Qualifying Exam & Dissertation

The qualifying examination is administered to all students who have formally chosen the Graduate Program in Microbiology as their home program. The qualifying exam is written on the thesis topic. The student is encouraged to qualify in the fall of the second year, shortly after joining the thesis laboratory.

The goals of the qualifying exam are to: a) strengthen and examine the student’s understanding of the dissertation project, b) plot a blueprint for a 5-year Ph.D. timeline (considering ambition versus feasibility and backup plans), with designs from the student and guidance from the advisor and committee members, and c) enhance scientific reading, scientific writing, and critical thinking skills. The qualifying exam process serves as a personalized scientific reading, writing, and experimental design training process tailored to the student.

After discussion with the thesis advisor, the student assembles the qualifying exam committee. The advisor and student should identify research areas directly related to the thesis project in which the student should achieve an in-depth working knowledge. The student and advisor should also identify appropriate faculty to serve as members of the Qualifying Exam committee. As the Qualifying Examination will cover the thesis project, faculty on the Qualifying Exam committee are likely candidates to later serve on the Thesis Committee. The DGS is available for consultation in choosing topics and committee members. The student is encouraged to identify one faculty member in each of the three disciplines or research areas relevant to the thesis research, including but not limited to: microbiology, immunology, genomics, genetics, cell biology, structural biology, molecular biology, computational biology, and bioinformatics. At least one member must be on the faculty within the Microbiology Ph.D. program. The goal is to bring in expertise from three different disciplines to broaden the research scope and training of the student. The student is encouraged to contact multiple faculty members, discuss overall research directions, identify faculty who can be most helpful to the thesis project, and ask these faculty whether they can serve on the qualifying exam committee.

The qualifying exam proposal follows the NIH F30/F31 fellowship format, including Specific Aims (1 page), Research Strategies (6 pages), and references. Discussions among the student, advisor, and committee members should involve: a) reading the literature in depth and examining the rigor of the scientific premise, b) asking important questions and setting testable hypotheses, c) ideally, planning for one high-reward project and one feasible project, aiming for completion within 4 years (to meet the 5-year Ph.D. goal), d) designing experiments and controls, e) setting milestone experiments, potential caveats, alternative strategies, and timelines, f) exploring different scientific disciplines, approaches, and tools for the dissertation, and g) writing and presenting scientific findings. During the qualifying exam process, the student should have discussions with the advisor and committee members frequently.

The time and place for the oral examination should be scheduled by the first week of the reading period and reported to the DGS. The QUALIFYING PROPOSAL and list of papers read on each topic during the reading period should be distributed to committee members one week in advance of the oral examination.

The student will prepare a short talk for the proposal. The talk should last ~30 minutes, though actual presentations often take longer (1.5~2 hours) as faculty may ask questions during the talk. A chalk talk presentation is optional but encouraged.

At the end of the exam, the student will be asked to leave the room briefly for the committee to discuss. The advisor may provide input regarding the student’s performance

As the thesis is written on the thesis project, the main aims and experimental approach should be discussed with and have the approval of the advisor. Beyond the big picture and general direction, the QUALIFYING PROPOSAL should represent the independent work of the student. During the oral exam, the advisor is expected to be present but cannot answer questions for the student. The advisor will also receive a copy of the QUALIFYING PROPOSAL and of the chair’s report after the examination has concluded.

The primary goal of the Ph.D. program is completion of the Ph.D. dissertation. After all pre-dissertation requirements are successfully completed (Course Requirements, Honors Requirement, Qualifying Examination, Dissertation Prospectus), a student will be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. These requirements are normally met in three years. Students should present their dissertation work in the weekly Research in Progress seminars, arrange a thesis committee meeting at least once a year, and upload thesis committee forms to the dissertation progress report.

Sample PhD dissertations:

• Donghyun Park, Jun Liu Lab
• Mac Crite, Daniel DiMaio Lab