Student Orientation

Before You Start
Your Start Date
Registering for Classes
New International Student Orientation
Biosciences Orientation (August 15-19, 2011)
Payroll
Health Insurance

Before Your Start

  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor the week of August 8-12, 2011 to discuss classes. 

You must meet with your advisor prior to Wednesday, August 17th. 

Your advisor must contact me to confirm you have met and in turn I will clear you to self-register on ISIS.  

  • Choose your first rotation lab, get the faculty member’s approval, and email the Biosciences Program for final approval.  You must have the Program's approval before you make a final commitment to the lab.

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Your Start Date

Please confirm your start date is correct by clicking here. 

If you will be starting your first rotation on a date other than the one listed, please contact Jodi immediately.

Your payroll appointment begins on your scheduled start date.

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Registering for Classes

Please schedule an appointment with your advisor prior to Wednesday, August 17, 2011 to select your courses.

Your advisor has been instructed to contact the Biosciences Program after your meeting. In turn you will be sent an email that you have been cleared to register on-line.

Click here for instructions for registering on-line.

You will be registering for a total of 15 semester hours (s.h.).

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

Biosciences Critical Thinking & Communication (2 s.h.)
Time:
   Mondays 12:30 - 2:20 p.m.
Location:   1135, 1139, or 1143 MERF
   
Biostatistics for Biomedical Research (1 s.h.)
Time:   8:00 - 9:20 a.m.
Location:   E331 GH
     
Biosciences Research (s.h. arranged)
Time:   ARR
  This course represents your research rotation.  The number of credit hours for this course is determined by the number of credits needed to make your total registration 15 s.h. When registering for this course it will ask you for an Instructor Number. Please enter 003.
   
*650:270:001 Principles of Scholarly Integrity (1 s.h.)
Time:  

Introductory four-hour orientation workshop; small group participation in eight 90-minute workshops over four semesters (doctoral students) or four 90-minute workshops over two semesters (master's and graduate nondegree students); issues of student/mentor responsibilities for the pursuit of scholarly work (ownership, authorship, plagiarism/falsification/fabrication of data); student/mentor relationship and promoting an intellectual dialogue (communication, collaboration, grievance management); student responsibilities involving the institution/scholarly community/society (intellectual property, conflict of interest, fiscal responsibilities, human/animal subjects).
     
  You may choose elective course(s) on the list of approved fall electives
*
 Required Course

You can purchase text books at University Book Store.

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New International Student Orientation

It is very important that you plan your arrival so that you can report to the Office of International Student and Scholars (OISS) on August 9, 2011.  

If you arrive early for Fall 2011, you may contact oiss@uiowa.edu.

This orientation is required for all new F-1 and J-1 students.

If you have any questions about International Student Orientation, please contact oiss@uiowa.edu.

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Biosciences Orientation

*Attendance required.  If you are unable to attend, please contact Jodi Graff.

Monday, August 15, 2011

  • Individual appointments with Jodi Graff in 353 Medical Research Center to complete paperwork necessary to receive stipend.  Contact Jodi at 319-335-8305 or email to schedule an appointment.

  • Summer End of Rotation Presentations*
    Location: Clifton Board Room, 5181 Medical Education & Research Facility (MERF)
    11:30 - 11:45 a.m.
    Presenter:
  • Welcome Meeting & Lunch*
    Location: Clifton Board Room, 5181 Medical Education & Research Facility (MERF)
    11:45 p.m.
    • Discuss program components
    • Individual/Group photos (moved to Friday)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

  • Individual appointments with Jodi Graff in 353 Medical Research Center to complete paperwork necessary to receive stipend.  Contact Jodi at 319-335-8305 or email to schedule an appointment.

  • All Biomedical PhD Programs Welcome Picnic*
    Location: Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF) Atrium
    Noon

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

  • Introductory orientation workshop (participation is required)*
    650:270 Principles of Scholarly Integrity
    8:30 - 12:30 p.m.
    Location: IMU Main Lounge
    Brief presentations by speakers and panelist (TBA)
    Round table discussion with faculty facilitators

    You will be assigned to a section to attend eight 90-minute workshops over four semesters.
    Contact Minnetta Gardinier, PhD, Associate Dean, Graduate College, if you have questions.

