count.

a. Specific Aims

List the broad, long-term objectives as well as what the specific research proposed in this application is intended to accomplish, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, or develop new technology. This section should give a brief statement of purpose with a hypothesis that is to be tested. This should be followed by a series of 2-4 major aims that the student proposes to carry out in order to sufficiently test his/her hypothesis.

This section needs to be succinct and cannot exceed 1 page.

b. Background and Significance

Briefly describe the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance and health-related relevance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. This section is intended to set the stage for the proposal, briefly describing the current state of the field as well as the specific studies that lead to the hypothesis and proposal. A good background will provide a logical introduction to the proposed experiments.

This section cannot exceed 3 pages.

c. Preliminary Studies/Progress Report (as appropriate; this section only applies to the thesis proposal not the second proposal).

Use this section to provide an account of any preliminary studies pertinent to the application, focusing particularly on any studies carried out by the student. While students may not have generated any Preliminary Data, the student can use this section to describe results from others in the laboratory that lead up to the proposed thesis project.

This section can be 2-3 pages.

d. Research Design and Methods

Describe the research design and the procedures to be utilized in accomplishing the specific aims of the project. Discuss how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted and expound upon the suitability of the data sharing plan. Describe any innovative methodology and its advantage over existing methodologies. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures as well as alternative approaches to achieve the aims. As part of this section, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised.

One outline students may consider is listed below:

1. Restate the specific aim

2. Briefly explain the purpose of proposed studies

3. Give experimental details or detailed study analysis

4. Describe expected outcomes/anticipated results

5. Point out pitfalls

6. Give alternative approaches

This section should be 7-12 pages.

e. Literature cited

Include full references with all authors and titles. This, along with the Abstract, is not included in the page count.

Examples of previous examinations/theses are available in the Main Office.

Oral defense of proposals: It is the responsibility of the students to set the date of the oral Qualifying Examination. This must be done in conjunction with their advisor and the members of the Examination Committee. The Committee is a standing committee of three faculty members, picked each year by the faculty, plus the student=s thesis advisor. The completed proposal must be submitted to the Examination Committee members at least 2 weeks before the defense. Although the Qualifying Examination is expected to last 2 hours, be prepared to allot 3 hours for the exam. At the Examination, the student will give a formal presentation of each proposal. This will be followed by a question and answer period, during which time the student will be expected to defend the validity of their proposal and to answer questions related to the proposed area. Students should be prepared to answer questions related to Environmental Health Sciences and their coursework where it pertains to the subject. The oral presentation should be no more than 30 minutes for each proposal, with 30 minutes of question time to follow. After the defense, the committee will vote to 1) pass the student, 2) ask for minor revisions to the proposals which will be addressed with the thesis advisor or 3) fail the student, whereupon the student is required to go through another exam within two months. Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination the student will be awarded a Masters of Philosophy.

Thesis and thesis presentation

The Thesis Project: Thesis projects should be hypothesis-driven and must comprise original research. This means that the student is obligated to perform studies that test their hypothesis, collect data, and complete appropriate analysis of his/her data. The best measure of the significance of the student=s work would be that the research is deemed worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Publications are not required, but at least one publication with the student cited as first author should be the goal.

Thesis Committee: The minimum requirement for the Thesis Committee is 3 members: the student=s advisor, and two members one of which should be from within the department. Most Thesis Committees are actually made up of 4 members, with the fourth member being from either inside or outside of the department. The Thesis Committee will be composed in consultation with the student=s mentor; and while it is ultimately the responsibility of the mentor to contact the Committee members, this often is done by the student. Once a Committee is formed, it should assemble within the first 6 months of the completion of Qualifying Examinations. The Thesis Committee is to convene at least once a year. The student is also required to present a seminar to the department once a year, and it is recommended that the yearly Thesis Committee meeting follow. If it is deemed necessary by the student and the advisor that more frequent Committee meetings be held, this can be arranged.

