2 I - Graduate Division - University of California, Riverside

BIG 

B I G 

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S H 

D B 

U C, R 

217 M S E 

R, C 92521

S H 12/13 

T C 

Introduction 2 

Overview 3 

Information 4 

Employment 

UCR Card 

Mail 

Copy Codes and Usage 

SPEAK Test Requirement 

Areas of Study 5 

BIEN Core Courses 

Academic Standards of Scholarship 6 

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree Program 7 

Plan I 

Plan II 

Thesis Committee 

Advancement to Candidacy and Degree Conferral 

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree Program 9 

Course Work 

The Examination Committee 

Written Qualifying Examination 

Teaching Requirement 

The Ph.D. Qualifying Committee 

Oral Qualifying Examination 

Dissertation Proposal 

Advancement to Candidacy 

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination 

Degree Conferral 

Annual Research Progress Evaluation (ARPE) 15 

Financial Assistance 17 

Useful Websites 19 

Important Contacts 20 

1

STUDENT HANDBOOK 12/13 

I 

Welcome to the Department of Bioengineering and the BIG (Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate) 

Program! 

The Department of Bioengineering, established in 2006, is the fasting growing department at the Bourns 

College of Engineering and is chaired by Professor Victor G.J. Rodgers The research vision is to build strength 

from experts in biochemistry, biophysics, biology, and engineering to focus on critical themes that impact 

bioengineering. 

The mission of the new Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside focuses on 

two interrelated themes: 

1. Advancing Bioengineering research, and, 

2. Preparing future leadership in Bioengineering and related fields. 

Our unique interdisciplinary program combines building a solid fundamental foundation in biological science 

and engineering, developing diverse communication skills and providing training in the most advanced 

quantitative bioengineering research. The result is a rigorous, but exceptionally interactive and welcoming 

educational training for Bioengineering students leading towards B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. 

BIG is the umbrella for graduate level research effort associated with the faculty in the Department of 

Bioengineering as well as other Participating Faculty at UCR who have a passion for training graduate 

students in bioengineering. BIG offers a rigorous but exceptionally interactive and welcoming educational 

environment. BIG , offers graduate study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. 

2


O 

This handbook provides much of the information you will need as you make progression towards completion 

of your graduate degree. This document should be used as a supplement to the official graduate student 

handbook that can be found on the UCR Graduate Division website at http://graduate.ucr.edu/GSHndbk.pdf. 

Of course, we are here to help you so if you have any questions please contact us. 

Welcome again to UCR and we look forward to working with you during your graduate career! 

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I 

Employment 

If you are going to be employed as a Graduate Student Researcher or TA (teaching assistant) you will need to 

complete hiring paperwork with Jennifer Morgan. You will receive a timesheet monthly to be signed by you 

and your advisor. When meeting with Jennifer you will need to remember to bring your Driver’s License and 

Social Security card. International students should also bring their passport and visa paperwork. 

UCR Card 

Upon your arrival you should obtain an UCR Card (photo identification card). The card allows you to check 

books out of the library and is used for card access for most of the doors in Bourns Hall. UCR cards can be 

obtained from the UCR Card office, located in the Highlander Union Building (HUB) Suite 249, between the 

hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The cost of the UCR Card is currently $25. 

Card key (UCR Card) access to general student areas is granted when the students first apply for a computer 

and e‐mail account during the graduate student orientation. This access will be continuous as long as a 

student is in good academic standing. Access to research laboratories must be requested by the faculty 

member supervising the specific research laboratory. However all students must contact Ms. Hong Xu, Development 

Engineer and Safety Officer, A217 Bourns Hall, prior to attaining research laboratory access. Ms. Xu 

will provide the appropriate instruction to attain laboratory safety training. Access to instructional laboratories 

is granted to TAs on a quarterly basis by the Department Chair. TAs must also contact Ms. Hong Xu to 

receive instruction on the appropriate laboratory safety training. 

Mail 

Incoming mail and intercampus notices may be picked up from mailboxes in the mailroom, A220 Bourns Hall. 

Mail is distributed daily at approximately 9:00am and 2:00pm. Outgoing intercampus mail and official 

university mail can be deposited in the brown bag located in the department suite, A220 Bourns Hall. 

Students should send and receive all personal mail at their personal residence. 

Copy Codes and Usage 

There is a department copier in the mailroom in A220 Bourns Hall that is available. The request for a copy 

access code must first be approved by the student’s advisor or TA faculty supervisor. 

The copier may be used only by graduate students copying material associated with their duties as a teaching 

or research assistant. Personal copying, including copying of notes, homework or exam solutions and journal 

articles not associated with research or teaching assistant duties, as well as thesis drafts, is not permitted on 

departmental copiers. Public copy machines are located in the UCR Bookstore, Rivera Library, and the 

Science Library. 

SPEAK Test requirement 

To meet the degree requirements of the Bioengineering program, all BIG students whose native language is 

not English must achieve a “Clear Pass” on the SPEAK test before the completion of their first year or they will 

be asked to leave the program. However, for those who receive a “conditional pass,” a departmental 

committee will evaluate their English Proficiency before a final decision is made. 

