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  • Graduate Student Handbook
  • Preface
  • PART I. POLICIES AND RESOURCES
  • CHAPTER 1
    • 🗒️Academic Policies
      • Academic Integrity
      • Policies and Procedures on Ethical Practices in Research
      • The Responsible Conduct in Research and Rigor and Reproducibility Courses
      • Ownership and Use of Research Data, Reagents, Records, Protocols, or Code
      • Responsibilities of Authors
        • Protecting Whistleblowers
        • Financial Conflict of Interest in Research
      • General Rules of Conduct for ISMMS Students
  • CHAPTER 2
    • 🗒️Administrative and Financial Policies
      • Tuition
        • PhD and MD/PhD in Biomedical Sciences or Neuroscience
        • Master’s Degree Programs and PhD in Clinical Research
      • Funding Package and Direct Compensation
      • Financial Assistance and Services
        • Financial Counseling
        • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
        • Additional Work and Funding Resources
          • Supplemental Work-in-Another-Department (WIOD)
          • Tuition Waivers for Non-Faculty Mount Sinai Employees
          • Work-Study Positions
          • Travel Awards
  • CHAPTER 3
    • 🗒️Enrollment and Registration
      • Pre-Enrollment Policies
      • Registrar's Office
      • Guidelines for Registration and Cross-Registration
        • Add/Drop
        • Maintenance of Matriculation
        • Full-time Equivalency Status
        • Courses Taken at Partner Institutions
        • Visiting Scholars
        • Non-Matriculating Status and Course Auditing
        • Registration Holds
        • PhD Student Registration
      • Grading Policies
        • Grading, Course Examinations, and Missed Examinations
        • Calculation of GPA
        • Retaking Courses to Improve GPA
        • Graduate School Grade Appeals Process
        • Transfer Credits and Course Exemptions/Waivers
      • Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
        • Time to Degree Policy
        • Academic Standing
        • Committee for Academic Review (CAR)
          • Membership of CAR
          • Appeals Process
        • Program-Specific Criteria for Satisfactory Academic Progress
      • Leave, Withdrawal, and Readmission
        • Leave of Absence (Voluntary)
        • Leave of Absence (Involuntary)
          • Administrative Leave
          • Academic Progress Leave
        • Parental Leave
        • Return from Military Service
        • Withdrawal and Readmission
        • PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience Student Vacation Policy
      • Transcripts
  • Chapter 4
    • 🗒️Student Affairs and Services for Graduate Students
      • Student Services and Resources
        • Career Services and Strategy
        • International Student Services
        • Student Health Services
          • Student Mental Health Services
            • Referrals
            • WellConnect
        • Disability Services
        • Student Housing
          • Real Estate Office
        • Academic Informatics and Technology
          • The Library
          • Aufses Archives and Mount Sinai Records Management Division
          • Academic IT Support Center (ASCIT)
        • Affirmative Action
        • Safety and Security
          • Sexual Assault
          • Harassment
            • Definitions of Unacceptable Behavior
            • Grievance Committee
          • Mistreatment
            • Mistreatment Policy
            • Reporting and Consulting Mechanisms
          • Clery Act
          • Fire Safety
          • Alcohol and Drugs
            • Alcohol Policy – Levinson Student Center
            • Drug Testing
          • Infection Control
        • Office of the Ombudsperson
      • Campus-Wide Policies, Regulations, and Requirements
        • Rules of Conduct
        • Student Behavior
        • Faculty, Staff, and Student Relations
        • FERPA
        • ISMMS Social Media Guideline
        • Acceptable Use of Technology Policy
          • Use of Hardware and Software
          • Web, Data, and Cloud Storage
          • Email and Collaboration Technology Usage
          • Protected Health Information and Other Confidential Information
          • Secure Messaging and Encryption
        • ISMMS Policy on Business Conflicts of Interest
        • Student Intellectual Property
  • PART II. PROGRAMS OF STUDY
  • Chapter 1
    • PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
        • Seminars, Works-in-Progress, and Journal Clubs
        • Lab Rotations
          • Rotation Guidelines
          • MD/PhD Student Rotations
      • Selecting a Multidisciplinary Training Areas (MTA)
      • Advising
        • Academic Advisor
        • Selecting a Research Mentor
        • Changes to a Research Mentor-Mentee Partnership
          • Mentoring Changes due to the Relocation of the Research Mentor
          • Mentoring Changes due to an Unproductive Partnership
          • Procedures for Dispute Resolution
        • Thesis Advisory Committee
          • Specific Criteria
          • Procedures
      • Thesis Proposal
        • General Considerations
        • The Written Document
        • The Oral Presentation
        • The Thesis Proposal Committee
        • Deadline
      • Dissertation Defense
        • Written Document Format Options
        • The Dissertation Committee
        • The Defense and Seminar
        • Dissertation Deposit
      • Transfer to Master degree (MPhil or MSBS)
      • Program Specific Policies
        • Program Alumni and Alumni Association
  • Chapter on Multidisciplinary Training Areas
    • Multidisciplinary Training Areas
      • Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine (AIET)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Cancer Biology (CAB)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cells (DRS)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Genetics and Genomic Sciences (GGS)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Immunology (IMM)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Microbiology (MIC)
        • Typical Curriculum
      • Neuroscience (NEU)
        • Typical Curriculum
  • Chapter 2
    • MD/PhD Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
        • Core Graduate School/PhD Curriculum
        • Medical School/MD Curriculum
        • Annual MD/PhD Retreat
        • Milestones and Maximum Time to Degree
      • Advising
      • Thesis/Dissertation
  • Chapter 3
    • Clinical Research Education Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
          • PhD in Clinical Research (PhDCR)
        • Graduation Requirements
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
          • Consequences of failure to maintain satisfactory progress
      • Curriculum
        • CRTP and MSCR Curriculum
        • PhDCR Curriculum
        • Requirements for Coursework on Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR)
        • Independent Study
        • Electives Offered in Other Programs or at Other Institutions
      • Advising
        • Faculty Advisors
        • Near-Peer Mentoring Program
        • Thesis Research Mentors (MSCR)
        • Dissertation Research Mentors (PhDCR)
        • Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MAC)
      • Master's Thesis
        • Registration, Mentor Selection, and Thesis Proposal
        • Master's Thesis First and Final Drafts
        • Timelines for the Master’s Thesis and Forms
        • Student Checkout Requirements
      • Doctoral Dissertation (PhDCR)
        • Written Dissertation Research Proposal
        • Oral Presentation of Dissertation Research Proposal
        • Admission to Candidacy
        • Written Dissertation, Defense, and Deposit
        • PhDCR Timeline and Required Forms
    • MD-MSCR/PORTAL Program
  • Chapter 4
    • MS in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS)
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curriculum Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising, Thesis Committee, and Research Mentor
      • Changes to a Research Mentor-Mentee Partnership
        • Mentoring Changes due to the Relocation of the Research Mentor
        • Mentoring Changes due to an Unproductive Partnership
        • Procedures for Dispute Resolution
      • MSBS Thesis
        • Formatting, Depositing, and Defending the Thesis
        • The Master’s Thesis Review Committee
        • Deadlines and Publications
        • Required Forms
      • Master's to PhD
  • Chapter 5
    • MS in Biomedical Data Science (MSBDS)
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 6
    • MS in Biostatistics Program
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
      • Curriculum
        • Theory and Methods Track
        • Clinical Applications Track
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 7
    • MS in Genetic Counseling
      • Program Information
      • Program Requirements
        • Curricular Requirements
        • Requirements to Graduate
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Advising
  • Chapter 8
    • MS in Healthcare Delivery Leadership (MSHCDL)
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
        • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Capstone Project
  • Chapter 9
    • Master in Health Administration (MHA)
      • Program Information
      • Program Competencies
      • Program Requirements
      • Curriculum
      • Advising
      • Internship and Capstone Project
        • Students Enrolled or Pursuing 2 Programs
  • Chapter 10
    • Graduate Program in Public Health
      • Master of Public Health (MPH) and Advanced Certificate in Public Health (ACPH)
        • Program Information
        • Additional Information for International Students
        • Program Competencies
        • Program Requirements
          • Curricular Requirements
            • Master of Public Health
            • MD-MPH Program
            • DPM-MPH Program
            • Mount Sinai Residents and Fellow Physicians
            • Advanced Certificate in Public Health
          • Requirements to Graduate
          • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
          • Students Enrolled or Pursuing 2 Programs
        • Curriculum
          • General Public Health Track
          • Biostatistics Track
          • Outcomes Research Track
          • Global Health Track
          • Health Care Management Track
          • Environmental Health Sciences Specialty Track
          • Epidemiology Track
          • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Track
          • Advanced Certificate in Public Health
        • Advising
          • Specialty Track Advisors
        • Culminating Experience
          • Description of the Thesis, First Author Manuscript, and Capstone
          • Public Health Research Day
          • Culminating Experience Submission Deadlines
      • Master of Science in Epidemiology
        • Program Information
        • Additional Information for International Students
        • Program Competencies
        • Program Requirements
          • Requirements to Graduate
          • Standards for Maintaining Satisfactory Progress
        • Curriculum
        • Advising
        • Thesis or First Author Manuscript
          • Public Health Research Day
          • Thesis/Manuscript Submission Deadlines
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  1. Chapter 1
  2. PhD in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience
  3. Dissertation Defense