At the Committee meeting, one person from within the department will be responsible for completing a form that: 1) acknowledges the meeting, 2) points out Committee recommendations, and 3) is signed by both the student and the Committee members. These forms are to be kept on file by the graduate student administrator. Once the doctoral candidate reaches a point where he/she believes he/she is adequately prepared to begin writing his/her thesis, the Thesis Committee should have a final meeting, at which time they should determine whether or not the student has done a sufficient level of work to recommend that he/she proceeds with the composition of his/her thesis. At this time, the student needs to identify a Thesis Reader. This person must be from outside the department and can be the same individual as the outside person on the Thesis Committee. The Defense Committee must also be chosen at this time.

Defense Committee: The Defense Committee is made up of 5 members, 2 of whom must be senior faculty (Associate Professor or higher). One committee member from within the department, but not the advisor will chair the meeting. Any or all of the members can come from the Thesis Committee, but the makeup must include the advisor, two members from within the department, and two from outside of the department. One of the outside persons must also be the Thesis Reader. The Reader must read and approve the thesis before it can be sent out to the rest of the Committee members and before a defense date can be set. The Defense is in two parts: 1) a public part that must be advertised campus wide and, immediately following, 2) a closed-door portion where the Defense Committee is allowed to question the candidate on his/her thesis or related areas of study. The thesis can then receive a score of "passed with minor revisions," "passed with major revisions," or "failed." Additionally, a thesis can receive a "pass with distinction" evaluation.




