Faculty Advisors
A student's advisory committee plays an important role in his/her education. Advisors are assigned, or chosen by the student, at different points in the student's career, and their purpose varies with the stage of the career.

• Advising for the Master Programs and during the beginning years in the Ph.D. program:
  An advisor is assigned from the Department's Graduate Mentoring Committee. This advisor will help the student with academic issues such as the choice of courses.
• Advising during the later years in the Ph.D. program:
  After a certain time, usually after having passed at least some of the Preliminary Exams, the student chooses an academic advisor (also called major advisor) in his/her scientific field of interest. The academic advisor will oversee the research that leads to a Ph.D. dissertation. The student and the major advisor will mutually agree on the selection of two associate advisors. The major advisor and the two associate advisors comprise the student's advisory committee. This system assures each student an individually planned program with continuous supervision.

Graduate Student Mentor
Entering students are also assigned a graduate student mentor, who will be able to provide some insight into navigating through the department.