Lab Rotations

One of the big advantages of the CMB Program is the breadth of the research opportunities available. First-year students begin the first rotation as soon as possible after arriving, and most have three rotations by the end of the Spring semester of year one.

Advice on choosing rotations

It is recommended that you wait until you arrive in August before choosing your first rotation, and also that you don’t rush into scheduling the second and third rotations far ahead of schedule. Spend some time and effort in selecting your rotations and familiarize yourself with the many research opportunities available at Duke. Don’t be afraid to do one rotation on a topic that is significantly different than the others – you may find that this changes your career plan, and even if it doesn’t, it will broaden your education. Before choosing a lab for a rotation, feel free to contact several faculty members and discuss research opportunities with them. This web site has links to faculty members’ research description and their home departments. There are several other ways to learn about possible rotations:

• Department seminar series, journal clubs, and retreats
• Advice from the CMB advisory committee
• Advice from advanced CMB students
• Weekly lunches hosted by Departments during September and October

Schedule of lab rotations

Lab rotations are scheduled for about 10 weeks each. The first rotation begins as soon as possible after arrival, the second rotation around the first week in November, and the third rotation around the first week in February. This schedule should be followed as much as possible, but it can be modified if necessary.