Ph.D. Student Work Expectations

What I expect from you

You have an impressive range of skills and experiences, which makes it hard to pin down a specific advice or expectations that will remain the same over the course of graduate school. However, over the next five years leading up to your dissertation, here are some general expectations.

Year 1

Coursework

On your first year much of your time will be engaged in coursework. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department at NMSU has a set curriculum you need to complete to become eligible for a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Note that the classes for semesters one and two may flip if you start your Ph.D. in the Spring rather than the Fall. Each semester, you need to be enrolled in 9 credit hours between your research and coursework. Please check your student handbook for all degree requirements.

Semester 1

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 475 Safety 1
CHEM 476 Research Ethics 1
CHEM 501 Energy 3
CHEM 502 Structure 3
CHEM 598 Research Credits 1

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 477 Professional Development 1
CHEM 503 Dynamics 3
CHEM 504 Measurements 3
CHEM 510 Research Seminar 1
CHEM 598 Research Credits 1

Research:

In your first year, you should become familiar with the literature pertaining to your project and the wider literature in general. Additionally, you will be learning the basic methodologies required for your research project.

Milestone:

The most important milestone for your first year is finish your Chemistry & Biochemistry coursework with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Year 2

Coursework

The second year will be dedicated to building foundational knowledge in educational theories and social science methodologies. The courses listed are suggestions. If you find another class that better aligns with your research interests and project, please discuss it with me so we can consider making a switch. However, it is non-negotiable that you are expected to take at least two methodology courses and two theory courses as part of the requirements of our lab.

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
CHEM 600 Qualifying Examination 2
EDUC 5120 Multicultural Education 3
SOCI 5157 Qualitative Analysis 3

Semester 4

Research:
Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
CHEM 600 Research 2
SOCI 5163 Quantitative Analysis 3
Theory Class Related to Dissertation 3

By your second spring (at the latest), you should begin making significant progress on your projects. You should seek (and I will try to grant you) as much freedom as you can handle in defining your own research. This includes making suggestions on how to address our specific aims and research questions. It also means challenging me if you believe my approach is incorrect. A key aspect of becoming a researcher is being able to stand by your viewpoint and defend it.

Milestone:

One of the major milestones during this period is the qualifying exam. You will be expected to present the basics of your project and demonstrate a foundational knowledge of chemistry education research. Additionally, you will be given a research paper to present to your committee, where you will answer their questions and discuss the paper in detail.

Year 3

By your third year, you should have completed all your coursework and be focusing entirely on your research. At this stage, we should work together to define all the scientific goals you need to achieve to complete your degree and prepare for the career you want to pursue. As you work towards these goals, you will take on many responsibilities typically assigned to postdocs. Remember, the ultimate goal of graduate school is to reach a stage where you can plan and conduct research independently, and this year is crucial for developing that ability. If you are feeling over- or undersupervised, please just tell me. I’m happy to adjust.

Coursework

Semester 5

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
CHEM 600 Research 8

Semester 6

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 520 Literature Review Presentation 1
CHEM 600 Research 8

Milestone:

The major milestone for this year is presenting your literature review. In our lab, we typically initiate a systematic literature review in your first year. By now, you should have completed the full-text screening phase. You should expect to spend a chunk of your time conducting your “Data Extraction and Coding” steps and “Thematic Analysis”

Year 4

You are getting close to the finish line! This year, our primary focus will be on publishing at least one paper where you are the first author. This milestone is crucial for showcasing your research capabilities and preparing you for the job market. Here’s a detailed outline of the goals and steps for your final year:

Semester 7

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
CHEM 600 Research 8

Semester 8

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
Dissertation credits? 8

Milestone:

A major milestone this year is your dissertation proposal. Successfully completing your proposal is crucial as it sets the foundation for your dissertation research and demonstrates your readiness to undertake this significant project.

Year 5

You are now in the final stretch! The primary focus of this year is completing your dissertation and preparing for the next steps in your career. We will spend this year preparing your job application materials, creating networking opportunities, and of course writing your dissertation.

Semester 9 & 10

Course Number Course Title Credit Hours
CHEM 510 Graduate Research Seminar 1
Dissertation credits? 8

Milestone:

DEFEND YOUR DISSERTATION!