Congratulations to our authors Rachel and Blaide for passing their doctoral qualifying exams! In life science PhD programs, the second year usually culminates with some form of written and oral exam to test your understanding of course material and mastery of your specific project. For the written exam, both Rachel and Blaide were required to write National Institute of Health-style grants that focused on their current project. For the oral exam, Rachel and Blaide gave presentations on their project to a committee comprised of senior scientists, each assigned the task of making sure the student understood the fundamental science behind their project as well as the tiny little details.
It’s often said that this is one of the most stressful parts of graduate school, so kudos to Rachel and Blaide for clearing this hurdle and good luck with your research!