Please RSVP online by Friday, August 13, 2010
3:00 - 6:30 PM
Location: Main Lounge, Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), Room #180
New Graduate Students come learn about the campus & your community.
Hosted by the Graduate College & the Graduate Student Senate.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

  • PhD Program Overview Presentations*
    8:30 a.m. - Noon
    Location: 2126 Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF)

  • Lunch Provided
    Noon
    Location: 2126 Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF)

  • Faculty Talks*
    1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
    Location:  2126 and 2136 Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF)

Biosciences Program faculty members will give 12 minute talks about their research.  The presentations are a mechanism for you to choose future research rotations.

  • Dinner
    6:30 p.m.
    Location: Atlas Restaurant. Click here for directions.
    We will be dining in the South Room.  

Friday, August 19, 2011

  • Group and Individual Photos (moved from Monday)
    9:15 a.m.
    Room & Building: Kelch Conference Room, 1289 Carver Biomedical Research Building (CBRB)

  • Biosafety Information/Training*
    Time: 10:00 a.m.
    Room & Building: Kelch Conference Room, 1289 Carver Biomedical Research Building (CBRB)
    Debbie Kratz, Biosafety Specialist, UI Environmental Health & Safety

    Presentation regarding safety information not addressed within the online required courses.

  • Becoming a TA and Developing Teaching Skills: Expectations and Opportunities in Grad School*
    12:00 - 12:30pm (lunch provided)
    Location: Kelch Conference Room, 1289 Carver Biomedical Research Building (CBRB)
    Darren Hoffmann, PhD
    Lecturer, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology

    Learn the basics of curriculum design, assessments and instructional techniques and put it to good use if you acquire a teaching assistantship (TA) during your PhD program.

  • Faculty Talks*
    1:00 – 3:45 p.m.
    Location:  1135 and 1139 Medical Education and Research Facility (MERF)

    Biosciences Program faculty members will give 12-minute talks about their research.  The presentations are a mechanism for you to choose future research rotations.

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Payroll

Please schedule an appointment with Jodi Graff within 3-days of your start date to complete the necessary paperwork to be placed on payroll and receive health insurance.

Please submit online via the Employee Self Service the following forms prior to your appointment:

  • Authorization for direct deposit of paycheck
  • Federal (W-4) and Iowa (W-4) witholding forms
  1. Enter your HawkID and Password at Employee Self Service
  2. Under the Payroll tab click Set Up/Change Direct Deposit and complete form accordingly
  3. Under the Payroll tab click Set Up/Change Tax Witholding (W-4) complete the forms accordingly

Please contact the UI Payroll Office with questions regarding direct deposit or tax witholding (W-4) forms.

Employment Eligibility Verification

During your appointment you will need to provide Jodi Graff with the following documentation to establish identity and employment eligibility (see list of Acceptable Documents below). 

You must bring one item from column A or one item from column B and one item from column C to your appointment.

International students, please also bring your I-20 form to your appointment.

List of Acceptable Documents:

 

List A

OR

List B

AND

List C

1

U.S. Passport

 

Driver's License

 

U.S. Social Security Card

2

Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
(INS Form N-560 or N-561)

 

ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities

 

Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
(Form -545 or Form DS-1350

3

Certificate of Naturalization (INS Form N-550 or N-570)

 

School ID card with a photograph

 

Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, or municipal authority.

4

Unexpired foreign passport

 

Voter's registration card

 

Native American tribal document

5

Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph
(INS Form I-151 or I-551)

 

U.S. Military card or draft record

 

U.S. Citizen ID Card
(INS Form I-197)

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Health Insurance

The University of Iowa provides a wide range of comprehensive health insurance plans.

If you have any questions, please contact the UI Benefits Office directly at 319-335-2676.

Insurance coverage begins the first day of the month following the first day of employment.

Biosciences Program
The University of Iowa
353 Medical Research Center
Iowa City, IA 52242-1181

Phone: 1-800-551-6787 or 319-335-8305
Text: 319-535-5211
Fax: 319-335-7656
E-mail: biosciences@uiowa.edu
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