Events
MBS Retreat
The Department of Molecular Biosciences hosts an annual retreat every spring. This one-day extravaganza provides an exciting opportunity for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students to discuss science and professional development at the beautiful and conveniently located Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Activities include:
- Talks from students and postdocs
- Data Slam (A lightning round of short talks)
- Poster session
- Cash Prizes (Best Talk, Data Slam and Poster)
- Theme Lunches (Peer- and mentor-lead discussions over lunch)
- Image competition (Submit your prettiest science!)
- Drinks and Dinner (new this year)
- T-Shirt Design Competition (new this year)
- Palme D'Organism Festival of Short films (new this year)
2018 Keynote Speakers: Dr. Tanya Paull (MBS) and Dr. Ryan Gray (Pediatrics, Dell Medical School)
More information can be found on the MBS Retreat website. For questions, please contact Rebekka Sherman-Loeffler.
Timeline
December 1st, 2017: T-Shirt design entry deadline | Submit your T-Shirt Design
January 19th, 2017: Image competition entry deadline | Submit your image
February 2nd, 2018: Poster, abstracts, and video entry deadline | Submit your video
February 2nd, 2018: Registration deadline | Click here to register
Please Note: The uploads will function over email. Attachments will have to be actually attached. You will receive a confirmation email, if your file uploaded successfully. If box misbehaves, please upload through the widget on this page: https://molecularbiosci.utexas.edu/resources/outside-vendors. All the box folders are accessible and checked by Rebekka, so your files will arrive. If you want to make extra sure your submission is received, email Rebekka shermanloeffler@utexas.edu.
February 25th, 2018: MBS Retreat, 9am-10pm at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX).
MBS Postdoc Association
The MBS Postdoc Organization seeks to foster the UT science postdoctoral community by hosting monthly events to meet and mingle. Postdocs from other CNS departments are more than welcome to attend.
Contact Stephen Jones or Austin Baldwin for more information. For meeting and event annoucements, please subscribe to the MBS postdoc list-serv (mbspostdoc@utlists.utexas.edu) on UT Lists.
Timeline
Monthly (location and time TBD)
MBS Student Organization
MBS also supports exciting professional and social undergraduate opportunities. More information can be found on the Molecular Biosciences Student Organization website: https://sites.cns.utexas.edu/
Faculty Discussion Group
The MBS Faculty Discussion Group meets monthly for entertaining presentations, discussion and refreshments. It is open to all MBS faculty. For more information or to get on the listserv, please contact Dr. Tanya Paull.
Timeline
Second-to-last Tuesday of every month, excluding Dec. and July, at 4pm in NMS 1.120.
Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium
The Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium (FURS) features undergraduate researchers from UT and across Texas, including MD/PhD and PhD program information sessions with various Texas program directors. Expected programs to be represented include: UT Houston, UT Southwestern, UT HSC-San Antonio, TAMU, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas State University, University of St. Thomas-Houston. For more information, please visit the MBS Student Association.
2017 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jeanette Hills, Founder and CEO of Spot on Sciences.
Timeline
September 22, 2018 (tentative): FURS starts at 10am in CLA 0.112, 0.126, 0.128, and 0.130.
Undergraduate Awards and Graduation Ceremony
The Department of Molecular Biosciences holds a medal commencement ceremony each May to honor the graduating undergraduate candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer), followed by a brief reception. Attendance at the graduaiton ceremony is optional, however, you must be present in order to receive a medal.
2017 Keynote Speaker: Robert Butchofsky, M.B.A., Founder and CEO of Mati Therapeutic
Special Departmental Honors
Majors who seek special departmental honors must have an overall University grade point average of at least 3.00 and a grade point average in their major courses of at least 3.50. In addition, they must complete two semesters of the Biochemistry or Biology Honors Tutorial Course during the senior year, which includes a presentation and written thesis based on a faculty supervised research project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Do I need a ticket?
No, graduation candidates and audience members do not need tickets. You may invite as many friends and family as you wish.
Am I automatically included in the program?
Only graduation candidates who RSVP will be included in the graduation program. Click here to RSVP for the Spring 2017 ceremony.
Procedures at the Student Activity Center
Doors will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.
Students are seated on the far right and left sides of the auditorium by degree. However, candidates are not in alphabetical order due to the variance in the number of students graduating by major and the need to seat graduation candidates in sections without running out of seats. The department appreciates your patience with this process.
Guests are encouraged to show up early, especially large groups that are planning to sit together. The auditorium will be open throughout the ceremony, however, guests that arrive late will be ushered to the back of the auditorium so as not to disrupt the ceremony.
The university has safety procedures in place for all commencement ceremonies and venues. Backpacks, tote bags, or any bags larger than 12 inches in any dimension will not be allowed into the venue. In addition, all other bags, including purses, camerca cases, and diaper bags, may be searched by security officers before visitors are permitted to enter the venue. We strongly urge all graduates and guests not to bring bags to any ceremony unless they are absolutely necessary. Please plan accordingly.
What is the dress code for the ceremony?
Dress is business casual (no regalia).
What will be announced during the ceremony?
As participants walk across the stage, the department will announce student first and last names, additional degrees if earned from Molecular Biosciences, and special departmental honors.
In the interest of ensuring that the ceremonies average approximately 1.5 hours, the department does not announce certificates, minors, or degrees earned from other UT colleges.
Parking
Click here for visitor parking options around the SAC. The department does not provide parking. Please leave yourself extra time to find parking, as campus is very busy during this time.
Timeline
May 12, 2017: RSVP's due by 5pm | Click here to RSVP
May 19, 2017: MBS Graduation Ceremony, 3pm at SAC 1.402 | 2017 Program