4


A S 

BIG students have the flexibility to study a wide range of courses that can be targeted to the individual 

student's professional goals. However, so that all BIG students have a fundamental foundation in 

bioengineering, they must take key courses that will satisfy this core requirement. The elective list is 

substantial and also includes medical school courses offered in the UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in 

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program. 

BIG Core Courses 

All BIG students are required to take at least three courses from the following Bioengineering courses. Other 

courses may be substituted but must be approved by the Bioengineering Graduate Advisor. Students from 

non‐engineering backgrounds are required to take BIEN 268. M.S. and Ph.D. students alike are expected to 

complete the course requirements for the programs within their first year of residence. Please note that 

students from non‐engineering backgrounds will be required to take BIEN 264‐Biotransport Phenomena. 

1. BIEN 223 ‐ Engineering Analysis of Physiological Systems 

2. BIEN 224 ‐ Cellular and Molecular Engineering 

3. BIEN 245– Optical Methods in Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering 

4. BIEN 249 ‐ Integration of Computational and Experimental Biology 

5. BIEN 264 ‐ Biotransport Phenomena 

6. BIEN 268 ‐ Bioengineering Experimentation and Analysis 

Other Requirements 

Other required courses: One bioscience class chosen from: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BCH 210 ‐ Biochemistry of Macromolecules 

BCH 211 ‐ Molecular Biology 

BCH 212 ‐ Signal Transduction and Biochemical Regulation 

BIOL/CMDB 200 ‐ Cell Biology 

BIOL/CMDB 201 ‐ Molecular Biology 

BIOL 203 ‐ Cellular Biophysics 

BIOL 221 ‐ Microbial Genetics 

Equivalent Selections from Biomedical Sciences Medical School Courses 

In addition, BIEN 286‐Colloquium in Bioengineering, is required every quarter in which it is offered. 

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A S S 

Every student was chosen for graduate study in BIEN after an extensive selection process. You were chosen 

because the faculty believes you have the motivational and intellectual qualities needed to perform well in our 

program. We fully expect every student to perform well and to be successful in their graduate career. 

The following is an excerpt from the University of California, Riverside Graduate Council Policy on Academic 

Standards. You can view the full policy on the Office of Graduate Studies website. 

Only courses in which grades of "A," "B," "C," or "S" are received are counted toward satisfying graduate 

degree requirements. To continue in good standing and obtain an advanced degree, students must maintain a 

minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.00. In addition, all students must demonstrate acceptable progress 

toward their degree objectives. This entails the satisfactory completion of all course work and other degree 

requirements in a timely fashion. 

Students are considered to be making unacceptable progress and become subject to dismissal when: 

they have 12 or more units of "I" grades outstanding; 

the overall GPA falls below 3:00; 

the quarterly GPA falls below 3.00 for two consecutive quarters; 

they fail to take their oral qualifying exams within five years; 

they fail to fulfill program requirements such as exams or research in a timely and satisfactory 

manner; 

they have not completed their programs within one year after reaching the normative time; 

they fail to pass comprehensive or qualifying examinations in two attempts. 

Please contact the Graduate Student Affairs Assistant if you have any questions on the Standards of 

Scholarship policies. 

6


M S (M.S.) D P 

The M.S. program is part of BIG (Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate) Program. The M.S. program is 

ideal for professionals seeking greater depth in several areas of bioengineering or individuals with biological 

science degrees who wish to enhance their foundation for employment in the many biotechnology fields. 

The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 36 quarter credits and may be completed in three to four 

academic quarters of full‐time study. Both thesis and non‐thesis options are offered for the M.S. degree 

program (Plan I, Thesis and Plan II, Comprehensive Examination). Students must request permission to 

pursue a Master of Science in Bioengineering while simultaneously pursing a Ph.D. in a program other than 

Bioengineering. 

The normative time to complete the M.S. degree is two years. 

Plan I (Thesis) 

In addition to the following Bioengineering requirements, all applicants must meet the requirements for Plan 

I (Thesis) of the UCR Graduate Council course Requirements. Bioengineering students must satisfy the core 

course requirements (see Core Courses). Students are also required to enroll in BIEN 286, Colloquium in 

Bioengineering, each quarter it is offered. 

Plan II (Comprehensive Examination) 

This Plan is designed primarily for students who do not intend to pursue a Ph.D. in Bioengineering. In 

addition to the following requirements, all applicants must meet the requirements for Master’s Degree Plan II 

(Comprehensive Examination). 

Annual Research Progress Evaluation (ARPE) 

Each BIG student is required, by both the Graduate Division and the BIG Program, to have an Annual 

Research Progress Evaluation (ARPE). This consists of an annual meeting with the student’s appropriate 

advisory committee where the student presents an oral and written summary of their research progress in the 

past year. The details of the ARPE are found beginning on Page 15. 

