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PhD Dissertation Committees

The committee for the final examination for the PhD degree is appointed by the University dean of graduate studies on the advice of the appropriate associate dean of graduate studies. The committee shall consist of:

• At least two current full-time tenure-track members with the rank of assistant professor or higher who hold their primary appointments in the department offering the degree program, or are among the core faculty defined for an interdisciplinary PhD program in the role of “inside members.”
  • At least one of these is the advisor. The dissertation advisor or supervisor can have a primary or secondary appointment in the candidate’s program department and must be present for the examination.
• At least one current full-time faculty member at assistant professor rank or higher from outside or holding a secondary appointment in the student’s department can act as an “outside reader.”
• A committee made up of faculty members whose primary appointments are all in the same department will not be permitted.

Exceptions to the above must be approved in writing.

Further information can be found in the PhD Committee Matrix and the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Studies available from the University Graduate Education Office. 

Interdisciplinary Programs

For interdisciplinary programs, “inside” and “outside” committee members are specifically defined as follows:

• Materials science: All faculty listed on the are considered “inside” committee members, as defined above. For “outside” committee members, any full-time faculty member at assistant professor rank or higher from outside the student’s advisor’s primary department may assume the role of an “outside” committee member and/or chair of the committee, even if listed on the Materials Science faculty page.
• Visual and cultural studies: All faculty listed on the are considered “inside” committee members, as defined above. Any full-time faculty member at assistant professor rank or higher who is not on this list may assume the role of an “outside” committee member and/or chair of the committee.
• Biomedical engineering: Faculty listed on the are considered "inside" committee members, as defined above. For "outside" committee members, any faculty found on the or any other full-time faculty member at assistrant professor rank or higher who is not on the list may assume the role of an outside member. Secondary faculty members can also superivise master's students and can co-advise PhD students. 

Faculty Approved to Serve on Committees (Senior Scientists)

The following faculty have also been approved to serve on PhD committees as an "inside" member in the specified program: