FALL 2007 ORIENTATION

for INTERNATIONAL TOXICOLOGY Graduate Students

 

Info for prior to arrival: 

http://www.iastate.edu/~internat_info/Pre_Arrival/

http://www.iastate.edu/~internat_info/

The office for International Students and Scholars will provide free shuttle transportation from the Des Moines Airport to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa on August 10, 11 and 12.

FALL 2007 arrivals.   To reserve a seat on the shuttle or inquire about housing:  http://www.iastate.edu/~internat_info/Transportation/

Temporary Housing will also be available for $25 per night.

 

Fall Orientation Schedule for International Students

http://www.iastate.edu/~internat_info/Pre_Arrival/         (as of July 10, this has not yet been posted).

 

________        send final copy of your transcript with degree awarded to

Office of Admissions
100 Alumni Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2011 USA   

                        If your degree was not complete at the time you applied to graduate school at Iowa State, please send a new transcript showing the completion and award of your degree.

 

________        Rotation students should be thinking about potential rotations.  You should have a good idea about 2 or 3 labs that you are interested in before you arrive.  You may contact any toxicology faculty member to discuss possible rotations.  Your temporary advisor is an excellent resource for the discussion of your scientific interests and this advisor can make recommendations as to faculty working in the area of your interest. Linda Wild is a good source for faculty looking for students.  Toxicology Faculty who have indicated an interest in rotation students are: 

Bryony Bonning            Entomology                                          bbonning@iastate.edu

Richard Martin             Biomedical Sciences                             rjmartin@iastate.edu

Diane Birt                     Food Science and Human Nutrition       dbirt@iastate.edu

Ruth MacDonald          Food Science and Human Nutrition       ruthmacd@iastate.edu

Timothy Day                 Biomedical Sciences                             day@iastate.edu

 

UPON ARRIVAL AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY or MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007

 

_______ Check in with International Students Office, (location to be announced) to obtain a Fall Orientation Schedule for International Students or obtain one on-line:  http://www.iastate.edu/~internat_info/Pre_Arrival/  (as of July 10, not yet posted).

Maps of campus can be found here:  http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/

 

            Some of the activities you will take care through the International Students Office are listed below.

 

            ________Obtain University ID card and University Email account

 

________Fill out an I-9 form while at the International Students Office which is used to verify your eligibility for payroll. The beginning payroll date is based on when you complete this paperwork and the date on your letter of intent.  Example: if your letter of intent begins August 14 but the I-9 paperwork is processed on August 16, August 16 is the earliest we will be able to begin your payroll. Payroll forms are available on line:

http://www.hrs.iastate.edu/records/  click on "Signup Packet" and can be filled out in advance.              

 

_______ The International Student Office will advise you as to when it is best to apply for your social security number. You will apply at the Social Security Administration Office at 600 5th Street in Ames. You will need to take passport/visa, I-20, and documents showing that you will be receiving an assistantship or Fellowship (letter of intent).

 

_______ English Placement Test:  This test is required and can be taken only by admitted students.  You will need to bring two #2 sharpened pencils, a ballpoint pen and your ISU Card or passport.  Please refer to the handout in your orientation packet for more details.  If you need more information, please contact the English Department, 337 Ross Hall.  Please arrive 15 minutes early for the test.

 

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_______ Check in with Linda Wild in 2102 Molecular Biology Building (294-7697 or email her

at lmwild@iastate.edu to let her know you are on campus.

 

_______ Your Campus Address.  If you are participating in rotations your campus address is:  2102 Molecular

Biology.  Campus Phone:  515-294-7697.  Campus fax:  515-294-6669.  There is a mail

box in this office for you.  If you are joining the lab of your major professor, contact him or her for information regarding your

campus address and campus phone number.

 

_______ Advise toxmajor@iastate.edu of your ISU email address when you have obtained it.

 

_______OSHA Lab Standard Training. This training should be completed by the end of the first week of classes. You may complete this training on-line. You need an ISU ID card to complete this activity. 

 

Environmental Health and Safety:  http://www.ehs.iastate.edu/cms/default.asp

Click on:                       Learning Center Login: 

LOGIN                        Click on New User Registration

                                    You will need to create a password for this activity                   

LOGIN                        using your University ID card number and the newly created

password

Click on:                       On-Line Courses: 

Take the following:

   An Introduction to On-Line Courses  (~~2 minutes)

   Chemical Hygiene Plan and Personal Protective Equipment  (~~25 minutes)

               Fire Safety and Extinguisher Training  (~~16 minutes)

               ISU-EPA Hazardous Waste Generator Online Training  (~~25 minutes)

 

_______ Register on-line for classes through ACCESS PLUS.  You will need your University ID Card.  Go to the ISU homepage:

http://www.iastate.edu and click on ACCESS PLUS.  Once you are in to your information, go to the Student Tab and then to Course Registration.    Listed below are core courses that are taken by first semester Toxicology graduate students.

