Genetic Counseling students are not required to attend all GSBS orientation sessions. A list of required sessions is below.

Monday, August 19
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:30 a.m.          Welcome and Introductions               

• Alejandro Aballay, PhD, Dean
• New Student and Staff Introductions
• Introduction to Orientation 

10:00 a.m.        Academic Overview

• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD
• Bunny Perez

12:00 p.m.         Lunch/Finance Group A [Gallick Classroom – BSRB S3.8367]

• Elisabet Lau, MBA
• Medhanit Zekarias
• Colden Snow

Tuesday, August 20
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:15 a.m.           Mentoring Up 

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD

Wednesday, August 21
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.       Breakfast

8:00 a.m.      Thriving in Grad School: An Introduction to Wellness and Growth Mindset 

• • • Raquel Salinas, PhD

Thursday, August 22
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Intruder Training 

• Scott Barnwell, Sergeant, UT Police at Houston

9:00 a.m.          Student Wellness Panel

•          Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
•          Raquel Salinas, PhD
•          Sharlene Johnson, MA - UTHealth Houston EAP
•          Justin Henderson, PhD - MD Anderson Cancer Center EAP
•          Rene Girard - PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
•          Maria Torres-Carrizalez - PhD Student, Immunology 
•          John Sanchez - PhD Student, Therapeutics and Pharmacology

10:30        Title IX Session

• Deana Moylan, Deputy Title IX Coordinator 

Friday, August 23
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.           Building Resilience & Community

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
• Raquel Salinas, PhD

10:00 a.m.         Graduate Student Association Welcome Event

• Alexandra (Ally Grace) McConnell, President
• Mekenzie (Kenzie) Peshoff, Vice President
• Chase Hutchins, Treasurer
• Julianna Quinn, Secretary 

11:30 a.m.         Student Associations Overview

• Graduate Student Association (GSA)
• Association of Minority Biomedical Researchers (AMBR)
• Association of Science Communication (ASC)
• Community Outreach Program (Outreach)
• International Student Association (SA)
• First-Generation Student Group (First-Gen)
• LGBTQ+ Student Alliance (LGBTQ+SA)

12:30 p.m.        Lunch with Peer Mentors [Large Classroom S3.8371 BSRB]

5:00 p.m.          Orientation Social/Friday Afternoon Club [Onstead Forum]

Updated 8/9/2024

Not all GSBS orientation sessions are required for incoming Medical Physics students. The Medical Physics program will host additional sessions during the week. 

Monday, August 19
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast and Student ID Badge Pick Up

8:30 a.m.          Welcome and Introductions               

• Alejandro Aballay, PhD, Dean
• New Student and Staff Introductions
• Introduction to Orientation 

10:00 a.m.        Academic Overview

• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD
• Bunny Perez

12:00 p.m.        Lunch

1:30 p.m.          Finance Group C

• Elisabet Lau, MBA
• Medhanit Zekarias
• Colden Snow

3:00 p.m.          Office of International Affairs

• All international students are required to attend the OIA session

Tuesday, August 20
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Mentoring Up 

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD

10:00 a.m.        Break              

10:30 a.m.        Presidents’ Research Scholars Symposium

• Hunter Mehrens – PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Kevin Liu – PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Ulises Gonzalez – PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
• Yiyun Lin – PhD Student, Genetic and Epigenetics and Quantitative Sciences

12:00 p.m.        Lunch

2:00 p.m.          Medical Physics Laptop Distribution & Setup (Location: FCT.TBD)

• Rebecca Howell, PhD

Wednesday, August 21
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Thriving in Grad School: An Introduction to Wellness and Growth Mindset

• Raquel Salinas, PhD

9:30 a.m.          Choosing a Mentor Panel Discussion

Moderator: Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD

• Phillip Urbanczyk – PhD Student, Neuroscience
• Ahmed Shatta – PhD Student, Cancer Biology
• Hana Baroudi – PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Andrea Stavoe, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Molecular & Translational Biology, Neuroscience
• Peter Van Loo, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Genetics & Epigenetics, Quantitative Sciences

