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So you think you are ready for your proposal?

Steps to Proposal defense

This page is for information only. Please consult the graduate school website for exact steps and deadlines.

Here are the steps for before the proposal defense:

1) Set up a examination committee with your PI. Your examination committee serves multiple purposes: 1) it will provide a different and external perspective on your project and its feasibility, 2)  some members can provide you with technical expertise, which is required for your project but not available in your laboratory, 3) its member will be the most knowledgeable with your PhD research and will be able to provide you with support letters. So choose wisely!
 
2) Committee Approval Request—You submit this to the BME Program. It needs to be done about 4 weeks before your proposal defense. This is internal to the BME program and is not submitted to the grad school. 
 
3) Announce your defense through the BME website using the Announcement Form one week in advance to give people time to mark their calendars.

4) After your succesful proposal defense, follow up with the GPD and GPC to ensure that the outcome is communicated to the Graduate School. At this point, you will be advancing to candidacy. Keep in mind that you must be a candidate for two full academic semesters (Fall and Spring) before you can schedule your PhD defense (or the GPD must petition the Graduate School on your behalf).