The process of writing a scholarly document on thesis research performed by our students, having that document reviewed by experts in the field, and then undertaking experiments to address reviewers’ concerns is an important educational experience that is the mainstay of our discipline. Moreover, such an important scholarly achievement that is peer reviewed by an external field of experts also serves as an independent gauge that our students have reached an important milestone in their training. As such, all students must have one first-authored (shared first authorship is acceptable), primary paper representing their thesis research (excluding reviews, commentaries, etc.) in press or published (this excludes in preparation, submitted, under revision, or conditionally accepted) PRIOR to asking permission to defend their thesis. Recognizing that there could be extenuating circumstances, a student can submit a Publication Waiver Request Form to request permission to defend without meeting this requirement.
The Publication Waiver Request Form requires the following:
- The majority of thesis committee members must approve before a publication waiver can be requested.
- Submit completed publication waiver request forms to the PCB Department Chair, Dr. Lee Zou. CC: Thesis advisor, Program DGS and Jamie Baize-Smith.
- Students cannot proceed with defense planning until a publication waiver has been approved.
- Completed requests MUST be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to a proposed defense date.
The review committee must make a decision with regards to granting an exception within two weeks of the submitted request. The decision must be a majority decision, with the chair of the department given veto power.