11:00 a.m.        Career Development – PhD Students

• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• Laura Rademacher, MEd

12:00 p.m.        Lunch

1:00 p.m.          Benefits

2:30 p.m.          Medical Physics Safety Sessions (Location: FCT.TBD)

• Rajat Kudchadker, PhD – Linac Safety

3:30 p.m. Break

4:00 p.m.          Medical Physics Safety Sessions (Location: FCT.TBD)

• Brian Kelley – Radiation Safety

Thursday, August 22
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Intruder Training 

• Scott Barnwell, Sergeant, UT Police at Houston

9:00 a.m.          Student Wellness Panel

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• EAP Representatives
  • Sharlene Johnson, MA – UTHealth Houston
  • Justin Henderson, PhD – MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Student Panel
  • Rene Girard – PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
  • Maria Torres-Carrizalez – MS Student, Immunology
  • John Sanchez – PhD Student, Therapeutics and Pharmacology

10:30 a.m.        Title IX Session

• Deana Moylan, Deputy Title IX Coordinator

12:00 p.m.        Lunch

1:00 p.m.          Assistance with Registration (Optional; for students who have questions/issues registering for courses.)

• Bunny Perez
• Elisabet Lau, MBA
• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD

2:30 p.m.          Speed Networking with Research Lab PIs (Location: FCT.TBD)

• Rebecca Howell, PhD

Friday, August 23
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Building Resilience & Community

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
• Raquel Salinas, PhD

10:30 a.m.        Graduate Student Association Welcome Event

• Alexandra (Ally) McConnel, President
• Mekenzie (Kenzie) Peshoff, Vice President
• Chase Hutchins, Treasurer
• Julianna Quinn, Secretary

11:30 a.m.        Student Associations Overview

• Graduate Student Association (GSA)
• Association of Minority Biomedical Researchers (AMBR)
• Association of Science Communication (ASC)
• Community Outreach Program (Outreach)
• International Student Association (SA)
• First-Generation Student Group (First-Gen)
• LGBTQ+ Student Alliance (LGBTQ+SA)

1:00 p.m.          Lunch with Student Council & Second Year Students

2:30 p.m.          Q & A with Dr. Howell (Location: FCT.TBD)

• Rebecca Howell, PhD

3:30 p.m.          Break

5:00 p.m.          Orientation Social/Friday Afternoon Club

Updated 8/12/2024

Some sessions are not required for students enrolling in the MS program in Biomedical Sciences. MS students are welcome to attend any session and a list of required sessions is below.

Monday, August 19
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast and Student ID Badge Pick Up

8:30 a.m.          Welcome and Introductions     

• Alejandro Aballay, PhD, Dean
• New Student and Staff Introductions
• Introduction to Orientation

10:00 a.m.         Academic Overview

• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD
• Bunny Perez

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

1:00 p.m.           Finance Group B*

• Elisabet Lau, MBA
• Medhanit Zekarias
• Colden Snow

1:30 p.m.           Finance Group C*

•          Elisabet Lau, MBA
•          Medhanit Zekarias
•          Colden Snow

3:00 p.m.           Office of International Affairs [International Students]

• All international students are required to attend the OIA session

4:00 p.m.    I-9 Forms [International Students in Group C] [Computer Lab – S3.8112 BSRB]

*Please attend the finance session you have been assigned to.

