Wayne State University
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TNP

Overview of training timeline

Academic Y1

  • Required coursework
  • Engage in research to develop the dissertation research project by conducting research rotations during Fall and Winter semesters, as well as during the summer.
  • Complete and submit the Plan of Work to the Graduate School for approval. An approved Plan of Work is a requirement for Ph.D. candidacy. Once a student has an approved Plan of Work on file with the Graduate School, any further changes are approved by the TNP Graduate Officer.
  • Complete the WSU Individual Development Plan (IDP), which provides a structure to identify concrete steps toward long-term goals and a framework for constructive conversation between the student and advisor(s). The WSU IDP document must be submitted annually.
  • Additionally, students must complete annually the TNP Individual Development Plan (TNP IDP), which includes the Start of Year evaluation form due September 15th and the End of Year review form due May 15th.

Academic Y2

  • Required coursework
  • Engage in research to develop the dissertation research project by conducting research rotations during Fall and Winter semesters, as well as during the summer.
  • Identify an advisor or co-advisors from the TNP faculty membership for the dissertation research project by mid-Academic Year 2. With guidance from the advisor(s) and the TNP Graduate Officer, students must identify members of the dissertation committee, which must be pre-approved by the TNP Graduate Director (see TNP form). The dissertation committee is composed of four (or five) faculty members: one advisor (or two co-advisors), one member from the TNP Steering committee, one (or two) member(s) with expertise relevant to the dissertation and one member with external expertise. If there are two co-advisors, then the committee must include 5 faculty members. The advisor (or one of the co-advisors) must have Graduate Faculty Status in the TNP, which is approved by the Graduate School.
  • Once a dissertation committee has been established, all students must present their dissertation research proposal and the plan of action for the NIH predoctoral fellowship application to the committee. The goal during Academic Y2 is to complete a draft of the Specific Aim page for the NIH predoctoral fellowship application and hold a first meeting with the committee for an oral presentation of the scope of the dissertation research project. Students MUST have a committee meeting prior to submitting the NIH F30/31 predoctoral fellowship application to present the application for review.

Academic Y3

  • As part of the written component requirement of the Qualifying Examination for Ph.D. students, or the requirement for M.D./Ph.D. students, all students must write and submit an NIH F30/F31 predoctoral fellowship application (U.S. citizens only). Annual submission deadlines are, December 8th, April 8th and August 8th. The expectation is for students to submit their predoctoral fellowship application for the December 8th deadline in Academic Year 3. For non-U.S. citizens or U.S. residents, the predoctoral fellowship application will be submitted to the TNP Steering Committee for assessment by an external reviewer that is selected by the Steering committee.
  •  By the end of the Fall semester or beginning of the Winter semester, all students must pass their Qualifying Exam, which is a requirement for Ph.D. candidacy. See below for more information on the Qualifying Examination process. The Recommendation for Candidacy Status form must be submitted to the Graduate School for the student to advance to candidacy. If a student has completed all 60 credits of coursework and is not a candidate, PYC 9990 can be taken for up to 12 credits. Academic Y3: Following the Qualifying Examination, all students must submit a dissertation prospectus document, approved by the dissertation committee, to the Graduate School.
  • Note about Academic Y3 and onward: A minimum of four consecutive academic-year semesters of registration as a Ph.D. candidate (PYC 9991, 9992, 9993, 9994) are required for completion of dissertation research. Students will not be given permission to register for PYC 9991 until they have had at least one committee meeting and a date scheduled for the Qualifying Exam. Students should have 1-2 meetings with their dissertation committee each year, with the frequency of these meetings increasing as they approach the dissertation preparation and defense.

Academic Y4 – Onward

  • Dissertation preparation and defense. With a minimum of two weeks prior to the Defense date, the dissertation thesis must be checked for plagiarism by the advisor and TNP form - Ph.D. Dissertation Uni-Check Certification – must be completed and signed, as well as submit the following forms to the Graduate School: Dissertation title and list of previous degrees, Final Report, Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Permissions Form and Conflict of Interest. All students must present their dissertation in a public lecture and defend their dissertation to the committee. The results of the defense are submitted to the Graduate School via the Defense Final Report form.