Graduate Student Progress Evaluation Purpose of the Progress Evaluation: It is in the best interest of both students and PIs that thesis-directed research moves forward in a timely and well thought-out manner. Therefore the advisory committee will meet annually to ensure that the thesis project is still on schedule and directed toward a thesis-worthy body of work. This form exists to structure the discussion of students’ thesis research progress. In addition, the form provides a record of past performance and recommendations for future development of the student. Completed and signed forms will be collected by the THEME MedNeuro coordinator and kept confidential. Instructions for Students: Please email this form, with questions 1-3 completed, to your advising committee 3 days before your oral progress report, and bring a printed copy to the progress meeting. You should fill in questions 1-3 with the help and advice of your thesis advisor. The grey text is only an example; delete it and replace with your own answers. Be prepared to explain your research plans for the next 6 months and the reasoning behind the experiments you propose. If you have evaluation forms from previous Progress Meetings, please bring them with you. Progress Meeting agenda: - - Students deliver a ~30 minute oral report on current thesis progress Open discussion with audience members Student and PIs adjourn to private meeting PIs evaluate the oral presentation and provide suggestions for improvement Student presents their experimental plans and timeline for the next 6 months o Note: Students should lead this discussion - This is the opportunity for the student to demonstrate their knowledge and ownership of their thesis project. PIs and Thesis advisors should allow the student to present their plans without interrupting. If needed, discuss research obstacles with student and thesis advisor and suggest alternate approaches Student is dismissed for the closed session of the meeting PIs and thesis advisor will briefly discuss the student’s overall professional development All comments and ratings will be shared with the student by the thesis advisor After reviewing the results of this report with the thesis advisor, the student will upload a signed copy to the BIGS online system. The original form should be kept by the student and brought to subsequent Progress Report meetings. Explanation of Ratings – relative to student’s current status… Outstanding (10) Very Good (7-9) Good (5-6) Needs Improvement (3-4) Unsatisfactory (0-2) Excellent performance in the top 10% of students; displaying extraordinary skill and exceptional insight Above average performance in the top 25% of students; displaying strong skills or advanced understanding Average performance; no serious problems; room for improvement but no cause for concern Below average performance; indicates serious concerns that must be addressed by the next meeting; explanation required at end of report Inadequate performance; actions to address the deficiency should be discussed and recorded at the end of the report 1|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015 Graduate Student Progress Evaluation Student Name: _______________________________________ Advisor: _____________________________ Progress Report number ________ Start of thesis:______________ Meeting date: __________________ PIs present at progress meeting: (Chair)_______________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ A rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory requires explanation in the final comment. Part I: Discussion with student Rating of the oral presentation Category 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Slides (style, clarity, organization) Content (clarity, relevance, data) Speech (language, logic, style) Discussion (knowledge, poise) Comments on the presentation…. Project related questions for the student… 2|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015 1. Summarize your accomplishments since the last meeting. You may not have had time to mention all results in the presentation. This is your opportunity to mention other projects or completed work. Example: Project A: electrophysiology - Uncovered a positive, feed-forward loop driving activity of hilar interneurons - Increased “n” to levels acceptable for publication - Completed control experiments with pharmacology to ensure the effect is specific… - Have begun preparing figures for manuscript Project B: animal model development Tested specificity of virus-driven expression of GFP, both false-positive and false-negative expression will be checked with immunos: result is that the virus is only expressed in PV cells (<3% falsepositive) but many PV cells do not express GFP (67% false negative) - Breeding colonies have been established for generating the required numbers of animals for behavioural experiments. Course work and Professional development - - 2. Presented ephys findings at annual meeting Have completed the required 2nd year course work Have completed the required participation in seminar series List the student’s goals/tasks to fulfill before the next meeting: Project A: electrophysiology Begin recordings from virus injected animals to identify the cells types of GFP+ cells. Goal: 10 cells from at least 3 animals with proper controls for ChR2 activation. - Control experiments in wt animals showing the pharmacological block of DA input. Goal: 20 cells with 3 different drugs - Train new graduate student on using my ephys set-up; this also means that my recording time will decrease as I will begin to share the set-up. Project B: animal model development - - Complete the pilot testing of at least 20 wt animals in the water maze task. Once the training parameters are validated, then training of 5 virus injected animals per week will begin. Anticipate completion of the behavioural testing by our next meeting, with >10 animals in both control and treatment groups 3|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015 3. Lay out an anticipated timeline for the project. Are there decision points that will change the direction or content of the thesis project? (Mark the most important steps with an * or in BOLD) Timeline Project Steps Months Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Project A: Electrophysiology - Recordings from virus injected animals - Control pharmacology with 3 drugs - Develop analysis method for field potentials Project B: Animal model development - Train wt animals in water maze task - Inject virus into test animals - Train test animals in water maze 4|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015 4. What are the student’s post-graduation career plans? Discuss and give advice or support where possible (for students beyond their 3rd year). 5|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015 Part II: Discussion without student Student’s current status: Master’s ☐ PhD - 1st year ☐ 2nd year ☐ 3rd year ☐ 4th+ year ☐ Rating of students’ professional development Category 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Grasp of literature Ability to interpret data Ownership of project - proposals to overcome obstacles Productivity Contribution to experimental design Clarity of future goals for the project Responsiveness to advice/criticism Student’s overall rate of progress 5. Approximately how long until the thesis will be completed? (2+ years, 1-2 years, <1 year) 6. Other comments a. If a rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory has been given, please elaborate here. Signature of Thesis Chair: _________________________________________________ Signature of Thesis Advisor: _______________________________________________ Signature of PhD Student: _________________________________________________ 6|Page Latest revision: 10 April 2015