Welcome
New Student Orientation will be held August 22-26 with additional information provided via online modules. Please check your email for a link to the New Student Orientation Canvas course.
Please review the Admitted Students page for information on pre-enrollment requirements. For questions, please email Oscar Sevilla or Karen Weinberg.
Last updated 8/4/2022
Schedule of Events
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Full Schedule
For an overview of the schedule, please click here.
Monday, August 22
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3rd floor unless otherwise noted7:30 a.m. Breakfast and Student ID Badge Pick Up
8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
- Sharon Dent, PhD, Dean ad interim
- New Student and Staff Introductions
- Introduction to Orientation
10:00 a.m. Academic Overview
- Bill Mattox, PhD
- Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
- Wassim Chehab, PhD
- Bunny Perez
12:00 p.m. Lunch
Finance Group A [Gallick Classroom – BSRB S3.8367]
- Elisabet Lau, MBA
- Medhanit Zekarias
- Colden Snow
1:00 p.m. Office of International Affairs
- All international students are required to attend the OIA session
1:00 p.m. MD/PhD Career & Fellowships Session [Gallick Classroom BSRB S3.8367]
- Raquel Salinas, PhD
- Laura Rademacher, MEd
2:00 p.m. Finance Group B
- Elisabet Lau, MBA
- Medhanit Zekarias
- Colden Snow
2:30 p.m. Finance Group C
- Elisabet Lau, MBA
- Medhanit Zekarias
- Colden Snow
Tuesday, August 23
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3rd floor unless otherwise noted7:30 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
- Vidhi Chandra, PhD student, Cancer Biology program
- Jiexi Li, PhD student, Cancer Biology program
- Kareem Wahid, MD/PhD student, Quantitative Sciences program
- Ruoyu Wang, PhD student, Genetics & Epigenetics program
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. MS Student Panel
2:00 p.m. Program Sessions
- Biochemistry & Cell Biology [MSB Leather Lounge & 2.135]
- Genetics & Epigenetics [Onstead]
Wednesday, August 24
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3rd floor unless otherwise noted7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Research Advising with Program Directors
- Harry Karmouty-Quintana, PhD - Biochemistry & Cell Biology
- Jian Hu, PhD - Cancer Biology
- Francesca Cole, PhD – Genetics & Epigenetics
- Seyed Moghaddam, MD – Immunology
- Michael Lorenz, PhD – Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
- Qingchun Tong, PhD – Neuroscience
- Traver Hart, PhD – Quantitative Sciences
- William Plunkett, PhD – Therapeutics & Pharmacology
9:30 a.m. Choosing a Mentor Panel Discussion
- James Bankson, PhD
- Vasanthi Jayaraman, PhD
- Pierre McCrea, PhD
- Student Panel
11:00 a.m. Career Development – PhD Students
- Raquel Salinas, PhD
- Laura Rademacher, MEd
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Benefits
2:00 p.m. Program Sessions
- Quantitative Sciences [Onstead]
- Therapeutics & Pharmacology [4SCRB]
Thursday, August 25
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3rd floor unless otherwise noted7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Intruder Training
- Scott Barnwell, Sergeant, UT Police at Houston
9:00 a.m. Student Wellness
- Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
- Raquel Salinas, PhD
- EAP Representatives
- Student Panel
10:30 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Career Development – MS Students
- Raquel Salinas, PhD
- Laura Rademacher, MEd
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
- Bill Mattox, PhD
- Natalie Sirisaengtaksin, PhD
- Wassim Chehab, PhD
2:00 p.m. Program Sessions
- Neuroscience [MSB Leather Lounge and B100]
- Immunology [SCRB Conference Rooms 1&2]
Friday, August 26
All events to be held in Onstead Auditorium, BSRB 3rd floor unless otherwise noted7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Cherilynn Shadding, PhD
10:00 a.m. Graduate Student Association Welcome Event
- Mabel Perez-Oquendo, PhD student, Genetics & Epigenetics program
- Clarissa Hoffman, MD/PhD student, Quantitative Sciences program
- Takese McKenzie, PhD student, Neuroscience program
- Sujanitha Umamaheswaran, PhD student, Cancer Biology program
11:30 a.m. Lunch with Peer Mentors
1:00 p.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)
2:00 p.m. Program Sessions
- Cancer Biology [Onstead]
- Microbiology & Infectious Diseases [MSB 1.006]
5:00 p.m. Orientation Social/Friday Afternoon Club [Cooley Center]
Updated 8/04/2022
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Genetic Counseling
Genetic Counseling students are not required to attend all GSBS orientation sessions. A list of required sessions is below.