Comprehensive Exam 

The comprehensive examination will be prepared and administered by the Graduate Examination Committee. 

The student will be allowed to choose between an oral and a written examination. The examination will cover 

a broad range of topics chosen from upper division undergraduate courses and graduate courses taken by 

M.S. students. Subsequent to the examination, the Graduate Examination Committee will issue a passing or 

failing grade. If a student fails in the first attempt, he or she may retake the examination at the next scheduled 

comprehensive examination period. No more than two attempts to pass the exam are allowed. The M.S. 

Comprehensive Examination may be held at the end of any quarters throughout the year. The committee to 

administer the M.S. Comprehensive Examination will be selected by the Graduate Advisor and approved by 

the Graduate Program Committee. The exam will be held during finals week in the Spring. 

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Advancement to Candidacy and Degree Conferral 

Students must be advanced to candidacy for the degree no later than the first week of the quarter in which 

their degree is expected to be awarded. Deadlines for submission are published each quarter in the Schedule 

of Classes and in the annual Graduate Division Calendar. If the application is not received by the deadline 

date, the degree may be deferred until the following quarter. If the Master's degree requires a thesis (Plan I), 

a thesis committee should be nominated. When the student is formally advanced to candidacy and the thesis 

committee appointed (if applicable), the student and the academic units are notified. 

The Graduate Division certifies the candidacy of the student and checks for the completion of the University 

and departmental requirements. The student is sent a "Certificate of Candidacy" when certified. All 

requirements for the degree must be satisfied within a calendar year from the time of completion of the 

required course work. Should the student be unable to complete the degree requirements within this time, 

candidacy will lapse. The student must then file a General Graduate Student Petition requesting a 

reinstatement of Master's Candidacy with the Graduate Division. 

The Master's degree is conferred at the end of the academic quarter in which all requirements have been 

satisfied (the official conferral day is the last day of the quarter). The student must have been formally 

advanced to candidacy during the quarter in which they finish their degree. Ordinarily, a graduate student 

will be registered or on Filing Fee status the quarter in which all degree requirements are completed and the 

degree is to be conferred. However, students may complete the requirements during the quarter break. If 

they were enrolled or on Filing Fee status the quarter before, they may complete degree requirements before 

the next quarter officially begins and not be assessed registration fees for that quarter. 

If a student wishes to complete degree requirements during the summer months, they must have had student 

status (be enrolled or on Filing Fee status) every quarter of the previous academic year to complete without 

paying additional fees. If they were withdrawn or on leave any one of those quarters, they must use Filing Fee 

status or enroll in two units of Summer Session course work to complete during the summer. 

If a student does not complete the necessary courses by the end of the quarter in which degree conferral is 

expected, or does not attain the required level of scholarship, registration for the next regular academic 

session is mandatory ‐ otherwise student status will lapse and candidacy for the degree may lapse. Once 

student status lapses, the degree can be conferred only after readmission of the student, followed by at least 

one quarter of registration or Filing Fee status. 

Students are advised by mail of formal degree award at the end of the quarter in which the degree is 

conferred. As soon as all degree requirements are completed, the student may request a formal letter of 

certification of completion bearing the Graduate Dean's signature and University Seal from the Graduate 

Division. A formal certification of completion is the equivalent of the diploma or the official academic 

transcript posting for employment and career advancement purposes. 

Once the diploma is ready, the Registrar will notify students by postcard that they may pick‐up their diploma 

at that office. If they want it mailed to them they must pay the Registrar for postage. They should make these 

arrangements with the Registrar's Office. A graduate student pursuing the Master's degree as a terminal 

degree may not continue to register as a graduate student once the degree has been awarded unless they have 

been formally admitted to another program. 

8


D P (P.D.) D P 

The Ph.D. program is part of the BIG (Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate) Program. The Ph.D. 

program is heavily integrated with research activities and is intended for well‐qualified individuals who wish 

to pursue leadership careers in academic or industrial research. 

The Ph.D. program requires approximately three years of full‐time study beyond the master’s degree but an 

M.S. is not required to enter into the Ph.D. program. In consultation with a faculty advisor, BIG Ph.D. 

students plan their program of study. The doctoral dissertation is based on original research in the field of 

specialization. The doctoral program includes a teaching requirement, an oral and written qualifying 

examination, and a dissertation. 

The normative time to complete the Ph.D. degree is five years. 

Course Work 

Upon choosing a faculty advisor, each Ph.D. student is appointed a Ph.D. advisory committee consisting of 

two BIEN faculty members and the faculty advisor. This advisory committee is responsible for guiding the 

students in formulating their research activities and preparing for the preliminary and qualifying exams. 

The program of course work is formulated by each student and a faculty advisor in the first or second quarter 

after admission to the program and must be approved by the student's advisor and advisory committee. Every 

student must complete a program of study that includes: 

1. A major area of study intended to increase the student's depth of knowledge in an engineering research 

specialty and 

2. A minor area of study intended to support and increase the student's breadth of knowledge in the major 

area 

Students must satisfy the core course requirements (see BIG Core Courses, Page 5). Students must also enroll 

in the BIG colloquium series, BIEN 286, each quarter it is offered. 