Policies of the Ph.D program in Environmental Health Sciences *Preamble:* The Ph.D program in Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) was founded in 1997, and, as was the case with all degree-granting programs seeking establishment, a petition needed to be submitted to Columbia University as well as to the State of New York. In order for the Ph.D program to be recognized and properly accredited, it first had to be thoroughly defined. The proposal that was prepared by Drs. Graziano and Brandt-Rauf successfully accomplished this task. The initial program was meant to focus on Environmental Toxicology, defined in the department's purpose statement as "the development of an understanding of the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of environmental agents on various disease processes". Environmental Toxicology therefore served "as the fundamental scientific basis for current environmental policy decision-making." We as the faculty realize that our interests are more extensive than what is delineated above, and therefore, the areas suitable for a Doctoral degree need only fit within the interests of our faculty. The program was further defined, stating that "the training of Doctoral candidates will primarily involve laboratory-based investigations that address the toxicological mechanisms of environmental agents. Through their specific individual research, it is anticipated that doctoral candidates will acquire a general understanding of the application of modern scientific methods and techniques in order to solve problems related to how environmental exposures can affect human health. In addition, since the science of Environmental Toxicology has far-reaching societal implications, it will also be expected that Doctoral candidates, through their coursework and research, will develop an appreciation for these areas of environmental health sciences- including environmental health risk assessment and policy." *The Ph.D program in EHS:* What qualifies as appropriate research for a Ph.D? It is important to clarify that our program's use of the term "laboratory-based research" encompasses research topics that focus both on "wet bench" work as well as studies that do not have a significant wet laboratory component and are largely epidemiological in nature. For this latter type of research, it is expected that the student will develop a novel or unique approach to the analysis of his/her data; barring any extenuating circumstances, it is anticipated that the student will participate in data collection and analysis. One important aspect of the student's training is to gain an understanding of what is involved in generating primary data. If the student's thesis project is one that does not involve data collection or laboratory analysis of samples, the student must carry out at least one laboratory rotation in which they generate primary data and/or carry out laboratory analysis of samples. Courses There is no required number of credits that a student must acquire. However, each student must complete the following courses in their first 2 years of the program unless he/she has satisfactorily completed graduate-level (or equivalent) coursework upon enrollment: Environmental Health Sciences Introduction to Biostatistics Principles of Epidemiology Two of the following courses: Molecular Toxicology Fundamentals of Toxicology Molecular Pharmacology Biochem/Mol Biol-Eukaryotes I Biochem/Mol Biol-Eukaryotes II * Two graduate-level courses in any area of interest to the student such as:** Prokaryotic genetics Cancer Biology Biomarkers Epidemiology Neuroscience Molecular Epidemiology Journal Club - In addition, all Ph.D. candidates must attend Journal Club every semester-except during the final semester when they are committed to composing their theses. Ethics Course - course in Ethics called RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH AND RELATED POLICY ISSUES is given by the University every spring semester. All PhD candidates must complete this course in the Spring Semester of their second year. If there is a conflict with other courses this can be taken in the third year. The course description can be seen at http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/research/rcr-crse.htm. * A course more applicable to the student=s ultimate interests can be substituted here. Elective courses not shown on the list must be approved by the Director of the Ph.D. program. Students are expected to obtain a grade of a B or higher in every course for which they are registered. If a student receives two grades below a B they will be required to meet with the Ph.D. Committee, and, if deemed appropriate, could be asked to leave the program. Rotations Every student must complete 3 rotations. In general, all rotations are to be carried out with a faculty member who has a primary or joint appointment in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. For students funded on the Training Grant, a non-faculty member who is on the Training Grant Faculty is an acceptable alternative. If it is deemed to be beneficial to the student's training, one rotation outside of the department will be permitted with the approval of the Director of the Ph.D program. Each rotation is for one semester and consists of a minimum of 12 weeks, working for at least 20 hours per week. During that time, in collaboration with the faculty member, the student is expected to carry out a research project. The aim of this project is to familiarize the student with the research interests of that particular investigator. At the end of the rotation, the student is responsible for writing a brief 2-3 page summary of their laboratory experience to be reviewed by the laboratory head and returned to the Director of the Doctoral program to be kept on file. Students are encouraged to begin rotations in the first semester, but must begin by the second semester. The three rotations will finish no later than the end of the 2nd fall semester. Upon completion of the last rotation, the student will have identified an advisor, at which time a thesis project needs to be formulated. The thesis project is part of the Qualifying Examination. The Qualifying Examination must be completed by the end of the 4th semester (spring of year 2). Teaching: All students must teach during their graduate training. Teaching consists of one of the following: 1) being a Teaching Assistant in the Core Course for ONE semester, 2) giving a minimum of one lecture per year in a graduate course, typically in a course taught by the student's mentor, and 3) an equivalent effort that can be developed between the student, their advisor, and the Director of the Ph.D program. Qualifying Examinations Written proposal. Qualifying Examinations are to be completed and defended by the end of the 4th semester in the program. This should be spring semester of the second year. The qualifying exams are composed of two written proposals: 1) the thesis proposal of the student conceived in collaboration with the student's mentor but the work of the student, and 2) a topic of interest to the student concerning some aspect of environmental science. It must be on a topic separate from the thesis proposal. The uniqueness of the second proposal should be decided upon by the student's mentor and if necessary, in consultation with the Director of the Ph.D program. Once the thesis topic and the topic of the second proposal are decided, the student will write a one-page Abstract and submit it to the Qualifying Examination Committee for approval. Once approved, the student will write up each as a complete proposal. Format of the Proposals: The proposals must be 10-15 pages long, single spaced, with one-inch margins, in 12-point font, and