Qualifying Examination
The primary purpose of the Qualifying Examination (QE) is to validate that the student is academically qualified to conceptualize a research topic, undertake scholarly research, and successfully produce the dissertation required for a doctoral degree. The QE must evaluate the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge in the field and must not focus exclusively on the proposed dissertation research. Full information about BPH QE requirements can be found in the BPH degree requirements, Graduate Studies website, and Graduate Council QE Policy.
The QE should be taken before the start of the third year. Students typically take their QE during Spring of the second year. To prepare you for the qualifying exam, a student coordinator who has advanced to candidacy will lead review sessions and practice sessions to prepare second-year students for the qualifying exam (QE). This person also acts a resource to answer or find answers for any questions or concerns that pre-QE students (i.e. first and second year students) may have about the qualify exam.
QE Committee Selection
Each student, in consultation with their Academic Advisor and Major professor, will suggest to the chair of the Committee on Educational Policy and Advising 8 proposed faculty members of the QE committee, and will indicate any faculty member they wish to exclude, and will identify the area(s) of research specialization. Three areas of specialization are proposed by the student in consultation with their Major Professor to reflect the subspecialties of the broader research track that are most relevant for the student dissertation work, and are approved by the Academic Advisor. Neither the Academic Advisor or Major Professor may serve on the QE Committee. The Chair of the Committee must be a member of the BPH program. Guided by the candidates’ lists, the Committee on Educational Policy and Advising will then forward their nomination of five faculty (one from outside the program membership) to serve on the committee to Graduate Studies for formal appointment in accordance with Graduate Council policy.
QE Scheduling and Application
As soon as the QE committee has been assigned, the student should work with the committee to schedule the exam. The student should also work with the QE chair to determine which, if any, emergency QE plans will be utilized (see Graduate Council QE policy for full information on emergency plans:
- Remote exam - exam is held entirely remotely (no hybrid participation)
- Backup Date/Time - at the time of scheduling the original exam, a second "backup" exam time is scheduled
- Alternate Member - a pre-determined alternate member replaces a member who cannot attend due to an emergency (chair cannot be replaced by alternate member)
Once the exam has been scheduled, the student should complete the QE Application in GradSphere. This application must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled exam. If students would like an "MS Along the Way", they should submit that paperwork at the same time as their QE Application.
Students are responsible for scheduling a room for the Qualifying Exam. The major professor and/or QE chair may be able to suggest a room. There are also rooms available in Green Hall, Walker Hall, Tupper Hall, and Genome Center.
Exam Structure
Written Portion of the Exam – Dissertation Prospectus: The written component consists of a research proposal similar to an NIH grant proposal that describes the dissertation work to be undertaken (typically 5-7 singlespaced pages with 1-inch margins, not including references). This prospectus should be submitted to the QE Committee no later than two weeks prior to the examination date.
Oral Portion of the Exam: The oral portion of the qualifying exam is intended to demonstrate the student's critical thinking ability, synthesis, and broad knowledge of the field of study. It consists of a three-hour oral exam with the five committee members present. Students typically begin the exam with a brief summary of the research proposal (prospectus) and the committee then questions them on the details. Then the questioning is opened up to three previously agreed upon areas of specialization within biophysics that have been approved by the Committee on Educational Policy and Advising.
- Research Presentation Oral Examination
The student makes a 15–20-minute presentation using a maximum of 10 slides where they present...
- sufficient background to motivate their project
- the hypotheses/aims of their project 21
- their approach to testing/meeting the hypotheses/aims
- potential limitations and challenges as well as potential alternatives
The QE committee asks questions throughout the presentation on the material presented.
- Subject Area Oral Examination
- The three subject areas designated by the student, after consultation with the Major Professor, are approved by the Academic Advisor, and are probed through questions by the QE committee. The QE committee asks any additional general questions in Biophysics to ensure sufficient breadth of foundational knowledge.
The committee will evaluate the student's general qualifications for a respected position as an educator or industry leader as well as the student's preparation in a special area of study based upon relevant portions of the student's previous academic record, performance on specific parts of the examination, and the student's potential for scholarly research as indicated during the examination.
Before the Exam
At least two weeks prior to your exam, students should contact their committee with the following:
- Reconfirming the date, time, and location of the exam
- A copy of their unofficial transcript (obtained here)
- Their research dissertation prospectus (maximum of 5 pages)
Students should do their best to reduce stress leading up to the exam and preparing for common situations, like responding to questions they do not immediately know the answer to. Graduate Studies has many helpful tips to help students prepare for their exam day.
During and After the Exam
At the start of the exam, the student will be asked to leave the room while the Chair discusses the exam proceedings with the committee and organizes the order of the exam questions such that each committee member gets approximately 15-20 minutes of individual questions.
At the end of the exam, the student will be asked to leave the room while the committee members deliberate and make a decision. The chair will present the decision to the student and complete necessary paperwork.
There are three possible outcomes to the exam:
- Pass - The committee unanimously decides the student passed the exam. The student may submit an Advancement to Candidacy application in GradSphere.
- Retake - The committee unanimously decides some or all parts of the exam must be retaken. A memo with specific details of retake requirements and timeline for completion of the retake will be provided to the student.
- Retakes are not uncommon, so students should not fear this outcome! The committee will work closely with the student to help them understand what areas of improvement are needed for the second exam.
- Fail - This outcome is incredibly uncommon in BPH. The committee unanimously determines the student failed the exam due to significant deficiencies, and the student is not currently prepared to continue in the doctoral program. A unanimous fail on either the first or second exam is a recommendation of the student’s disqualification from the degree objective.