Annual Research Progress Evaluation (ARPE) 

Each BIG student is required, by both the Graduate Division and the Bioengineering Program, to have an 

Annual Research Progress Evaluation (ARPE). This consists of an annual meeting with the student’s 

appropriate advisory committee where the student presents an oral and written summary of their research 

progress in the past year. The details of the ARPE are found beginning on Page 15. 

The Examination Committee 

The BIEN Ph.D. examination committee consists of faculty members selected by the BIEN Graduate Studies 

Committee. These faculty members prepare exam questions and evaluate the student’s responses. The Ph.D. 

preliminary examination is designed to determine the student’s familiarity with basic scientific and 

engineering principles, and their application to their research interest. 

9


Written Qualifying Examination 

Students in the Ph.D. program must pass a written qualifying examination prior to taking the oral qualifying 

exam. The written qualifier will be prepared and graded by participating faculty and will be based on the six 

Bioengineering Core Courses (see Page 5). Students must pass three subject exams to successfully complete 

the written qualifier. Students may have two attempts in passing. If the student does not pass one or more 

exams in the written qualifier, they may choose to repeat the tested subject exam again or test for other exam 

related to the Bioengineering Core Courses. Normally the exam will be taken prior to completion of four 

academic quarters in residence. The written qualifying exam is offered once a year after the spring quarter. 

Teaching Requirement 

All Ph.D. students must be employed as teaching assistants for at least two quarters. All TAs must take 

BIEN 302 (Teaching Practicum) to help them learn effective teaching methods such as handling discussion 

sections; preparing and handling laboratory sections; preparing and grading homework, examinations, and 

lab reports; and student relations. 

The Ph.D. Qualifying Committee 

Following successful passage of the Ph.D. Written Examination, a Ph.D. Qualifying Committee will be formed 

to evaluate a student's readiness for advancement to candidacy. The Ph.D. Qualifying Committee will be 

responsible for reviewing the student's Ph.D. dissertation proposal and administering an oral exam which may 

take the form of a defense of the proposal. Based on the oral defense, the Ph.D. Qualifying Committee will 

consult with the Graduate Advisor who will make a recommendation on behalf of the Qualifying Committee 

to the Graduate Division regarding advancement to candidacy. 

A Ph.D. Qualifying Committee consists of the student's faculty advisor and four (4) additional members who 

are nominated by the Graduate Advisor and approved by the Graduate Program Committee. The Chair of the 

Qualifying Committee is normally the student's Ph.D. advisor, who must be a voting member of the Academic 

Senate. At least, two (2) members of the Ph.D. Qualifying Committee are members of the BIG 

(Bioengineering Interdepartmental Graduate) Faculty. One member of the Qualifying Committee, designated 

the "outside member", should be from outside the BIG Program, but should be a voting member of the UC 

Academic Senate. Exceptions must be qualified for a UC faculty appointment, and must be supported by a 

memo of justification from the Graduate Advisor and approved as an exception by the Graduate Dean. After 

review of the nominations, the Graduate Dean appoints the Ph.D. Qualifying Committee on behalf of the 

Graduate Council. A memo need not be written for those holding Adjunct faculty positions. 

The Committee is nominated by the student and their advisor with the concurrence of the Department 

chairperson or Graduate Adviser. After review of the nominations, the Committee is appointed by the Dean 

of the Graduate Division on behalf of the Graduate Council. This Committee, once approved by the Graduate 

Dean, becomes responsible for the student's academic guidance and evaluation until advanced to candidacy. 

10


The Ph.D. Qualifying Committee (cont.) 

The proposed Qualifying Committee and the date set for the exam must be submitted to the Graduate 

Division Office on the Ph.D. Form 2 (Nomination for Qualifying Examination for the Degree of Doctor of 

Philosophy) at least two weeks (preferably one month) prior to the date of the final qualifying examination 

date. If any nominee is not a member of the University of California Academic Senate, a curriculum vitae and 

a memo justifying the appointment from the Graduate Advisor or Department Chair should be submitted 

with the Form 2. 

Once the committee has been formally appointed, the date and time of the oral proposal presentation/ 

defense will be scheduled. Any changes in the exam date or in the composition of the Committee must be 

communicated in writing to the Graduate Division not less than twenty‐four (24) hours before the oral 

examination is held. 

The qualifying oral dissertation proposal/defense is not open to the general public but members of the 

Academic Senate may attend. The recommendation of the committee must be reported to the Graduate 

Council within forty‐eight (48) hours on Ph.D. Form 3 (Report on Qualifying Examination and Nomination of 

Dissertation Committee) which is provided by the Graduate Division to departments on request. Each 

committee member must sign the form. No one can sign for them. 

