The UAMS Graduate School holds an annual Research Induction Ceremony for doctoral candidates. This event recognizes one of the hallmark achievements for students pursuing the Doctoral of Philosophy degree. It is a formal ceremony for students who have successfully pass the Ph.D. qualifying exam and their transition from student to Ph.D. candidate. It marks the initiation of the student’s dissertation research. It is at this point in time that they embark on a career of discovery in biomedical and health research.
Candidacy means that students have selected their mentor or major graduate advisor who will assume the mentorship role from the PhD program Director. The mentor-mentee relationship is a mutually strong bond that often lasts a lifetime. During the white coat ceremony, the mentor and PhD program director along with the Dean of the UAMS graduate school presents each candidate with a laboratory coat to symbolize this relationship and to celebrate the initiation of their dissertation research.
At the end of the ceremony, students are asked to recite the “Affirmation of Scientists” to publicly acknowledge the acceptance of the expected standards of honor and integrity