PhD-Timeline
Use this timeline as a guide and resource for completing your PhD in Chemistry from UAF. For questions, please contact the department admin or your advisor.
| Task | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Attend both the Chemistry Department and the Graduate School Orientation (RSVP for Graduate School Orientation) | Review Admissions packet for date |
| Download your registration form from , fill out with your advisor, and return to Department Office | Registration forms are only required for the first semester of study |
| Turn in Appointment of Advisory Committee | By the end of the first semester of study |
| Turn in Graduate Study Plan | By the end of second semester of study |
| Turn in Report of Graduate Advisory Committee, Annual Report, and | Every year to the Chemistry Department Office by May 10th to make sure paperwork is processed by May 15th Graduate School deadline |
| Complete core coursework | Usually first two years of study |
| Complete comprehensive exams, which differ by Program. See the attached document for a description of the Environmental Chemistry Comprehensive Exam exam. See the attached document for a description of the Biochemistry and Neuroscience exam. | Usually the summer after second year of study |
| Complete research proposal in the format of a fellowship or grant in the student's research area and have approved by the committee -- see the program-specific comprehensive exam plans in the prior row for details. | Two weeks before the scheduling of oral examination |
| File Report on Comprehensive Examination with Graduate School. Check only the written examination box at this time. | Upon approval of written comprehensive exam by committee |
| Request outside examiner for oral examination | 3 weeks prior to examination |
| Complete oral examination with committee and external examiner. Bring to this examination the Report on Comprehensive Examination, which the committee will sign regarding the oral portion of your comprehensive exams. | No later than the end of the semester following your written comprehensive exams |
| Turn in Advancement to Candidacy | After completing comprehensive exams, and at least one semester prior to graduation. See Graduate School website for due dates |
| Attend thesis formatting workshop and review thesis guidelines | Before turning in final thesis draft |
| Turn in a final draft of your dissertation to your advisor | At least 6 weeks before Graduate School thesis submission deadline (approx. Spring: 2/24, Summer: 6/20, Fall: 10/17) |
| Request an Outside Examiner | 3 weeks prior to defense |
| Reserve a room for defense. Contact the Chemistry Office for details – it varies depending on which building the defense will be held in. | 3 weeks prior to defense |
| Turn in final draft of your dissertation to your committee members | At least 2 weeks prior to defense |
| Provide Department Office with details of your defense, including date, location, thesis title, and thesis abstract (these details will be forwarded to the Dean's Office) | 2 weeks prior to defense |
| Prepare a flyer from a department template (choose 1 or 2) and email to Chemistry Department Office | 2 weeks prior to defense |
| Make sure that the defense on the | 2 weeks prior to defense |
| Dissertation defense - approximately 40 minute public presentation followed by a closed session oral examination. | At least 4 weeks before Graduate School thesis submission deadline. When possible, do not schedule defense during last two weeks of a semester. (approx. Spring: 3/7, Summer: 7/3, Fall: 10/28) |
| Turn in Dissertation Defense Report. | Within 15 days of your defense |
| Apply for graduation via UAOnline | Visit Graduate School website for deadlines |
| Make any changes to your thesis that were suggested by your committee. | Before obtaining committee signatures |
| Bring signature page to Graduate School to be double checked before anyone signs it. | Before obtaining committee signatures |
| Obtain committee member signatures on signature page on thesis paper. | Before submitting to Department Chair |
| Email post-defense electronic thesis to Chemistry Department Chair. You will get comments and send a finalized electronic version back to the Chair. | At least 2 weeks before Graduate School thesis submission deadline (approx. Spring: 3/18, Summer: 7/11, Fall: 11/3) |
| The department chair will email the finalized electronic version of the thesis to the Dean's office for this stage of review. | At least 1 week before Graduate School thesis submission deadline (approx. Spring: 3/31, Summer: 7/25, Fall: 11/17) |
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Submit your Signature page with all the signatures (two originals - regular paper) and the UAF Publishing Agreement Form to the Graduate School. Submit your thesis as a pdf and pay required fees through the ProQuest ETD website (details found here). Email Graduate School a 50-word version of your abstract (guidelines here) and a good-quality photograph of yourself for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Complete the (SED). |
Graduate School thesis submission deadline (approx. Spring: 4/7, Summer: 8/1, Fall: 11/28) |
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Make formatting changes to the thesis required by the Graduate School and resubmit through ETD. Turn in all other paperwork to Graduate School. |
Graduate School thesis submission deadline (approx. Spring: 4/24, Summer: 8/15, Fall: 12/16) |
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Complete the anonymous Exit Interview. Contact the department chair for information on how to do this. |
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Return keys, catalog experimental samples and data, release lab notebooks and clean research area. |
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Graduation! |
See posted graduation date and UAF's walk-through policy. |