A unanimous committee report for or against approval will be accepted for the Graduate Council by the Dean 

of the Graduate Division. If a student has failed the qualifying examination, the committee is required to 

make a recommendation for or against a second examination, ordinarily not to be given until at least three 

months have elapsed. The date of the second oral examination shall be communicated to the Graduate 

Division in writing at least two weeks prior to its occurrence. A third examination is not permitted. The 

student will be notified of the results immediately following the exam when a unanimous vote is reached. 

If there is an initial divided vote, the committee will make every effort to arrive at unanimity. Failing 

unanimity, a committee report which contains only one negative vote will be deemed a pass, and a committee 

report which contains two (or more) negative votes will be considered a failure. When the vote is split, the 

committee or any member of the committee can petition (in writing) the Graduate Council to consider a 

reversal of the judgment. In that event, the Administrative Committee of the Graduate Council will make the 

final determination as to whether the student has passed. In such cases no statement is made to the student 

regarding his/her passing or failure until the final determination has been made. The student shall be 

informed within forty‐eight (48) hours that the vote is split and the final determination will be made by the 

Graduate Council. 

When the Committee meets to conduct the oral Qualifying Examination, it must report the vote and/or 

action to the Graduate Council via the Graduate Dean. If the Committee decides to reexamine the student at a 

later date or does not pass the student for any reason, this must be reported. Once a committee convenes an 

examination, either a pass or fail must be reported by that committee. The Form 3 must be signed by all 

committee members at the time the qualifying examination is concluded, and submitted even if the 

examination was failed. 

11


Oral Qualifying Examination 

Following successful completion of the written examination, candidates for the doctoral degree must pass an 

oral examination, normally within three quarters of the date of their written exam but within their first two 

years of residence. The oral examination will be scheduled only after the candidate has written a proposal 

detailing the rationale, specific aims and approaches to be undertaken for her/his dissertation research. 

The graduate committee nominates the qualifying committee with the consideration of suggestions made by 

the student and his/her thesis advisor. All members of the qualifying committee are expected to have the 

appropriate expertise to guide and evaluate a candidate’s research. After review of the nominations, the dean 

of the Graduate Division appoints the committee on behalf of the Graduate Council. This committee becomes 

responsible for the student's academic guidance and evaluation until advancement to candidacy and 

administers the qualifying examination. 

Dissertation Proposal 

After successful completion of the written preliminary examination, each student, with advisement from an 

advisor, prepares a dissertation proposal. Typically, students submit a dissertation proposal to their qualifying 

committee within one year after successfully completing the written preliminary examination. The proposal 

should clearly demonstrate the student’s adequate preparation for the completion of his/her thesis research. 

This includes, but is not limited to, a through review of the pertinent literature, a presentation and discussion 

of the candidate’s own research, and a detailed research plan with sufficient breadth and depth for the 

completion of the thesis. The qualifying committee chair schedules an oral defense normally within one 

month of the written proposal submission. The presentation is given only to the dissertation committee 

members. 

The oral presentation/defense of the proposal focuses on the dissertation problem. Students should 

demonstrate considerable depth of knowledge in the student's area of specialization and a clear 

understanding of the research methods that are needed for successful completion of the dissertation research. 

The oral presentation/defense begins with a presentation by students on their dissertation topic and is 

followed by questions and suggestions from the qualifying committee. 

On the basis of the written proposal and oral defense, the qualifying committee decides whether the student 

should be advanced to candidacy, asked to modify and enhance the proposal, or requested to withdraw from 

the program. 

Advancement to Candidacy 

After successful completion of the qualifying examinations and completion of all University and departmental 

requirements, the student is eligible for formal advancement to candidacy. At that time, the BIEN 

department submits the "Report of Departmental Requirements for Ph.D. Degree" to the Graduate Division to 

conduct a degree check. The student will be billed the Candidacy Fee after the degree check has been 

completed. 

12


Advancement to Candidacy (cont.) 

After a successful degree check, the student and BIEN department are notified of the formal advancement to 

candidacy. The Candidacy Fee is later used to pay for microfilming the student's Ph.D. dissertation. 

All students who are considered nonresidents for tuition purposes and are advanced to candidacy for the 

Ph.D. receives a reduction of 100 percent of the non‐resident tuition. Each student is eligible for a maximum 

of three calendar years of non‐resident tuition reduction. Time spent not registered (withdrawn, on leave, or 

on filing fee status) will count toward the three‐year total unless the Graduate Dean grants an exception. A 

student must be advanced by the first day of the academic term to qualify for that quarter. 

Candidacy for the Ph.D. will normally lapse if the student loses graduate standing by academic 

disqualification or failure to comply with the University policy on continuous registration. A readmitted 

student who was a candidate for the Ph.D. may be required to again advance to candidacy and thereafter 

enroll as a candidate for at least one academic quarter before the Ph.D. will be conferred. If less than three 

years has passed since the student withdrew, the candidacy will normally remain in effect. If three or more 

years have passed since Advancement to Candidacy, candidacy status will be determined by consultation 

between the Dean of the Graduate Division and the department. 

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination 

Following advancement to candidacy, students formally focus on their dissertation research. The progress of 

the dissertation is monitored by the student's dissertation committee. Candidates should interact frequently 

with members of their dissertation committee to insure that dissertation progress is acceptable. 

The graduate committee nominates the dissertation committee after consideration of the suggestions made 

by the student and his/her thesis advisor. The dissertation committee consists of a minimum of three UCR 

Academic Senate members. The chair and majority of members must be from Bioengineering. All committee 

members should be in a position to offer guidance and be able to judge the scholarship of the dissertation 

work. Upon recommendation of the graduate advisor, doctoral dissertation committees are appointed by the 

dean of the Graduate Division. 

After completing the dissertation research, students must submit a written copy of the dissertation for 

approval for defense by the student's dissertation committee. Once a draft has been approved, an oral defense 

of the dissertation is scheduled. This defense consists of a seminar open to the entire academic community, 

followed by a question‐and‐answer period conducted by the dissertation committee. 

Students must complete at least six quarters in residence in the UC with a GPA of 3.00 or better in all 100‐ and 

200‐level course work related to the degree. 

13


Degree Conferral 

Ph.D. degrees are conferred, subject to the final approval of the Graduate Council, as of the last day of the 

regular academic quarter in which all requirements have been satisfied (the last day of the quarter), including 

the final positive recommendation of the Doctoral Committee, and the acceptance of the approved 

dissertation by the Graduate Division on behalf of the University. A graduate student must be registered or 

on Filing Fee status the quarter in which the dissertation is submitted and the degree is to be conferred. No 

fee for filing the manuscript itself is required. If the student misses that deadline they have until the day 

before the next quarter officially begins to file and not pay next quarter's registration fees. Unless payment of 

a Filing Fee or a Leave of Absence is approved, all graduate students must register each regular academic 

quarter (excluding Summer Session) until all degree requirements are completed ‐ otherwise, student status 

and candidacy for the Ph.D. will normally lapse. Once status lapses, the degree can be conferred only after 

readmission of the student, followed by at least one quarter of registration or Filing Fee status and possibly 

readvancement to candidacy. 

Students are advised by mail of formal degree conferral at the end of the quarter in which the degree is 

completed. As soon as all degree requirements are completed, the student may request a formal letter of 

certification of completion bearing the Graduate Dean's signature from the Division office. A formal 

certification of completion is the equivalent of formal degree conferral for faculty and post doctoral 

appointments and other employment and career advancement purposes. 

Once the diploma is ready, the Registrar will notify the student by postcard that they may pick‐up their 

diploma at that office. If they want it mailed to them they must pay the Registrar for postage. They should 

make these arrangements with the Registrar's Office. 

14


Research Progress Evaluation (RPE) 

Overview 

Each BIG student is required, by both the Graduate Division and the Bioengineering Program, to have at least 

one Research Progress Evaluation (RPE) per year. This will allow determination of whether the student is 

making normal and acceptable progress towards completion of her/his Ph.D. dissertation or MS thesis. 

Mandatory Research Progress Evaluation Meetings 

It is expected that all students hold at least one RPE meetings per year unless otherwise indicated from the 

Enrolled Graduate Advisor. Students will present their research progress to at least 3 faculty members 

simultaneously in a single session. This may include faculty participation via videoconferencing (e.g., Skype). 

Members of this RPE Committee may consist of any faculty of the research advisors choosing, but will 

typically have members of the student’s Dissertation/Thesis Committee. If a student does not yet have a 

research advisor, the RPE committee will be formed by the Enrolled Graduate Advisor. Following the meeting, 

the student’s major professor and Committee members will meet with the student discuss their research 

progress. The results of any RPE meetings, as well as the overall performance of the student, will be reported 

in the student’s annual review. 

General Protocol for RPE 

RPE meetings will be initiated by the student, who will be expected to prepare an RPE Research Summary 

that will not exceed 2 pages in length as well as an RPE Summary Form to be presented to all members of the 

Committee at least 1 week in advance of the meeting. Coordination of a time, date, and location for a meeting 

that can be attended by her/his RPE Committee is the responsibility of the student. The student’s major 

professor will chair the meeting. 

At the meeting, the student will make an oral presentation on their recent research progress, augmented by 

slides or other visual aids if necessary, and answer questions raised by the RPE Committee. 

The last phase of the meeting will be a private discussion of the RPE Committee members to evaluate the 

student’s research progress. The meeting will end with the RPE Committee sharing its evaluation of the 

student’s overall academic progress. 

Student’s Research Progress Evaluation Report 

The written report to be prepared by the student in advance of each RPE meeting consists of two parts: an 

RPE Form and an RPE Research Summary. The structure and format of the RPE Research Summary is left to 

the student, their research advisors and RPE Committee. However, this document should be written with a 

minimum font size of 11 and not exceed 2 pages in total length. Each student’s RPE Research Summary will be 

reviewed by the Enrolled Graduate Advisor. 

15


Graduate Student Reviews 

A R P E (.) 

Following the RPE meeting, the committee members should work with the student’s research advisor to 

complete and sign an RPE Evaluation Form (link to form). The objective of this Form is to provide feedback 

on the student’s progress, to highlight the student’s effort and achievements and identify weaknesses and any 

remaining requirements necessary to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress. The review is also used to 

insure that the department and student are consistent with their perceived status. 

Consequences for failure to demonstrate academic progress are subject to the discretion of the student’s 

major research supervisor, Department Chair, and Enrolled Graduate Advisor. 

RPE forms will be collectively reviewed annually beginning September 1. In addition, the research advisors 

will work with the Enrolled Graduate Advisor to generate an annual letter to each student that summarizes 

the content of RPE meetings over the past year. A copy of the letter is sent to the Bioengineering Enrolled 

Graduate Advisor, Department Chair, and the Graduate Division. 

. 

G S A R 

Each year, the Department of Bioengineering conducts a review of each graduate student in our program. The 

objective of this letter is to provide feedback on the student’s progress, to highlight the student’s effort and 

achievements and identifying weaknesses and any remaining requirements in which they are obligated to 

fulfill their requirements for academic progress. The review It is also used to insure that the department and 

the student are consistent with their perceived status. The research advisors will work with the Graduate 

Advisor to generate a letter to each student that summarizes this review. A copy of the letter is sent to the 

Bioengineering Graduate Advisor, Department Chair and the Graduate Division. 

16


F A 

Financial assistance is available through several mechanisms. The Bioengineering Department has a limited 

number of Graduate Student Research and Teaching Assistant positions that are used for graduate student 

support. Most graduate students are supported on a continuing basis by Graduate Student Research 

Assistantships provided by the individual Professors. In addition, UCR offers several fellowships, which are 

available on a competitive basis. 

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for support through federal agencies and private foundations. This 

is a valuable experience that will not only assist students financially while in school, but will also help to build 

up their resume and provide contacts for the future. Organizations that have awarded fellowships and 

research support to UCR students include the Nation Science Foundation and the Fulbright Program. 

Students wishing to explore these sources of support should speak to their graduate advisor or consult the 

Annual Register of Grant Support and other similar directories either at the reference department of the 

library or through the financial support section at the Graduate Division web page. There are also many sites 

on the World Wide Web devoted to various sources of aid for graduate students. 

Dissertation Research Grants: Provide funds to doctoral candidates for research expenses associated with the 

dissertation. Applicants must be advanced to candidacy and plan to be registered during the period of the 

award. Proposals may be funded up to a maximum of $1,000. These funds may not be used for preparing the 

dissertation copy or as a stipend for personal support. Contact the Graduate Division for applications. 

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Minigrants: Provide funds to assist in paying the travel expenses of a 

student who has been invited to present scholarly papers or posters at a regional and/or national professional 

conference. This program is administered by the Graduate Student Association and requires the departments 

to agree to provide matching funds. Contact the GSA or the for the minigrant applications. 

Other Support Definitions 

Graduate student are supported from a variety of sources. Here is information on the various types of funding 

and definition of the commonly‐used acronyms: 

Graduate Division Stipend: Usually awarded as part of a larger fellowship package, these dollars go directly 

from Graduate Division to the student through the Financial Aid System. The student will receive a lump 

sum “pay check” at the beginning of each quarter starting in late September (for the October 1 stipend check) 

through May (June 1 for stipend check). 

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR): An employment title for graduate students conducting research (either 

independent or directed). Campus policy prohibits students from working more than 49% during the 

academic year. GSR appointments are 25% or more during the academic year are entitled to GSHIP and PFR 

(see below). Financial support for GSR employees is provided by faculty extramural grants and departmental 

general funds. Students are paid in arrears and receive their first check after their first month of work. (i.e. a 

student who begins work in the fall quarter does not get a pay check until November 1.) 

Fee Differential: The left‐over university mandatory fee amount for a student with a PFR and GSHIP and 

NRTR entitlements. This dollar amount changes as GSHIP and PFR increase. Most students are required to 

pay this. 

17


F A (.) 

Teaching Assistant (TA): The employment title is for graduate students who are teaching part of a course 

(normally labs or discussion sections) under the guidance of a faculty member or instructor. Students may 

not be appointed at more that 50% during the academic quarter. If appointed at 25% or more time during an 

academic quarter, GSHIP and PFR will be awarded. There are many rules that are associated with this title 

now that there is an employee contract. See the United Auto Workers Union Contract for more information. 

TA funds are distributed to the departments by the College of Engineering Dean’s Office. Students are paid in 

Arrears and receive their first check after their first month of work. (i.e. A student who begins work in the fall 

quarter does not get a pay check until November 1.) 

Partial Fee Remission (PFR): Students who are appointed at 25% or more time during an academic quarter as 

a GSR or TA are entitled to PFR. This entitlement pays part (but not all) of the students’ mandatory 

university fees. The Graduate Secretary provides Graduate Division with a list of the students who are eligible 

for this entitlement before the student bills are printed. If an award is placed on the system after the bills are 

printed the student’s bill will not reflect the correct fees they owe. 

