FAQs

Q: How long does it take to complete a PhD at CWRU?

A: Average completion time is 5.8 years. 

Q: Can you explain the paper and teaching requirements?

A: You are required to publish 3 papers in peer reviewed journals while at CWRU. Two of these must be first author papers, while the third can be in any position of authorship. They do not have to be related in subject matter. At the time of your defense, two papers must be accepted for publication and one must be submitted. For teaching requirements, PhD students are required to TA for three semesters. 

Q: What kinds of extracurricular activities and opportunities for student involvement are there at CWRU?

A: CWRU has many organizations that specifically cater to graduate students. This includes art and music groups, service and volunteering, cultural and special interest groups, STEM and engineering-centric groups, campus leadership, fitness/sports and many more. Additionally, BME has a graduate student association that advocates for grad students, hosts social events, and organizes intramural sports throughout the year. If you are interested in an activity that isn’t currently hosted by CWRU student groups you can also start your own. Or you can seek out other groups outside of campus like pottery, Cleveland running, archery or planting to name a few.

Q: What are housing and cost of living expenses like?

A: Cleveland is a relatively affordable place to live on a graduate student stipend. Rent ranges from around ~$800/month for a single bedroom to $1,000 - $1,300 for a two-bedroom. Areas to look at include Little Italy, Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Heights

Q: Can graduate students have more than one mentor? How does that work?

A: Yes! Some students receive an offer from two mentors, both of which co-advise the students. 

Q: How does one select their committee?

A: Committee selection is often done in conjunction with your PI at the end of your first year. They can recommend faculty that would provide good professional and managerial advice for your project. A committee is required to have the student’s PI, and external member with no collaborations with the PI, a committee chair to lead the committee and support the student (this can not be the PI), and one other faculty member. It can also include members outside of the department, but they can not be a voting member. 

Q: Are there universal program requirements?

A: The program requires 36 credit hours of academic courses and 18 credit hours of thesis research. Some of these credits are core courses that must be taken by all students unless a student tests out. An oral qualifying exam is taken in the summer after the 1st year. The student must also write and orally defend a research proposal (end of 2nd summer). The student must be a TA for three semesters. The student must also publish minimum three papers, two of which are first author and another which is any author, as well as give a presentation at a conference. 

Q: Can I do an internship as a PhD student?

A: Yes, but you need to work this out with your PI. The earlier the better so PIs and labs can better accommodate your internship or co-op schedule.

Q: What are the milestones of the PhD program?

A: Year 1 is focused on passing and completing your core courses, terminating in taking the oral qualifier, Year 2 students delve more into their research while taking electives, at the end of year 2 most students complete the second part of the qualifier which is an R21 defense. During years 3+ onward most students focus on completing the other program requirements including TAing 3 courses, attending and presenting at conferences and publishing their research. 

Q: What is the tier system?

A: The tier system is a stipend scale that is used to incentivize and recognize students for reaching specific milestones. All students start at tier 1 and should reach tier 3 by the end of their PhD. 

Q: Are rotations allowed?

A: Case BME does a direct match to your PI so you can get started with research towards your dissertation right away! In rare cases, students who receive more than one offer may be allowed to rotate between two labs for a semester before choosing their lab.

Q: Public transportation? Do I need a car? How do people get to campus?

A: Cleveland’s public transit system is operated by the Rapid Transit Administration (RTA). The main routes that intersect campus are the red line (train, east Cleveland to Airport, through downtown), the 40 (bus), the 9 (Cleveland Heights to downtown, via CCF), the 11 (to Cleveland Heights), the 48 (CCF to Cleveland Heights). The RTA train system is fairly reliable and arrives every 15 mins for both directions. The bus system is slightly more convoluted and has varying times. Starting this year, an RTA pass is offered to all graduate students for $65 per semester. Alternatively, CWRU offers graduate student parking passes by the semester.

Q: Are lab projects generally collaborative? 

A: Generally most science is collaborative in nature. Case BME strives to maintain and foster collaborations between CWRU and CCF and its various affiliate hospitals (University Hospitals, Veterans Affairs, MetroHealth). Most students will develop collaborations with PIs from this healthcare network and will also work with other students and researchers within their lab to complete their dissertation projects.  

Q: What are the course requirements in the PhD program?

A: 36 course credits are required. They break down to core courses, professional development (including seminars and grant writing) and electives. All students must also complete requirements in math, biology/bioengineering and engineering (although some of this is already built into your curriculum). You can place out of some of these requirements via petition if you have equivalent graduate courses.  

Q: What are qualifying exams like?

A: Qualifying exams are done in two parts; an oral qualifier after year 1 and a grant style proposal and presentation after year 2. While the sound of qualifiers can induce stress among new students, most senior students say that they found our qualifier system way more helpful than hurtful for both their knowledge base and overall PhD.