Thesis Advisory Committee

Following selection of the research advisor, the student's thesis advisory committee is selected by September 30 of the second year. The thesis advisory committee performs several functions. It may help the student choose specific elective courses in preparation for the chosen field of research. It provides advisory input during the development of the thesis research project with respect to scientific merit, techniques and methodology, relevant literature, etc. It gives final approval of the specific program presented for the thesis topic to be developed and participates in the Qualifying Examination. Finally, it, along with a representative appointed by the Dean's Office, is the examining committee for the thesis defense. Committee members may also provide more complete guidance in the selection of final courses in preparation for research and assist the thesis advisor. By September 30 of the second year, the student and the research advisor must submit a list of suggested committee members to the Graduate Studies Coordinator. The proposed thesis committee must be approved by the Program Director. 

The thesis advisory committee must consist of the research advisor, one faculty member in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) program, one faculty member who belongs to the BMB program as well as the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (one of these faculty members may include the advisor), one faculty member from outside the BMB program AND Department and one additional faculty member who can be inside or outside. Joint appointees who have primary appointments in another department are considered outside members. An advisor who is not a primary member of the Department may not count as the outside member (they must be considered the 4th member of the committee). At least one member of the advisory committee should have trained a graduate student through completion of the Ph.D. Additional committee members may be included from either within or outside the University if it is considered useful or necessary. Thus, the minimum size of the committee will be four members, but five (or more) is quite possible. In the case of joint co-advisors, a minimum of five members may be required. For the purposes of the final dissertation defense, as per graduate regulations, only five committee members may be assigned voting rights. Changes to the thesis committee must be pre-approved by the Program  irector. To prevent potential conflicts of interests, spouses or immediate family of research advisors who are on the thesis advisory committee are non-voting members of the committee. In this case the thesis advisory committee should have an additional member.