must include the following: Abstract The abstract is to be 250 words or lessCdescribing the purpose, significance, and approach of the proposal. The Abstract is not included in the page count. a. Specific Aims List the broad, long-term objectives as well as what the specific research proposed in this application is intended to accomplish, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, or develop new technology. This section should give a brief statement of purpose with a hypothesis that is to be tested. This should be followed by a series of 2-4 major aims that the student proposes to carry out in order to sufficiently test his/her hypothesis. This section needs to be succinct and cannot exceed 1 page. b. Background and Significance Briefly describe the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance and health-related relevance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. This section is intended to set the stage for the proposal, briefly describing the current state of the field as well as the specific studies that lead to the hypothesis and proposal. A good background will provide a logical introduction to the proposed experiments. This section cannot exceed 3 pages. c. Preliminary Studies/Progress Report (as appropriate; this section only applies to the thesis proposal not the second proposal). Use this section to provide an account of any preliminary studies pertinent to the application, focusing particularly on any studies carried out by the student. While students may not have generated any Preliminary Data, the student can use this section to describe results from others in the laboratory that lead up to the proposed thesis project. This section can be 2-3 pages. d. Research Design and Methods Describe the research design and the procedures to be utilized in accomplishing the specific aims of the project. Discuss how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted and expound upon the suitability of the data sharing plan. Describe any innovative methodology and its advantage over existing methodologies. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures as well as alternative approaches to achieve the aims. As part of this section, provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised. One outline students may consider is listed below: 1. Restate the specific aim 2. Briefly explain the purpose of proposed studies 3. Give experimental details or detailed study analysis 4. Describe expected outcomes/anticipated results 5. Point out pitfalls 6. Give alternative approaches This section should be 7-12 pages. e. Literature cited Include full references with all authors and titles. This, along with the Abstract, is not included in the page count. Examples of previous examinations/theses are available in the Main Office. Oral defense of proposals: It is the responsibility of the students to set the date of the oral Qualifying Examination. This must be done in conjunction with their advisor and the members of the Examination Committee. The Committee is a standing committee of three faculty members, picked each year by the faculty, plus the student=s thesis advisor. The completed proposal must be submitted to the Examination Committee members at least 2 weeks before the defense. Although the Qualifying Examination is expected to last 2 hours, be prepared to allot 3 hours for the exam. At the Examination, the student will give a formal presentation of each proposal. This will be followed by a question and answer period, during which time the student will be expected to defend the validity of their proposal and to answer questions related to the proposed area. Students should be prepared to answer questions related to Environmental Health Sciences and their coursework where it pertains to the subject. The oral presentation should be no more than 30 minutes for each proposal, with 30 minutes of question time to follow. After the defense, the committee will vote to 1) pass the student, 2) ask for minor revisions to the proposals which will be addressed with the thesis advisor or 3) fail the student, whereupon the student is required to go through another exam within two months. Upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination the student will be awarded a Masters of Philosophy. Thesis and thesis presentation The Thesis Project:** Thesis projects should be hypothesis-driven and must comprise original research. This means that the student is obligated to perform studies that test their hypothesis, collect data, and complete appropriate analysis of his/her data. The best measure of the significance of the student=s work would be that the research is deemed worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Publications are not required, but at least one publication with the student cited as first author should be the goal. Thesis Committee: The minimum requirement for the Thesis Committee is 3 members: the student=s advisor, and two members one of which should be from within the department. Most Thesis Committees are actually made up of 4 members, with the fourth member being from either inside or outside of the department. The Thesis Committee will be composed in consultation with the student=s mentor; and while it is ultimately the responsibility of the mentor to contact the Committee members, this often is done by the student. Once a Committee is formed, it should assemble within the first 6 months of the completion of Qualifying Examinations. The Thesis Committee is to convene at least once a year. The student is also required to present a seminar to the department once a year, and it is recommended that the yearly Thesis Committee meeting follow. If it is deemed necessary by the student and the advisor that more frequent Committee meetings be held, this can be arranged. At the Committee meeting, one person from within the department will be responsible for completing a form that: 1) acknowledges the meeting, 2) points out Committee recommendations, and 3) is signed by both the student and the Committee members. These forms are to be kept on file by the graduate student administrator. Once the doctoral candidate reaches a point where he/she believes he/she is adequately prepared to begin writing his/her thesis, the Thesis Committee should have a final meeting, at which time they should determine whether or not the student has done a sufficient level of work to recommend that he/she proceeds with the composition of his/her thesis. At this time, the student needs to identify a Thesis Reader. This person must be from outside the department and can be the same individual as the outside person on the Thesis Committee. The Defense Committee must also be chosen at this time. Defense Committee: The Defense Committee is made up of 5 members, 2 of whom must be senior faculty (Associate Professor or higher). One committee member from within the department, but not the advisor will chair the meeting. Any or all of the members can come from the Thesis Committee, but the makeup must include the advisor, two members from within the department, and two from outside of the department. One of the outside persons must also be the Thesis Reader. The Reader must read and approve the thesis before it can be sent out to the rest of the Committee members and before a defense date can be set. The Defense is in two parts: 1) a public part that must be advertised campus wide and, immediately following, 2) a closed-door portion where the Defense Committee is allowed to question the candidate on his/her thesis or related areas of study. The thesis can then receive a score of "passed with minor revisions," "passed with major revisions," or "failed." Additionally, a thesis can receive a "pass with distinction" evaluation.