Qualifying Exam Guidelines for Biological Chemistry and Chemistry

Purpose:

The purpose of the oral proposal examination is to evaluate the student's ability to develop a hypothesis-based research proposal that addresses a specific question in modern biochemistry or chemistry.  The proposal  must be presented in written and oral form.  The examination will test the student’s ability to defend work described in the proposal, and to demonstrate an understanding of the underlying concepts and experimental approaches and designs and their limitations.  Advancement of the student to Ph.D. candidacy is dependent upon successful completion of the oral proposal examination.  The Qualifying examination process will take place during the late spring of the second year in the DBS program.

Basic Requirements and Details:

Proposal: To distinguish the student's abilities from those of the dissertation advisor, the student may not prepare a proposal related to their dissertation research or to research being carried out by other members of the laboratory to which they belong.  Initially two abstracts of 2-3 pages each must be submitted to the Chair of the qualifying exams for approval.  One of these will be chosen by the chair of the examination committee, in consult with the student, to be the basis of the examination proposal.  A full proposal, in the basic style of an NIH grant, is then submitted to the examination committee approximately 4-6 weeks following the decision regarding the abstract.

Committee:  The examination committee is composed of 3-4 faculty from within the program, or from other UTSW faculty with particular expertise.  This committee is chosen by the Program for each student.

Oral Examination: The oral examination occurs at a date determined by the Program. Appropriate preparation by the committee members is requisite for effective administration of the examination and evaluation of the student.  Therefore, the committee must be provided a final version of the written proposal at least two weeks before the examination date.  Failure to do so will result in a failure.  The oral examination will test the breadth of the student’s knowledge on topics related to the proposal and general aspects of basic research science and biochemistry, including topics cover in the required courses.  Upon successful demonstration of a strong understanding of hypothesis-driven biochemical research, the student will pass the examination and be permitted to advance to candidacy.