- Monday, August 22
- Welcome and Introductions
- Academic Overview
- Finance Group A
- Tuesday, August 23
- Mentoring Up
- Thursday, August 25
- Intruder Training
- Student Wellness
- Friday, August 26
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- GSA Event
- Student Groups
Last updated 7/11/2022
- Monday, August 22
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Medical Physics
Not all GSBS orientation sessions are required for incoming Medical Physics students. The Medical Physics program will host additional sessions during the week.
Last updated 8/17/2022
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MS Biomedical Sciences
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 22
- Welcome and Introductions
- Academic Overview
- OIA (for international students)
- Finance B or C
- Tuesday, August 23
- Mentoring Up
- Presidents' Research Scholars Symposium
- MS Student Panel
- Wednesday, August 24
- Research Advising
- Choosing A Mentor Panel Discussion
- Thursday, August 25
- Intruder Training
- Student Wellness
- Career Development MS Students
- Friday, August 26
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- GSA Event
- Student Groups
Last updated 7/112022
- Monday, August 22
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MD/PhD
MD/PhD students transitioning to the lab are welcome to attend any session, however the sessions below are required.
- Monday, August 22
- Welcome and Introductions
- Academic Overview
- MD/PhD Career & Fellowships Session [1 p.m. in the Gallick Classroom]
- Tuesday, August 23
- Mentoring Up
- Presidents' Research Scholars Symposium
- Wednesday, August 24
- Research Advising
- Choosing A Mentor Panel Discussion
- Thursday, August 25
- Intruder Training
- Student Wellness
- Friday, August 26
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Last updated 7/11/2022
- Monday, August 22
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Program Sessions
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 Friday, August 12.
- Tuesday, August 23
- Biochemistry & Cell Biology (MSB Leather Lounge & 2.135)
- Ice breaker game, faculty flash talks, student introduction to BCB, networking, and socializing
- Genetics & Epigenetics (Onstead Auditorium, BSRB, 3rd Floor)
- Program overview, charades ice breaker, student and faculty flash talks, student panel discussion, and table topics with board games
- Program overview, charades ice breaker, student and faculty flash talks, student panel discussion, and table topics with board games
- Biochemistry & Cell Biology (MSB Leather Lounge & 2.135)
- Wednesday, August 24
- Quantitative Sciences (Onstead)
- Program overview with program director, faculty chalk talks, ice breaker activities, current student panel discussion
- Therapeutics & Pharmacology (4SCRB)
- Program overview with program director, meet & greet with current students, short talks by faculty who are seeking students, round table with faculty
- Program overview with program director, meet & greet with current students, short talks by faculty who are seeking students, round table with faculty
- Quantitative Sciences (Onstead)
- Thursday, August 25
- Neuroscience (MSB Leather Lounge & B100)
- Ice breaker bingo with faculty and students, faculty elevator pitches, Q&A with current students, networking and socializing
- Immunology (SCRB Conference Center Rooms 1&2)
- Program director's welcome and program overview, faculty chalk talks, trivia, Q&A with current students, lab/facilities tour
- Program director's welcome and program overview, faculty chalk talks, trivia, Q&A with current students, lab/facilities tour
- Neuroscience (MSB Leather Lounge & B100)
- Friday, August 26
- Cancer Biology (Onstead Auditorium, BSRB, 3rd Floor)
- Faculty talks, student panel, student flash talks, and speed networking with faculty and current students
- Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (MSB 1.006)
- Program introduction, faculty research talks, lab tours, social with current students
- Cancer Biology (Onstead Auditorium, BSRB, 3rd Floor)
Last updated 8/01/2022
- Tuesday, August 23
New Student Information
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Financial
Financial Information – New Students Only
At the end of June, you will receive a checklist from the GSBS Finance Office that details the following items to be completed:
- Instructions for the Health Insurance Certification hold in applyUTH/myUTH
- UT MD Anderson Appointment Process for access to MD Anderson resources and facilities
- Pre-Employment steps and required identification (for funded students only)
- Drug/Tobacco testing process (For MD Anderson Funded students only)
- Repatriation & Medical Evacuation coverage (for international students only)
Some items will need to be completed before Orientation begins and deadline dates will be included in the finance checklist.