 

                        A typical 12 credit fall schedule might resemble the following for rotation students:

 

                                    Toxiology 501              Principles of Toxicology            T R 2:10pm-3:30pm                 3 credits

                                    BBMB 404                  Biochemistry I                          M W F 11:00am-11:50am        3 credits

                                    TOX 699 AK              Research Rotations                   ask Linda for reference code     6 credits

 

                        A typical 12 credit fall schedule might resemble the following for students not participating in rotations:

 

                                    Toxiology 501              Principles of Toxicology            T R 2:10pm-3:30pm                 3 credits

                                    BBMB 404                  Biochemistry I                          M W F 11:00am-11:50am        3 credits

                                    Course recommended by major professor that has direct application to your research    3 credits

TOX 699                     Research with major professor  ask Linda for reference code     3 to 6 credits

 

On-Line Web site for availability:   http://www.iastate.edu/~catalog/schedule/

 

_______ If you have any questions about taking the above courses, contact your major professor or temporary advisor to set up a time to discuss courses/registration for fall semester.  For example, you may have taken upper level courses similar to these courses at your previous institution.  All final decisions regarding whether a previous taken course meets the requirement is up to your program of study committee and the Chair of IG. 

 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 14

 

Activities as indicated by the International Students Orientation Schedule

 

WEDNESDAY, August 15

 

Activities as indicated by the International Students Orientation Schedule

 

THURSDAY, August 16

 

Activities as indicated by the International Students Orientation Schedule

 

_______ Fill out Health Insurance Form on-line through ACCESS PLUS.  You will need your ISU ID card to do this.  Best to wait until 3 days after filling out and turning in payroll documents.  Go to the ISU homepage http://www.iastate.edu and select ACCESS PLUS.  Go to Student Tab and then to Health Insurance. Single health insurance is provided as part of your assistantship and to insure that you are not charged for this expense it is necessary that we have payroll documents in the system. 

 

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18

OPTIONAL:  2007 New Graduate Student Orientation

When: Friday, August 17, 2007
Time: 9:00am - 11:30am                                                                                                           Where:  1137 Pearson Hall

This year's event is going to be a combination "meet and greet" reception and special topics presentations. We will follow much the same format as last year; however, in addition to the main activities in Room 1137 Pearson, there will be several more presenters this year spread out in even more classrooms and conference rooms on first and second floors of Pearson Hall. Some of the presenters this year will be: International Students and Scholars Office, Access Plus, Parks Library, Student Health Services, Accounts Receivable Office, Financial Aid, Delta Dental to name just a few.    http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/applying/2007orientation.html

REQUIRED:  2007 Toxicology Graduate New Student Orientation

12:15   Lunch with Present Faculty and Graduate Students        1102 Molecular Biology

12:45   Introductions

1:00     Toxicology Mini-Research Symposium

            1:00     Richard Martin, Biomedical Sciences

            1:15     Suzanne Hendrich, FSHN

            1:30     Joe Przybyszewski for the MacDonald Lab, FSHN

1:45     Break

2:00     Review Toxicology Handbook

2:30     Questions, Comments.

2:45     Finish

 

 

MONDAY, AUGUST 20

 

            CLASSES START

 

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18              REQUIRED ATTENDANCE

 

            Scientific Ethics Orientation PART I                  4:10 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

            1414 Molecular Biology

            Instructors:  Clark Wolfe, John Mayfield, Jo Anne Powell-Coffman,

Marit Nilsen-Hamilton

 

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 25              REQUIRED ATTENDANCE

 

            Scientific Ethics Orientation PART II     4:10 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

            1414 Molecular Biology

            Instructors:  Clark Wolfe, John Mayfield, Jo Anne Powell-Coffman,

Marit Nilsen-Hamilton             

Topics covered will be similar to the following course offered in the spring (if you are unable to attend these meetings, students may enroll in this ½ credit course in the spring: Agron 565A.   Professional Practices in Research.  This 8-hour, 0.5 credit module is designed for students in the life sciences who are considering careers in research.  It covers topics such as honesty, objectivity (the impact of self-delusion on experimental design and data interpretation), confidentiality, effective record keeping, plagiarism, authorship practices, and the exchange of research reagents.  Real as well as developed case studies are used to help students learn to think critically about ethical dilemmas they will likely face during their professional careers.)

 

There maybe one additional training session we are working on.