Candidacy Preparation Tips

[ERR_Alpha]

Hey everyone!

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I figured it could be helpful again.

I have my candidacy exam in the fall- ours is a bit different. It focuses heavily on the ability to critically analyze a paper in our "general" field- so mine will be a biochemistry paper. We have to do a short research "chalk talk", but it's not as important.

So my question to those who have done this: what study strategies did you use? (Online resources, books, etc.) How did you regiment your studying? Did you read journal articles?

I'm trying to start laying out a study schedule and I wanted all of your lovely advice I'm in a slightly odd situation since I'm switching labs in the middle of all of this, so I want to set myself up as best as I can.

Thanks everyone!

[aberrant]

i like your candidacy exam format -- no writing of grant proposal, verbal defense it, and all that jazz.

 

My program doesn't do it that way but here is a question for you before giving my piece of advice -- would you know what that specific paper is? my lab does biweekly journal club and a monthly/bimonthly paper in-depth presentation, which sounds like something that you have for your candidacy exam.

 

If you already know what that paper will be, your strategy would be far more simpler than, for example, having you to read and explain a paper on the spot.

[ERR_Alpha]

i like your candidacy exam format -- no writing of grant proposal, verbal defense it, and all that jazz.

My program doesn't do it that way but here is a question for you before giving my piece of advice -- would you know what that specific paper is? my lab does biweekly journal club and a monthly/bimonthly paper in-depth presentation, which sounds like something that you have for your candidacy exam.

If you already know what that paper will be, your strategy would be far more simpler than, for example, having you to read and explain a paper on the spot.

We get it three weeks prior- I think in an attempt to level the playing field. Once I get it, I plan on going indepth on each method they use in the paper to really make sure I understand how/why and the details.

[aberrant]

We get it three weeks prior- I think in an attempt to level the playing field. Once I get it, I plan on going indepth on each method they use in the paper to really make sure I understand how/why and the details.

 

so I guess you already have a general understanding of the field at this point -- just need to read up the detail (of the biological process) when you get the paper.

 

The first thing that I would do is to read up and truly understands the experimental designs and approach -- every bit of it. I'll then go to the figures and understand what they are doing, why they are doing it, and what are the results indicate. Ultimately, I'll read the main text (if necessary) and supplement things that I may have missed / unsure of.

 

I would read through the supplementary information, if any, thoroughly. Finally, go to the references to pick up the historical aspect of this particular research -- what/why people study this particular research at the beginning, what are the questions that were needed to address, and solutions that were proposed on the way-- until this day.

 

just one of the many ways that you can study for a paper 

 

 

Edit: you should prepare the actual critique part (on the paper) -- the pros and cons about this paper. what would you do, experimentally speaking, to improve if you were the author? what type of experiments need to be done to address the hypothesis by the author? what are the flaws / weak points in the currently presented methods / data? just a few things to think about. for that, you will need to know enough of experimental techniques to know when to use what, to address a specific question. i supposed there are a few things that you can read -- biochemistry/biology books for the metabolics/biological process, research articles in the field for the common techniques. i would imagine that this exam requires you to translate everything that you know (textbook, research, etc.) into the answer that you want.

Edited July 14, 2015 by aberrant