Members of the matriculating PhD class celebrated after receiving their lab coats.
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai recently held its inaugural PhD Lab Coat Ceremony—becoming the only institution in New York City, and one of the few in the country, to honor its matriculating class of PhD students in this fashion. The event, symbolizing the start of their graduate training, recognized 53 new students enrolled in Mount Sinai’s PhD programs in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, and the MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program.
The ceremony, held Monday, September 17, in Goldwurm Auditorium, was a jubilant event for the students who received their lab coats, as well as for their families and friends, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai leadership and faculty. The Graduate School separately presented honorary plaques to 40 PhD and MD/PhD students who have officially joined a lab and confirmed their PhD candidature by passing their thesis proposal exams.
Front row: Matthew O’Connell, PhD, and Marta Filizola, PhD, with PhD students who received an honorary plaque as they officially joined a Mount Sinai laboratory and confirmed their PhD candidature, back row from left: Denise Jurczyszak, Emma Mcgregor, and Nivedita Saxena.
“We value the innovation and creativity that drive transformative scientific discoveries at Mount Sinai, but we also love the symbolism of the white lab coat, which embodies scientific rigor, objectivity, and professionalism,” said Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Sharon and Frederick Klingenstein/Nathan Kase, MD Professor, and Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, and Neuroscience.
During the ceremony, the students recited an oath for doctoral candidates—a set of guiding principles—written by Matthew O’Connell, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Curriculum, Recruitment, and Admissions.
“I willingly pledge to uphold the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, scholarship, and honor,” they each read, as they affirmed to conduct their research and professional endeavors with honesty and objectivity.
Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, welcomed the incoming students and spotlighted their strong academic credentials and their significant research experience.
Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs, reminded guests: “Although science today is under attack from extremists of many political stripes, science still represents promise for the future: economic advancement, improved health, and better lives. So, as we put on that lab coat—figuratively or literally—we accept several obligations to carry out research that is rigorous, reproducible, robust, and responsible.” Dr. Nestler is also Director of The Friedman Brain Institute and Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience.
World-renowned microbiologist Peter Palese, PhD, Chair of the Department of Microbiology and the Horace W. Goldsmith Professor of Medicine, introduced keynote speaker Vincent Racaniello, PhD, Higgins Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Racaniello, a noted virologist who focuses on the molecular biology of picornavirus replication and pathogenesis, earned his doctorate from Mount Sinai in 1980 and was the first PhD graduate mentored by Dr. Palese.
“Forty-three years ago this month, I was in the same place as you are now,” Dr. Racaniello said, addressing the students. “Looking back, I now realize I was completely clueless, but four decades in science have taught me many important lessons. The one worth telling you is that science is not about you: It is not about building a big lab, scoring many research grants, publishing papers in prominent journals, or even winning a Nobel Prize. It is about discovery.”
Members of the matriculating PhD class celebrated after receiving their lab coats.