Tuesday, August 20
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Career Development - All Students

• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• Laura Rademacher, MEd

8:15 a.m.           Mentoring Up 

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD

10:30 a.m.         Presidents’ Research Scholars Symposium

• Hunter Mehrens - PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Kevin Liu - PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Ulises Gonzalez - PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
• Yiyun Lin - PhD Student, Genetics and Epigenetics and Quantitative Sciences

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

1:00 p.m.           Career Development – MS Students

• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• Laura Rademacher, MEd

Wednesday, August 21
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Thriving in Grad School: An Introduction to Wellness and Growth Mindset 

• Raquel Salinas, PhD

9:30 a.m.          Choosing a Mentor Panel Discussion

Moderator: Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD

• Phillip Urbanczyk – PhD Student, Neuroscience
• Ahmed Shatta – PhD Student, Cancer Biology
• Hana Baroudi – PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Andrea Stavoe, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Molecular & Translational Biology, Neuroscience
• Peter Van Loo, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Genetics & Epigenetics, Quantitative Sciences

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

1:00 p.m.           Benefits [Group C]

Thursday, August 22
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Intruder Training 

• Scott Barnwell, Sergeant, UT Police at Houston

9:00 a.m.          Student Wellness Panel

•          Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
•          Raquel Salinas, PhD
•          Sharlene Johnson, MA - UTHealth Houston EAP
•          Justin Henderson, PhD - MD Anderson Cancer Center EAP
•          Rene Girard - PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
•          Maria Torres-Carrizalez - MS Student, Immunology 
•          John Sanchez - PhD Student, Therapeutics and Pharmacology

10:30 a.m.         Title IX Session

• Deana Moylan, Deputy Title IX Coordinator

11:00 a.m.         MS Student Panel

Moderator: Wassim Chehab, PhD

• Faith Hernandez – MS Student, Therapeutics & Pharmacology
• Jared Fradette – MS Student, Genetics & Epigenetics
• Maria Benavente – MS Student, Neuroscience
• Francesca Cole, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Genetics & Epigenetics

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

1:00 p.m.          Assistance with Registration (Optional; for students who have questions/issues registering for courses.)

• Bunny Perez
• Elisabet Lau, MBA
• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD

Friday, August 25
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.           Building Resilience & Community

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
• Raquel Salinas, PhD

10:00 a.m.         Graduate Student Association Welcome Event

• Alexandra (Ally Grace) McConnell, President
• Mekenzie (Kenzie) Peshoff, Vice President
• Chase Hutchins, Treasurer 
• Julianna Quinn, Secretary

11:30 a.m.         Student Associations Overview

• Graduate Student Association (GSA)
• Association of Minority Biomedical Researchers (AMBR)
• Association of Science Communication (ASC)
• Community Outreach Program (Outreach)
• International Student Association (SA)
• First-Generation Student Group (First-Gen)
• LGBTQ+ Student Alliance (LGBTQ+SA)

12:30 p.m.        Lunch with Peer Mentors [Large Classroom]

5:00 p.m.          Orientation Social/Friday Afternoon Club [Onstead]

Updated 8/12/2024

MD/PhD students transitioning to the lab are welcome to attend any session, however the sessions below are required.

Monday, August 19
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:30 a.m.          Welcome and Introductions               

• Alejandro Aballay, PhD, Dean
• New Student and Staff Introductions
• Introduction to Orientation 

10:00 a.m.         Academic Overview* (This session is optional)

• Jeffrey Frost, PhD
• Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
• Wassim Chehab, PhD
• Kenny Ogunseye, PhD
• Bunny Perez

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

1:00 p.m.           MD/PhD Career & Fellowships [Gallick Classroom – BSRB S3.8367]

• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• Laura Rademacher, MEd

Tuesday, August 20
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Mentoring Up 

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD

10:00 a.m.         Break               

10:30 a.m.         Presidents’ Research Scholars Symposium

• Hunter Mehrens - PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Kevin Liu - PhD Student, Medical Physics 
• Ulises Gonzalez - PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
• Yiyun Lin - PhD Student, Genetics and Epigenetics and Quantitative Sciences

12:00 p.m.         Lunch

Wednesday, August 21
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.         Breakfast

8:00 a.m.         Thriving in Grad School: An Introduction to Wellness and Growth Mindset 

• • • Raquel Salinas, PhD

9:30 a.m.          Choosing a Mentor Panel Discussion* (This session is optional)

