#  LAB ROTATIONS 

 



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### Our Lab Rotation Program allows first year graduate students (G1s) to experience the science and environment of our CCB laboratories. The program also exposes our students to the interrelated, multidisciplinary research our faculty pursue and encourages them to investigate beyond the borders of their chosen field. 

## **Lab Rotation Policies for G1s**

- G1s are required to participate in three 4-week rotations OR one 8-week and one 4-week rotation.  If a student does not secure a lab during the first semester, they are expected to begin a fourth rotation by January 15 of the second semester, notify the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies, and continue rotating until a lab placement is confirmed.
- Each student is assigned a graduate student or postdoctoral mentor for guidance and advice on lab practices and policies.
- All rotations must be conducted in the lab of a Harvard faculty member. Effective for 2025-26, advisors of CCB graduate students must have a Harvard faculty appointment.
- In the third rotation, students may choose to rotate with a professor in a department outside CCB with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies; to do so, contact the outside faculty member directly to discuss your possible rotation.
- Students must wait for the group joining deadline before officially joining a group.
- All students are required to enter a research group by June 30th of their first year.
- The faculty head of the chosen group serves as the student’s advisor.
- G1s will be graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory on their rotations for Chemistry 300. Requirements for a Satisfactory grade include discussing rotation expectations with their rotation mentor and meeting these expectations (e.g., attend lab meetings, shadow lab members, conduct experiments, analyze data, run simulations, etc.). An Unsatisfactory grade will be given if a student fails to participate in their rotations and/or does not respond to emails (generally within 48 hours) from the Directors of Graduate Studies when checking in on student rotation progress.

If, after you join a research group, you find that another area of research more closely matches your interests, consult the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor [**Ted Betley**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/people/theodore-betley), or Co-Director of Graduate Studies, [**Joe Lavin**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/people/joseph-lavin). At the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies, students may be allowed up to three months of additional rotations in order to find a new research group. Students who have not found a new research group by the end of this three-month period will be withdrawn from the program.


### **2025 Rotation Schedule**

**First Lab Rotation**: September 8 – October 3

**Second Lab Rotation**: October 6 – October 31

**Third Lab Rotation**: November 3 – December 5

## **Required Forms**

- [**Rotation Form 2025**](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/2025-08/ROTATION%20FORM%202025_0.pdf "Rotation Form 2025_pdf")
- [**Group Selection Form 2025-26**](/resource/new-grp-join-2025-26 "New Grp Join 2025-26")
- [**Group Transfer Form 2025-26**](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/2025-08/Group%20Transfer%20Form%202025-26.pdf "Group Transfer Form 2025-26")

**Questions?** Please contact [Kathy Oakley](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/chemistry/people/kathy-oakley)



 

[**GRADUATE STUDENT GUIDE**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/pages/information-current-students)

- [**CHECK-IN & COURSE REGISTRATION**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/check-course-registration)
- [**COURSE REQUIREMENTS**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/course-requirements)
- [**LAB ROTATIONS**](/resource/rotation-form-2025-0 "Rotation Form 2025")
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- [**SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/supplemental-funding)
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- [**GRADUATE ADVISING COMMITTEE**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/graduate-advising-committee-gac)
- [**DISSERTATION**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/dissertation)
- [**MASTER OF ARTS**](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/master-arts)