Templates

Please use the following templates for the proposal manuscript and slides.

• Proposal Manuscript Template*
• Proposal Slides Template*

* If unable to download the templates, right-click & ‘Save Link As…’

Process

• For MS Chem (Thesis Option): Student must defend his/her proposal when enrolled in his/her first 3 units of Chem 300. If the student will take 6 units of Chem 300 in one semester, the student must schedule the final defense at least 2 months from the date of approval of the thesis proposal.
• For PhD Chem: Student must defend his/her proposal when enrolled in his/her first 6 units of Chem 400. If the student will take 12 units of Chem 400 in one semester, the proposal must be approved at least 2 months before the scheduled final defense date. Moreover, the dissertation proposal defense shall be held only after the student has passed the Candidacy Examination and may be scheduled immediately after the Candidacy Examination.

The steps that lead to the proposal defense are as follows:

Note that schedules for proposal defense are usually on the 3rd Monday of the month.

1. Student writes research proposal with the guidance of his/her Thesis/Dissertation Advisor (and Co-advisor, if any).
2. Advisor emails a copy of student’s written proposal to his/her Academic Group for endorsement.
3. After endorsement of Academic Group, Advisor emails a copy of student’s proposal to the IChem Graduate Committee (GradCom) for perusal by the Senior Faculty. Proposal must be received by the GradCom on or before the last Monday of the month preceding the target defense month. Example: If the target defense month is December, the deadline for submission of proposal to the GradCom is the last Monday of November.
4. Student prepares an oral presentation of his/her research proposal.

During the proposal defense:

• The proposal defense is open to the public and is usually held at the Chemrez AVR (IChem Teaching Building).
• The GradCom (must reach quorum) and the student’s Thesis/Dissertation Advisor (and Co-advisor, if any) must be present during the proposal defense.

1. IChem DDRE introduces the student and moderates the defense.
2. Student orally presents proposed research. Length of presentation must not exceed 15 minutes.
3. Student answers questions from the public and the GradCom.

After the proposal defense:

1. GradCom deliberates on whether to approve the student’s proposal. Deliberations are done privately.
2. If approved, GradCom assigns a Thesis/Dissertation Reader based on the student’s research topic. Only those who are present during the proposal defense can be recommended as a Reader.
3. DDRE announces the decision to the student and provides the student with the necessary forms for completion.
4. DDRE submits the required forms/documents to the CS Grad Office. These include the following: Approval of Proposal, Request for Appointment of Advisor and Reader (and Co-advisor, if any), and Abstract of Proposal.
5. CS Grad Office emails the Official Appointment of Advisor, Co-advisor (if any), and Reader to IChem.