Moderator: Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD

• Phillip Urbanczyk – PhD Student, Neuroscience
• Ahmed Shatta – PhD Student, Cancer Biology
• Hana Baroudi – PhD Student, Medical Physics
• Andrea Stavoe, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Molecular & Translational Biology, Neuroscience
• Peter Van Loo, PhD – GSBS Faculty, Genetics & Epigenetics, Quantitative Sciences

Thursday, August 22
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.           Intruder Training 

• Scott Barnwell, Sergeant, UT Police at Houston

9:00 a.m.          Student Wellness Panel

Moderator:  Cherilynn Shadding, PhD

• Raquel Salinas, PhD
• Sharlene Johnson, MA - UTHealth Houston EAP
• Justin Henderson, PhD - MD Anderson Cancer Center EAP
• Rene Girard - PhD Student, Molecular and Translational Biology
• Maria Torres-Carrizalez - MS Student, Immunology 
• John Sanchez - PhD Student, Therapeutics and Pharmacology 

Friday, August 23
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3^rd floor unless otherwise noted

7:30 a.m.          Breakfast

8:00 a.m.          Building Resilience & Community

• Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
• Raquel Salinas, PhD

5:00 p.m.           Orientation Social/Friday Afternoon Club

Updated 8/12/2024

All entering PhD Biomedical Sciences students are required to attend at least two program sessions during Orientation. Program sessions are encouraged, but optional, for MS and MD/PhD students. Please click here to sign up by Tuesday, August 1.

• Tuesday, August 20
  • Cancer Biology 
    • Onstead Auditorium & Forum 

• Wednesday, August 21
  • Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 
    • MSB Lounge
  • Molecular & Translational Biology 
    • MSB Lounge
  • Neuroscience  
    • MSB Lounge

• Thursday, August 22
  • Immunology 
    • SCRB 1 (Transportation will be provided)
  • Genetics & Epigenetics 
    • Onstead Auditorium & Forum 

• Friday, August 23
  • Therapeutics & Pharmacology 
    • SCRB 4 (Transportation will be provided)
  • Quantitative Sciences 
    • Onstead Auditorium & Forum

Last updated 7/23/2024

Fall Semester

• Tutorial Research Experience (First Rotation)
• Foundations of Biomedical Research* (Core Course)
• The Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences

Spring Semester

• Tutorial Research Experience X2 (Second and Third Rotations)
• Graduate Program Coursework

End of Spring Semester

• Identify a Research Advisor (PhD Mentor)
• Join a Program

Summer Semester

• Form Advisory Committee

PhD Tutorial Dates

• October 3 - December 14
• January 9 - March 10
• March 13 - May 12

*Exceptions are made for PhD students in the following areas:

• Medical Physics (students do not take the Core Course but follow the Medical Physics curriculum)
• Neuroscience (Core Course is optional - discuss with Dr. Qingchun Tong)
• Quantitative/Computational Students (students have the option to take Foundations of Biomedical Research for Quantitative Students with permission from Office of Academic Affairs)

International Students

We understand that international students may have questions and concerns about their visa application process. Questions about specific visa processes should be addressed to the  Office of International Affairs.

We recommend international students arrive in Houston two weeks prior to Orientation to allow ample time for all required paperwork to be completed. For Fall 2024, the recommended arrival date is August 5.

• International students are required to check in with the Office of International Affairs (OIA)  UTHealth Houston prior to the start of Orientation. While we recommend you arrive in Houston two weeks before orientation, you should plan to arrive in the US in plenty of time to check in with OIA by the end of business (5 p.m. Central Time) on August 16, 2024. You must schedule an appointment in advance in order to check in with OIA. Please contact Oscar once you have confirmed your OIA appointment date and time. Failure to check in with OIA prior to Orientation may cause a delay in payment of stipend (if applicable). 
• International students who will be performing rotations at MD Anderson must also check in with the MD Anderson Visa and Immigration Service Administration (VISA) office. You will receive instructions from GSBS Finance when it is time for you to check in with the MD Anderson VISA office.
• Students who earn degrees from international universities are required to have their transcripts evaluated by an outside agency to ensure that the degree is, at least, equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree. Please see the incoming student checklist for more details. 
• International students entering GSBS who do not have a degree from a university in the United States are required to take an English assessment exam. Students with degrees from U.S. universities are encouraged to attend the assessment. 
• International students are required to pay a per-semester evacuation/repatriation fee. This fee will be reflected in your account statement after you register, and will not be covered by GSBS or your mentor (for funded students). The fee for Fall 2024 semester is $32.

