BMOL PhD Student Handbook Comprehensive Exam

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is taken early in the fall semester following successful completion of BMOL 606 Proposal Writing and the preliminary examination.  It assesses the readiness of a student to pursue doctoral research in the biomolecular sciences by preparing and defending a written proposal. There are two options to prepare for the Comprehensive Examination: 1) the student develops a written proposal in the area of their dissertation research or, 2) the student prepares a written proposal unrelated to their dissertation research.

Option #1: proposal in dissertation research area.

The proposal will be initiated in the BMOL 606 Proposal Writing course, but it is expected that the student will continue to improve this proposal after this course ends and will incorporate at least one specific aim that stems from their own independent thinking.  The student is free to change the specific aims from those used in the BMOL 606 course. The aims in the proposal should not overlap with any other BMOL student’s proposal, particularly those from the same lab. The BMOL program office will maintain a record of all past BMOL student proposals to ensure proposal aims are not duplicated.  Once the student is satisfied with their proposal, they will submit it (termed “examining committee review version”) to the program to ensure that it is sufficiently well developed to proceed to the comprehensive exam.  Students should submit the “examining committee review version” and affiliated documents for approval no later than April 15th of their 4th semester. The student must complete the form entitled “Student Submission Form to accompany “Examining Committee Proposal Review Version” specifying the extent of the student’s individual contributions to the proposal, which specific aim(s) is/are attributed to the student, and whether the major professor provided a copy of their own grant to the student.  In case of the latter, the extent of scientific overlap between the major professor’s grant and the student’s proposal must be described.  This form must be submitted at the same time as the “examining committee review version” proposal.

The faculty mentor must also submit an accompanying form to the BMOL program at the same time as the “examining committee review version” proposal describing the student’s contribution to the proposal, which aim(s) are attributed to the student’s own independent thinking, the extent of their involvement in assisting the student with their proposal, whether they provided the student with copies of their proposal(s), and a brief description of the student’s planned dissertation research. If the student’s and major professor’s forms don’t align, the examining committee will hold a meeting with both the student and major professor to discuss and make a final determination.

It is possible for a student to use a proposal for the comprehensive exam that they have developed and already submitted for funding.  This should be declared to the program following the same time line described herein.  The examining committee will call a meeting with the major professor to verify it meets the stated criteria regarding student independent thinking and determine if it is allowable for use in the comprehensive exam.

Option #2: proposal unrelated to dissertation research.

Alternatively, students may choose to write a proposal on a topic distinct from their dissertation research.  If this route is preferred, the proposal topic and letter of support from the student’s faculty advisor must be declared by January 15th of their 4th semester. Students should meet with the steering committee as early as possible after declaration to ensure that the topic is sufficiently distinct from dissertation research and not just research in a related disease model, experimental system, or related biomolecule, etc. Proposals are due to the BMOL program office by the first day of the fall semester in which the comprehensive exam is planned (typically fifth semester in the 3rd year of study).

For either option, the proposal or proposal topic and associated documents must be submitted to the program no later than April 15th of their 4th semester for review by the examining committee. This review is to ensure that the proposal is sufficiently well developed to likely be in good shape for final submission the upcoming summer.  After the draft proposal is approved, the student may proceed to scheduling the comprehensive exam and may continue to improve the proposal. Any comments available from the initial review will be shared with the student. The final version must be submitted to the program by July 1st preceding the fall semester in which the comprehensive exam is scheduled.  Once the proposal has received approval, the exam should happen during the student’s 5^th semester, unless unanticipated circumstances are documented and approved.

If the student fails to get approval to schedule their comprehensive exam or to submit their final version by the July 1st deadline, an automatic fail for the first attempt will be recorded.  In this case, you have 5 business days in which to request a second attempt in writing.  If the request is approved, the final version of the proposal must be submitted by the first day of the fall semester. If this second deadline is missed this will result in a failed second and final attempt.

 The examining committee consists of five members of the program faculty representing all three key departments of biological sciences, chemistry/biochemistry, and physics. The examining committee excludes the student’s major advisor. The comprehensive examination requires a private 15-minute PowerPoint presentation of the proposal by the student to the examining committee.  After this presentation, the student answers questions posed by the committee; questions will be based upon the proposal, scientific thinking, and scientific content related to the proposal, as well as relevant questions drawing upon BMOL core courses including BMOL 601-603, BMOL 504, and BMOL 511. After this question and answer period, the examining committee will grade the oral defense as pass/fail. A comprehensive exam that is failed on the first attempt can be repeated once, but only if a second attempt is requested in writing by the student within five business days after the student has received notification of their failure, and if the request is approved by the Program. Approval will be based on examination of the students’ academic performance and standing in the program and the university to that point.  If the second attempt is disapproved, then the Program Director notifies the Dean of the Graduate College that the student should be administratively withdrawn from the program. If the second attempt is approved, the student must retake the exam within a specified time frame (e.g. 30 days) after the failed first attempt. If the student does not make a second attempt within the specified time frame, or if the student fails the second attempt, then a grade of (F) is assigned to the BMOL 691 credit and the student is dismissed from the program by the Graduate College. A second attempt to pass the exam may be videotaped. A third attempt to pass the exam is not permitted. A student who is administratively withdrawn from the program may apply for admission to another graduate program offered by the university.