Graduate students accepted into the Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) Program are hired and oriented by the GBS office. To help you get started, they have put together a list of items you will need to complete as an incoming student.

The GBS office will ensure that you secure a UAB ONE Card, but once you start doing rotations you may need additional badge access. If so, please submit a request for additional building access (animal facilities, shared equipment rooms, or other UAB buildings).

As a student, your parking is pre-assigned. However, UAB has on-call access that may be used for “after hours” parking. On-call access is available from 5 p.m.–5 a.m. weekdays, or all day on weekends. If you need to add this access, please submit a request here. Note: a $25.00 annual charge (April-April) will be added to your account.

Since you will be working in a scientific research lab, you will be required to take training courses specific to the type of research being conducted. Most of the training you will take is accessible online via the Campus Learning System. Some courses will automatically be assigned to you, but please see your lab manager or supervisor to ensure all required training is completed.

Our program is spread across two research buildings: Bevill Biomedical Research Building (BBRB) and Shelby Biomedical Research Building (SHEL)

Bevill Biomedical Research Building	Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building
Street Address: 845 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205 Additional Tips: Bevill is located up the street from Shelby. If you are headed up the hill and reach the community health building, you have gone too far. If you are going down the hill and pass Shelby, you have gone too far. The street Bevill is on is directly connected to university boulevard. If you go up the hill from Shelby, you will arrive at the Bevill building before you arrive at the next traffic light.	Street Address: 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35233 Additional Tips: Shelby is the large building at the corner of University Boulevard and 19th Street South. It can be identified by its huge stone columns that are arranged in a circle that marks the entrance to the building.

For a complete listing of Microbiology addresses (mailing, shipping, and physical location) please see our contact page.

The goal of the acclimation phase is to lay the foundation for you to be properly adjusted to your new role in this department. Understanding your role in the department is an important task to accomplish during your first few days. It can be achieved through discussion of expectations with your supervisor, completing training courses, and as time progresses you will find your place within this department. The research environment can take some degree of adjustment, but know that you have many people supporting you and rooting for you within this department!

An acclimated member of our team will understand their role in the department, be informed about campus events, be familiar with the UAB website, know how to find resources to answer common questions, and be able to confidently navigate UAB. The GBS Student Handbook addresses many questions you may have about your position and provides an overview of the opportunities, benefits, and responsibilities for GBS students.

This department conducts a variety of events that serve to increase knowledge of specialized topics, facilitate cohesiveness of the department, and showcase experts. For more information on our seminar series, research retreat, endowed lectures, please visit our events page. Additionally, you may want to visit the calendar for student defenses so you can support your fellow students.

It is important to familiarize yourself with online UAB resources. You may have to access these resources throughout your time in the department. Frequently visited sites include: UAB administrative page, Environmental Health and Safety, Financial Affairs, and more.

UAB has created a very helpful interactive campus map online that you can use to assist you when navigating UAB. 

There are many opportunities for travel through employment in this department. We have designated staff in the chair’s office to help you prepare before and after you travel and when seeking reimbursement. You must understand the UAB travel guidelines before you begin to make your travel arrangements, so please familiarize yourself with them before you spend money.

Branding is an important part of the UAB image. Branding unifies, simplifies, and defines UAB. But it's more than a logo or website. Our brand is our reputation: it explains who we are and why we matter to students, employees, and the communities that support and rely on us. We encourage you to utilize the UAB Branding Toolkit in order to personalize your email signature, download official logos, PowerPoint Templates and more. 

There are several general UAB employee perks that you can take advantage of such as the Recreation Center, discounted tickets,  the UAB computer software distribution website, and  additional UAB employee perks. 

UAB Employee Assistance & Counseling Center offers free, confidential support services for UAB employees and members of their immediate household. A dedicated team of certified counselors, an extensive collection of online resources and a schedule of programs and events are designed to help you identify, understand, and resolve work-related and personal issues to help you achieve a successful work/life integration. Available services include individual, couples and family counseling, financial advisement, educational and stress management programs, and access to a collection to online resources.

While we hope you found this orientation useful, we know that you will continue to have questions throughout your time in our department. UAB is known for providing meaningful Post Doc experiences and has a proven track record of being where professionals in the research field come from. We are here when you do; feel free to reach out to anyone on our team. We also have a frequently asked questions page to serve as an additional resource. Again, we welcome you into your new position and believe that this experience in our department will provide you with an excellent opportunity for the development of your career.

Contact the GBS office if you have any additional questions or concerns about your appointment.