GSBS International Student Association (ISA)

• 2024 ISA Guide to Houston 
• Quick Guide to Institutional Administrative Steps (International)

NOTE: Use of any Computing and Information Technology Resources on campus falls under the following policies. 

Network Accounts comprised of a User ID, password and email address allow GSBS students to login to the following resources:

• Computers in the GSBS Computer Lab and other UTHealth campus locations
• Send and receive email
• Secure UTHealth Wi-Fi Access Points (UTHSC)
• myUTH: my.uth.tmc.edu
• Canvas: www.uth.edu/canvas
• myGSBS: https://go.uth.edu/myGSBS 
• UTHealth Intranet: inside.uth.edu

How do I get my network account?

Your network account will be activated when the IDM (Identity Management) hold in your student record in ApplyUTH or myUTH is removed through identity verification. The IDM hold is a "soft" hold and will not prevent registration. This should be one of the last holds you should work to remove.

STEP 1. Remove your IDM (Identity Management) Hold. Identity verification is included as part of the criminal background check, therefore your IDM hold will be automatically removed once the CBC clears.

For international students who are exempt from the CBC requirement, Email Michael Valladolid, GSBS IT Director, to schedule an identity verification appointment either in person or online through WebEx to clear this hold. Present a current (not expired) state or federal issued photo ID - Drivers License, Passport. 

STEP 2. You will be asked to provide a recovery email address, so make sure you have continued access to it. This email address can be used to reset your UTHealth password if you forget it. Your UTHealth User ID, email address and password recovery web link will be emailed to this address.

STEP 3. Enroll in Two-Factor Authentication 

Recover your password here.

Two-Factor Authentication (you must enroll to access myUTH, Webmail and Employee Self Service outside the UTHealth network and VPN)

Two-factor authentication, also known as two-step authentication, adds an additional layer of assurance onto your normal login process.  This is done by both verifying something you know, such as a password, and something you have, such as a phone.

You must first enroll your phone by following these instructions.  Once enrolled, you will then be able to use your phone as a second factor for applications that require two-factor authentication. You may enroll any type of phone.  However, we highly recommend enrolling your smartphone with the optional smartphone app.

On Campus Registration

1. Connect to the UTHealth network using the secure Wifi Access Point UTHSCH or use a computer in the GSBS Computer Lab S3.8112
2. Access our Two-Factor Login page.
3. Log in with your existing UTHealth credentials.
4. If you have never enrolled, you will be prompted to enroll with enrollment instructions for your device.

Directions and Maps

Primary Location: The George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building (BSRB/Mitchell Building) located at 6767 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030. The nearest parking location is TMC Garage 15 (The Commons Garage) at 6550 Bertner Avenue.

• Onstead Auditorium - BSRB S3.8012; includes The Forum (foyer to Onstead)
• GSBS Administrative Offices
• GSBS Large Classroom - BSRB S3.8371
• GSBS Small Classroom - BSRB S3.8367
• GSBS Computer Lab - BSRB S3.8112

Other Notable Locations: 

MSB: UT Medical School Building (6431 Fannin) 

UTPB: UT Professional Building (6410 Fannin) 

PAT:  Pickens Academic Tower [Room numbers begin with FCT] (1400 Pressler)

UCT: University Center Tower (7000 Fannin)

SCRB: South Campus Research Building (7435 Fannin)

UTHealth Houston Building Addresses & Map

MD Anderson Cancer Center Campus