For Students Entering Fall 2007–present

Each student must write and present a detailed progress report on the proposed thesis project and present that to both the department and to the Advisory Committee in the fourth semester in residence. The purpose of the report is to demonstrate that the student has achieved a substantial level of understanding of the theoretical and/or experimental background of the thesis project, is making appropriate progress in obtaining results, and can discuss his/herongoing work in a clear and professional manner. Passing the research progress report requirement leads to Ph.D. candidacy. The report requirement includes a poster presentation to the entire department, a written report, and an oral exam by the Advisory Committee.

Poster Presentation

The report is to be presented as a formal poster presentation, following ACS format, with an accompanying research overview paper (details described below).  The presentation must include the scientific objectives in the thesis research, an overview of the necessary background material, the theoretical and experimental techniques used, and representative results obtained to date. Students should expect to present their research in approximately 5-10 minutes, repeated 3-4 times to different small groups, during the day of the poster session and to answer questions from a wide variety of faculty members and graduate students. Attendance at the poster session portion of the progress report may be by any of the Chemistry Faculty, graduate students, or other interested members of the department or university.

Written Progress Report

In addition, a 15-18 page research overview, must be presented to members of the Advisory Committee and the Graduate Program Committee at least one week before the scheduled poster session. The purpose of the paper is to summarize the student’s research progress to date and provide context for the work presented at the poster session and oral exam. Therefore, the report should include the following sections

• Title page, including title, author, advisor(s), committee members, date, and “In partial fulfillment of the Research Progress Report Requirement”
• Abstract of up to 200 words
• Introduction providing an overview of the relevant theoretical and/or experimental literature sufficient to demonstrate his/her mastery of the literature in the area of the intended thesis work (3-4 pages)
• Experimental, or Theoretical Analysis
• Results and Discussion for  work-to-date for each major project (10-12 pages  total, including tables and figures), and
• Conclusions, including a discussion of immediate next steps over the next 6-12 months and how they fit into the overall goals of the project and long-term implications of the work (approximately 2-3 pages), and
• References.

Reports must be in a 12 pt font with 1.5 spacing and should follow ACS Style. Note that students with multiple projects who wish to submit a progress report longer than 15–18 pages, excluding front matter and references, need permission from their advisory committee. If a student does not submit a written report that the advisor agrees should be presented to the committee, an advisor may either (1) delay a student’s oral exam until the end of that semester to allow for revisions, or (2) if the deficiencies are serious, place the student on probation in the group with the possibility of termination from the group at the end of that semester. Extensions beyond the end of the fourth semester require approval from the GPC.

Oral Exam

Within 2–6 weeks after the poster session, the student will meet with the Advisory Committee for a private oral exam on his/her research progress. The student should inform the Graduate Program Assistant as soon as the date is determined and if any changes are subsequently made. Note that members of the GPC may attend to assist with questions about requirements or procedure. The purpose of the oral exam is to ensure that the student has the necessary background knowledge to conduct his/her research. During this oral examination, the student is expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the literature and methods relevant to the research, including subject matter tangential to any material in the written report or oral presentation and fundamental theoretical or experimental concepts relevant to the work. The student should also be able to discuss possible future directions for the research. Attendance at the examination may be by any of the Chemistry Faculty, although they will be nonparticipating spectators. Students will typically not be eligible to take the oral exam if they either have not passed all attainment requirements or have not passed the English proficiency requirement.

Timeline

The written research progress report should be presented to the Advisory Committee at least one week before the scheduled poster session. When the paper is submitted, a date for the oral exam should be arranged that is acceptable to all committee members and falls within 2–6 weeks of the poster session. The student must receive oral feedback from the committee on the day of the exam and written feedback from the Advisory Committee Chair should follow in 1–3 days.

Outcomes

Note that a passing performance requires satisfactory performance on both the written report and oral exam. The poster presentation is required as preparation for the oral exam, but is not normally evaluated formally. There are four potential outcomes to the progress report requirement: pass, conditional pass, conditional pass with probation, or failure.

1. Pass indicates clearly satisfactory knowledge, along with satisfactory research progress, written report and oral exam.
2. Conditional pass indicates satisfactory research progress with minor deficiencies in knowledge, written report, and/or oral exam performance that the student should be able to address in 1-2 months of effort, including potentially re-defending the progress report to the committee and/or revising the report.
3. Conditional pass with probation indicates significant deficiencies in research progress, knowledge, written report, and/or oral exam performance for which the advisor and committee are willing to give 3-4 months of probation to address the deficiencies and re-defend the report.
4. Failure indicates grave concerns about a student’s research progress, knowledge, written report, and/or oral exam performance such that the advisor and committee question the student’s ability to complete a Ph.D. in this research area. The advisor may terminate the student from his/her group or, upon agreement of the advisor, advisory committee and GPC Co-Chairs, the student may be permitted to repeat the oral exam, including revisions to the written report, by no later than the end of the subsequent semester. If the student is terminated from the group and is not eligible to change advisors (see Research Advisors, page 14), he/she would be terminated from the Ph.D. program.

In cases B, C and D, the deficiencies must be communicated in writing by the Advisory Committee Chair to the student and the Graduate Program Committee, along with a new deadline for re-defending the progress report. Any requests for extensions beyond the agreed upon date must be made and approved in writing by the GPC co-chairs; otherwise, the student will be on probation until the requirement is satisfied. In case D, the Advisory Committee Chair should also give the student and GPC a written document describing the deficiencies that warranted failure. All students must pass the research progress report requirement by the end of the sixth semester in residence to remain in the Ph.D. program unless there are documented exceptional circumstances.