Second Year Student Meeting PhD Candidacy Exam

Off-topic candidacy exam General GSBS Procedure - some programs vary Three off-topic summaries -usually specific aims Meet with Advisory committee – select one summary Petition for Candidacy - Academic Standards Committee Submit only the selected summary New -The summary sent to ASC must be in format of an NIH specific aims page.

Off-topic candidacy exam After ASC approval of your petition Six weeks total to prepare for the exam Proposal to exam committee, two weeks before Format is like NIH R01 grant < 12 page proposal At exam you’ll give a 20 – 30 minute presentation

Off-topic or On-Topic? GSBS Requires an Off-Topic Exam Exception: Two Programs approved to use an On-Topic Format: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Neuroscience (optional on- or off-topic exam) Some additional Programs have recently APPLIED for an exception to use on-topic. If approved, these will be announced before June 1 st. “Grandfathering” rule If your program switches to an on-topic format after you join that program, then you still have the option to use the program’s earlier off-topic format.

Timeline for current second year PhD students  Submit petition for PhD candidacy by August 24 th, 2015  Take the exam by the end of the Fall semester Now: Pick “off-topic” exam subjects and begin writing abstracts Schedule an Advisory Committee meeting Before August: Meet with advisory committee – select summary Select exam committee members Submit petition along with the selected summary to OAA Schedule an exam date Discuss work schedule with your advisor

Your Exam Committee Discuss possible members with your advisor Include at least one member with expertise on the topic Pick an experienced chair Meet with the chair, ask what to expect at the exam Hand in your proposal on time Remind your committee of time/location 2 days before Bill’s Tips

Getting Ready for the Exam Prepare reading lists when you write your summaries Be ready to discuss Strengths and weaknesses of proposal Pitfalls and alternative strategies Interpretation of data Recent publications on the subject Do a mock exam – don’t use your best friends Bill’s Tips

GSBS Website – Candidacy Exam “Helpful Info” Page Example Proposals Example Presentations (available soon!) This Powerpoint Results of Survey: Advice from senior students