The Dissertation Committee

PreviousWritten Document Format OptionsNextThe Defense and Seminar

Last updated 10 months ago

The Dissertation Committee is composed of the Thesis Advisory Committee with the addition of an external committee member. Once constituted as such, the committee is considered the Dissertation Committee. The external committee member must: 1) hold a PhD, MD, or other appropriate advanced degree from an accredited institution; 2) have sufficient research experience and qualifications in the area of the student’s thesis to ensure an appropriate level of rigor for the examination; 3) be a member of a PhD granting institution and 4) not be a faculty member of ISMMS. Like the committee chair, this member must be someone that does/has not directly collaborated on the project of the student, has no coauthored papers or abstracts with the student, has no financial conflicts of interest with the student or project, and has not supervised any aspect of the work. The external committee member is a voting member of the committee. Prior to naming an external member to the committee, the student and mentor should write a brief summary of why the proposed external examiner is qualified for the role and state that they have no conflicts of interest. This document requires approval by the committee chair. Participation of non-voting members of the advisory committee in the Thesis Dissertation exam is optional; if they are present, they must remain silent.

When the student has completed the written dissertation document, it must be read and approved by the Dissertation Committee. The student should submit the Dissertation to each member of the Committee as early as possible, but no later than two weeks before the Defense. Committee members may reschedule the Examination if not given the appropriate amount of time to prepare for it. The Committee shall meet with the student for an oral Defense of the Dissertation. Before the final scheduling of the Defense, it is wise to obtain the Committee’s approval that the work is complete and appropriately presented. The student must register for the defense with the Registrar using the form. Once the defense has been registered, the Registrar will provide the Dissertation Defense Voting form. The student must include a page with the written document.

The possible outcomes are listed below. Dissertations approved as presented or pending minor revisions may be nominated for distinction.

Approved as Presented: No revisions required. Students must deposit within five weeks after the defense.

Approved Pending Minor Revisions: Minor additions and edits to the text, formatting and organizational changes, the addition of references to existing text, and additions/corrections to the preface. Minor revisions should be completed to the Chair's satisfaction and deposited within five weeks after the defense.

Approved Pending Major Revisions: Inclusion of additional data, the inclusion of additional data analysis, substantial additions to the text (e.g., the addition of subject matter to the introduction or discussion), or rewriting of whole sections. Major revisions must be resubmitted for approval by the Chair and two members of the examining committee and deposited within eight weeks after the defense.

Fail: The committee believes that the dissertation is not acceptable and will provide a detailed written description of the reservations about the examined dissertation and make further recommendations.

The mentor may apply to the Graduate School for reimbursement (up to $450) to defray travel expenses for the “outside” examiner. A letter of request, from the dissertation advisor, for the honorarium should be submitted to the Graduate School Office. The letter should include the name of the examiner, his/her/their social security number and mailing address. If the funds are being used to defray the cost of travel, original receipts should be sent with the letter of request. We will prepare and submit the check request. Unless otherwise instructed, the check will be sent directly to the examiner. If the dissertation advisor/department is covering a portion of the travel expenses, the letter of request should be sent with a check request (and original receipts), prepared by the dissertation advisor/department, indicating the amount and fund number (with appropriate signature) for the portion covered by the dissertation advisor/department. The Graduate School will complete the request and forward it to Accounts Payable. Unless otherwise instructed, the check will be sent directly to the examiner.

Dissertation Defense and Seminar Registration
Statement of Authorship