Thesis Defense

You have worked hard to get to this point, so you should be feeling proud of your accomplishments! The defense is an important day in the life of a graduate student and, indeed, in the lives of those who care about you. Please keep in mind that your committee wants you to be successful in the defense. However, it is their job to ask difficult questions to determine your readiness for a scientific career. The defense is not a mere formality. It is your last exam of graduate school.

The PhD thesis defense in Toxicology is held in the following format: The first hour of the exam is a public seminar open to the faculty, students, research staff at the University, and as well as any guests. The student’s presentation should last about 50 minutes, with about 10 minutes allowed at the conclusion for questions from the audience. The student should be selective about the material presented, so that the seminar does not exceed the time available. Notes, slides, charts, and the usual visual aids for a seminar are permitted; however, the student needs to make arrangements for special audiovisual equipment well in advance. Following the seminar, the student and the examining committee will adjourn to a closed session, where the remainder of the exam will be conducted.

At the start of the closed-door exam, the student will be asked to leave the room for a short period of time. Upon returning to the room, questioning for the oral exam typically lasts 1.5-2.5 hours, therefore, you should plan for a 3-hr exam. At the end of the oral exam, the student will be asked to leave the room. The committee will come to consensus regarding whether or not the student passed. The results of the closed oral exam and any changes required in the written document are communicated directly (verbally) to the student immediately at the end of the exam. The Chair of the examination committee is charged with the responsibility of conveying the results of the examination in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education and the Vice-Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.

After successful completion of the PhD oral examination, and after making any necessary corrections in the thesis document, the student must submit a copy of their dissertation in the formats required by the University. A bound hard copy is submitted to the Program Coordinator and will be kept in the student room where all PhD theses are kept. Students typically give a bound, corrected copy of the thesis to each of the committee members. Although not mandated by the program, students should determine whether the committee members want a final copy. The cost of production of the bound thesis copies is borne by the trainee or their mentor.

The student must maintain continuous enrollment until the time of submission of the corrected thesis to the Office for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Speak with the Program Coordinator about the timing of Program termination with respect to the start of your next position to avoid significant gaps in, e.g., health care coverage.