In August, prior to and during Orientation week, additional details will be provided including information pertaining to tuition & required fees, health insurance coverage requirements and process, and (for funded students) payroll information.
Reminder: Please do not answer any questions regarding the Health Insurance Certification hold in applyUTH/myUTH, until after you have received instructions from the GSBS Finance Office.
GSBS Finance Office Contacts
For finance-related questions, please email GSBS_Finance@uth.tmc.edu. You can also contact the following staff members for questions concerning the items listed below:
- Health Insurance Certification
- Health insurance coverage requirements and process
- Tuition & required fees information and process
- Pre-employment and payroll process for students who will receive funding under UTHealth (UTHealth Funded)
- UT MD Anderson Appointment process
- UT MD Anderson Slate System
- Pre-employment and payroll process for students who will receive funding under UT MD Anderson (MD Anderson Funded)
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PhD Milestones
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)
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International Students
International Students
Due to recent events, we understand that international students may have questions and concerns about their visa application process. At this time, we are moving forward with our normal onboarding 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 2022, the recommended arrival date is August 8.
- International students are required to check in with the Office of International Affairs (OIA) UTHealth 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 19, 2022. 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. The fee for Fall 2022 semester is $32.
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E-Mail and Network Accounts
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
- Connect to the UTHealth network using the secure Wifi Access Point UTHSCH or use a computer in the GSBS Computer Lab S3.8112
- Access our Two-Factor Login page.
- Log in with your existing UTHealth credentials.
- If you have never enrolled, you will be prompted to enroll with enrollment instructions for your device.
For further assistance on enrollment, please visit this guide.
Off Campus Registration
- Contact the UTHealth Help Desk at (713) 486-4848. The Help Desk operational hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends.
Visit GSBS Information Technology for more information.
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Helpful Links
General Information:
- GSBS Staff Directory
- Faculty Directory
- UTHealth Central Student Portal
- GSBS Student Support Information
- Office of the Registrar
- UTHealth Office of International Affairs
- Graduate Student Association (GSA)
- Graduate Student Association Moving to Houston guide
- International Student Association (ISA)
- International Student Association Guide to Houston
- Student Health & Counseling Services
- Student Disability Accommodations
- GSBS COVID-19 Alerts
- Housing Information
- 2022 Hurricane and Severe Weather Guide
- Auxiliary Enterprises
- Title IX Information - MD Anderson Cancer Center Title IX - UTHealth Title IX
- Student Financial Services - Financial Aid Application Guide
- Campus Safety: Crime Reporting, Crime Statistics - UT Police
Social Media:
- GSBS on Facebook
- GSA on Facebook
- GSBS on LinkedIn
- GSBS on Twitter
- GSBS on Instagram
- Entering 2022 Students Slack Channel
Parking:
- Parking and Transportation
- TMC Parking Lots
- TMC Parking Shuttles
- UTHealth Auxiliary Enterprises Parking
- Parking Options Information
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Directions and Maps
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)