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Dissertation

The dissertation is the final step in completing your PhD. This page can help you navigate how to approach all the logistics surrounding the dissertation, from forming your committee to planning your exit seminar.

About the Dissertation

Completing your dissertation is the final step toward the award of Ph.D. Your manuscript is a scholarly presentation of the results of the research you conducted. Your faculty committee supervises the intellectual content of your manuscript and your committee chair will guide you on the arrangement within the text and reference sections of your manuscript.

To start the dissertation-writing process, students must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Advancement to candidacy
  • Selection of Dissertation Committee
  • Preparation of a dissertation proposal

Forming a Dissertation Committee

The Program requires that the Dissertation Committee consist of three to five faculty members representing both campuses. The fourth and fifth members of the Dissertation Committee are intended to give breadth of input to the dissertation but do not sign off on the dissertation. These non-signing members should be listed on the internal Group form, but not on the form submitted to the Graduate Divisions.

  • Chair: Core Member from home campus
  • Reader 1: Any Academic Senate member from student's home campus
  • Reader 2: Any Academic Senate member from opposite campus
  • Reader 3 (Optional): Any Academic Senate member from either campus
  • Reader 4 (Optional): Any Academic Senate member from either campus

Exceptions: If you want to choose a Research Mentor / Dissertation Chair who is not a core Bioengineering member, you have to obtain approval from the Head Graduate Advisor and/or the Executive Committee. Faculty members within the Group who are not Academic Senate members (such as Adjunct or Clinical faculty) may not serve as the Chair of the Dissertation Committee or be designated as a reader, but may serve on the Committee as a co-adviser if recommended by the Bioengineering Executive Committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate Division on their Home Campus.

To advance to candidacy, submit your Constitution of Dissertation Committee from to your home campus administrator.

Annual Committee Meetings

Students are required to meet annually (at a minimum) with their Dissertation Committees to discuss their research project, review results, and chart directions for completing their dissertation. For each meeting, the student is responsible for preparing a written summary outlining the dissertation project, progress on this project and objectives for completion of the dissertation. Following the meeting, a Dissertation Committee Update form must be submitted to your home campus administrator.

Dissertation Committee Update
Exit Seminar

Students will present a formal, minimum 45-minute seminar on the results of their research prior to graduation. This exit seminar will be open to Program faculty members, other students in the University community, family, and friends. The student’s research mentor will attend the exit seminar and is responsible for any costs associated with the exit seminar including room rental fees and refreshments.

Exit Seminar Checklist:

  1. Dissertation complete and submitted, including depositing a copy with the Home Campus Program Administrator.
  2. Reserve a room at Berkeley in Stanley Hall using the QB3 website or at UCSF through the MyAccess portal.
  3. Notify your home campus program administrative office of the date, time, and location of the exit seminar.

Once you and your committee chair have agreed that your work is ready for presentation, make sure to announce your exit seminar to BEAST! Send an e-mail to the BEAST mailing list & put it on the BEAST calendar. Congratulations!

Exit Interviews

Prior to graduation, students must complete exit interviews with:

  1. Graduate Advisor, to review academic progress and career plans.
  2. Head Graduate Advisor, to review career plans.
  3. Home Campus Program Administrator, to ensure all forms are submitted (Program of Study, Area Requirements, Transcripts, Dissertation Title Page).
    • During this time, students are also asked to provide future contact and current career information for the alumni database. Students are also encouraged to report career and contact changes to the program administration beyond graduation.