Graduate Student Health Insurance (GSHIP): Students who are appointed at 25% or more time during an 

academic quarter as a GSR or TA are entitled to have their GSHIP fees paid for them. The Graduate Secretary 

provides Graduate Division with a list of the students who are eligible for this entitlement before the student 

bills are printed. If an award is placed on the system after the bills are printed the student’s bill will not 

reflect the correct fees they owe. The actual dollar amount of GSHIP changes as the insurance prices change 

from year to year. Students who have private Health Insurance comparable to the University’s coverage can 

apply for waivers of the GSHIP fees. 

Non‐Resident Tuition Remission (NRT or NRTR): Non‐residents of California (either domestic or 

international) who are appointed at 45% or more as a GSR and are Ph.D. students are entitled to have their 

Non‐Resident Tuition paid for them. The Graduate Secretary provides Graduate Division with a list of the 

students who are eligible for this entitlement before the student bills are printed. If an award is placed on the 

system after the bills are printed the student’s bill will not reflect the correct fees they owe. International 

students cannot ever establish residency and will owe Non‐Resident Tuition for their entire student careers. 

However, when a Ph.D. student advances to candidacy, the Non‐Resident Tuition is reduced by 100% for a 

period of three years. Domestic non‐resident students must establish California residency by the second year 

of study (this does occur automatically, but forms must be submitted). 

Department Grant In Aid (DGIA): Departments or individual faculty members with unrestricted funds (many 

federal grants will not allow payment of student fees) can grant fellowship‐like awards to individual students. 

This is most often used to pay the student’s fee differential. The Graduate Secretary provides Graduate 

Division with a list of the students who are to receive these awards indicating the account and fund 

information. Graduate Division then pulls the money out of the account and awards it to the student through 

the Financial Aid System. 

18


Bioengineering Homepage 

http://www.bioeng.ucr.edu 

General Catalog Online 

http://www.students.ucr.edu/catalog 

Graduate Division Student Handbook 

http://www.graddiv.ucr.edu/GSHndbk.pdf 

UCR Graduate Student Association 

http://www.gsa.ucr.edu 

Schedule of Classes Online 

http://www.classes.ucr.edu 

GROWL Online Registration 

http://ucribm.ucr.edu/Paws/PAWS.html 

UCR Libraries 

http://library.ucr.edu 

UCR Commons 

http://www.commons.ucr.edu 

UCR Housing Office 

http://www.housing.ucr.edu 

U W 

City of Riverside (information about the city and surrounding areas) 

http://www.riversideca.gov 

19


I C 

The administrative suite is located in A220 Bourns Hall. A listing of key contact personnel in the Department 

of Bioengineering and the Bourns College of Engineering with whom graduate students may interact is given 

below. 

Front Desk 

(reception) 

Jerome S. Schultz 

MSE 217 827-4303 

Fax: 827-6416 

Distinguished Professor MSE 203 827-7407 jssbio@engr.ucr.edu 

and Undergraduate 

Advisor 

Victor G. J. Rodgers Professor and Chair MSE 215 827-6241 vrodgers@engr.ucr.edu 

Bahman Anvari Professor MSE 211 827-5726 anvari@engr.ucr.edu 

Kaustabh Ghosh Assistant Professor MSE 207 TBD kghosh@engr.ucr.edu 

William H. Grover Assistant Professor MSE 219 TBD wgrover@engr.ucrl.edu 

Jiayu Liao 

Associate Professor & 

Graduate Advisor 

MSE 231 827-6240 jliao@engr.ucr.edu 

Huinan Liu Assistant Professor MSE 227 827-2944 huinanliu@engr.ucr.edu 

Julia Lyubovitsky Assistant Professor MSE 239 827-7231 julial@engr.ucr.edu 

Dimitrios Morikis Professor MSE 225 827-2696 dmorikis@engr.ucr.edu 

Jin Nam Assistant Professor MSE 331 TBD TBD 

B. Hyle Park Assistant Professor and 

Graduate Advisor 

MSE 243 827-5188 hylepark@engr.ucr.edu 

Val Vullev Assistant Professor MSE 235 827-6239 valentine.vullev@ucr.edu 

Denise Sanders 

Financial & 

Administrative Officer 

MSE 209 827-5025 denise@engr.ucr.edu 

Crissy Reising Financial Analyst MSE 217 827-4314 creising@engr.ucr.edu 

Jennifer Morgan 

John Cleary 

Graduate Program & 

Purchasing Assistant 

Program System 

Administrator 

MSE 217 827-4303 Jennifer@engr.ucr.edu 

Bourns A308 827-2638 systems@engr.ucr.edu 

Hong Xu Development Engineer MSE 205 827-7235 hongxu@engr.ucr.edu 

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2 I - Graduate Division - University of California, Riverside

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