Program Timeline and Benchmarks
The dissertation proposal should be crafted with the goal of completing all the work required for a PhD within five years. This takes planning and careful evaluation of the main aims of the project. We realize that progress is unpredictable and sometimes the most fruitful approaches are also the most challenging and take longer to bear fruit. Thus, exceptions are anticipated. Below is a general timeline of the dissertation process.
Year One (1)
- Complete “Approval of Doctoral Planning” form (Milestone 1)
- Complete all required coursework (Milestone 4).
- Define the broad scope of the overall PhD work.
Year Two (2)
- Complete additional elective coursework.
- Complete Knowledge & Skills Assessment (Milestone 5) requirements.
- Have a clear plan for a dissertation project to be presented at the first Dissertation Advisory Committee meeting (late summer or early fall of year three (3)).
It is understood that plans will evolve over the course of the dissertation, especially given that creativity is highly encouraged yet often comes with risk and, often, delays.
Year Three (3)
- Have unambiguous evidence of progress toward meeting the goals of the dissertation proposal.
- A preliminary list of potential dissertation chapter titles is encouraged to start thinking about the overall dissertation hypothesis and the diverse ways the evolving work could be packaged as a dissertation.
Year Four (4)
- Solidify directions as relates to dissertation chapters, which should include a body of work that will form the basis of one (1) or two (2) first author, peer-reviewed, primary research papers.
- While publication is not a degree requirement, bringing a body of work through to publication is an important skill to learn, thus we encourage that a plan for possible first author publication(s) begin to be discussed at DAC meetings even as early as Year Three (3).
Year Five (5) and Beyond
- Continue filling in the outline of the dissertation with data and discussion.
- Continue discussions related to plans for publication(s).
- Because bringing a story to closure in the form of a publication is an important skill to learn, we encourage manuscript submission prior to the PhD defense.
- Please know that we strongly encourage creativity and realize that it is often accompanied by longer timelines.
| Semester | Timeline Item | Document Date When Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Fall, Year 1 | Identify TBS faculty mentor whose research most closely aligns with initial student's interest | |
| Initiate a research project that will fulfill Milestone 5- Knowledge & Skills Assessment requirements | ||
| Core competency coursework (including 2 sections of TBS seminar) and other coursework determined on a case-by-case basis | ||
| Research co-mentors | ||
| Spring, Year 1 | Core competency coursework and other coursework determined on a case-by-case basis | |
| Submit Approval of Doctoral Planning form to TBS Steering Committee for review | ||
| Summer, Year 1 | Present outline of planned research during TBS 6220 | |
| Evaluation of student's progress by the TBS Steering Committee, including performance in coursework and in research to date | ||
| Identify and confirm second mentor | ||
| Fall, Year 2 | By the end of year 2, schedule the completion of Milestone 5: Demonstration of the ability to conduct independent research and to effectively communicate the results of that work. This involves the completion of a manuscript/proposal and an oral presentation. (See Milestone 5 Guidelines) | |
| Schedule date/time for oral presentation (public) followed by closed session with Examination Committee members | ||
| TBS steering committee appoints an Examination Committee consisting of the student’s mentors, TBS Faculty Director, and two members from the TBS steering committee | ||
| Spring, Year 2 | Complete Milestone 5 by end of year 2 | |
| After completion of Milestone 5, meet with co-mentors and identify a 5-member dissertation advisory committee (DAC) using the TBS Dissertation Committee Proposal Guidelines | ||
| Submit the TBS Dissertation Committee Proposal form to the TBS Steering Committee for review and approval | ||
| TBS Steering Committee approves DAC composition, determines the Dean’s Representative. The student and their mentors are notified of the approval and the student should submit the Milestone 6- Selection of Dissertation Committee Form https://www.ohio.edu/graduate/current-students/doctoral-milestone-6 | ||
| Summer, Year 2 | Student prepares first progress report for DAC as per TBS Dissertation Committee Proposal Guidelines and distributes it 2 weeks before meeting. | |
| DAC reviews doctoral planning form and decides with the student if any additional elective coursework is needed | ||
| Fall, Year 3 | Student and DAC meet, format described in guidelines. | |
| The student’s mentors provide a content summary, and the DAC chairs prepare a meeting summary using the TBS Dissertation Proposal Defense Form. All members of the DAC sign the form, and forward it to TBS program office | ||
| Spring, Year 3 and beyond | TBS program schedules next meetings (6-month interval) and the DAC meetings continue until the committee is satisfied that the student’s dissertation is ready for defense | |
| Milestone 9: Demonstration of an in-depth knowledge of the specific subject, and successful defense of a research project that constitutes an original scholarly contribution towards the advance of translational biomedical sciences (within 7 calendar years of the date of initiation) | ||
| Comply with all Thesis and Dissertation requirements and deadlines as outlined by the Thesis and Dissertation Office |
Dissertation: Sequence of Events
Selection of the Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC)
After a student has completed their coursework (Milestones 1 and 4) and passes their Knowledge & Skills Assessment (Milestone 5 and 8), they will meet with their co-mentors to identify possible faculty members for the student’s Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) using TBS guidelines. Once potential committee members have been chosen, the student completes and submits a TBS Committee Proposal Form to the TBS Steering Committee. The TBS Steering Committee will then review the DAC composition and determine the Dean’s Representative. Once approved, the student and their mentors are notified of the approval, and the student should submit the Milestone 6- Selection of Dissertation Committee Form. https://www.ohio.edu/graduate/current-students/doctoral-milestone-6 &nb…;
Graduate College approval of the committee is needed for completion of Milestone 6.
Then the student and their committee can schedule the first DAC meeting per guidelines. Two (2) weeks prior to the first DAC meeting, the student prepares the first progress report per TBS Dissertation Committee Proposal Guidelines and disperses it to committee members. When the student and DAC meet, as described in the guidelines, the student’s mentors provide a content summary and prepare a meeting summary using the TBS Dissertation Proposal Defense Form which is signed by all members of the DAC and sent to the TBS program office (Milestone 7). The DAC will schedule subsequent meetings at six (6) month intervals, each of which will have a progress report, content summary, and meeting summary.
Graduate Appointments
Students with a stipend or fellowship will receive a graduate appointment. Please refer to the guidelines on the Graduate College website with any questions.