About
The PhD rotation program consists of three three-month laboratory rotations, allowing students a chance to work with different potential supervisors. By the end of the third rotation, students will finalize their thesis supervisor.
Laboratory Rotations
Each selected student will need to identify (and confirm the agreement of) three supervisors for their rotations prior to the start of their program. After receiving the admission offer, you should begin contacting faculty members in the School of Biomedical Engineering whose research is of interest to you regarding your lab rotations. Rotation students can do rotations in the laboratories of both “Faculty” and “Associate Members” in the School of Biomedical Engineering. Your name will also be circulated among the faculty in the School informing them that you have been selected for the Rotation Program. You may be contacted by one of these faculty members regarding a rotation position in their laboratory.
Coursework
Coursework for PhD rotation students varies depending on the student. Students who enter the PhD Program with a degree equivalent to a Master of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering may receive permission from the SBME Graduate Advisor to take fewer courses. These students typically complete their coursework over their first year of study and then transfer to the PhD program for September 1 after their first year (transfer must be undertaken before 2 years of graduate studies is complete, and can only be done at the beginning of a term). Students entering the rotation program directly from a Bachelor’s degree will need to complete the MASc plus the PhD coursework. Information on course requirements can be found here.
Rotation Reports
After each Rotation, students must submit a rotation report to update the program on their progress. This report is an opportunity for both the student and supervisor to reflect on the rotation student’s time in the lab and see if objectives were met and progress was made.
Transfer
At the end of the rotation period, you are expected to secure a thesis supervisor. Once you have confirmed a PhD thesis supervisor and completed your courses, you will transfer to the PhD program.
September Intake Timeline
| Dates | |
| Secure Lab Rotation Supervisors | April – August (prior to program start) |
| Lab Rotation 1: | September 1 – November 30 |
| Report Due: | December 7 |
| Lab Rotation 2: | January 1 – March 31 |
| Report Due: | April 7 |
| Lab Rotation 3: | May 1 – July 31 |
| Report Due: | August 7 |
| Lab Rotation Selection Deadline: | August 15 |
| Transfer: | September 1 |
January 2021 Intake* Timeline
| Dates | |
| Lab Rotation 1: | January 2 – March 31 |
| Report Due: | April 7 |
| Lab Rotation 2: | May 1 – July 31 |
| Report Due: | August 31 |
| Lab Rotation 3: | September 1 – November 30 |
| Report Due: | December 7 |
| Lab Rotation Selection Deadline: | December 15 |
| Transfer: | January 1, 2022 |
May 2021 Intake* Timeline
| Dates | |
| Lab Rotation 1: | May 1 – July 31 |
| Report Due: | August 31 |
| Lab Rotation 2: | September 1 – November 30 |
| Report Due: | December 7 |
| Lab Rotation 3: | January 1 – March 31 |
| Report Due: | April 7 |
| Lab Rotation Selection Deadline: | April 15 |
| Transfer: | May 1, 2022 |