# Qualifying Exam ## expand\_more ## SHBT Qualifying Exam **To be taken by Oct 31st of G3** The **Qualifying Exam** (QE) is designed to test the student’s preparedness for doing research in a chosen area. Examiners will assess the student’s knowledge, aptitude, and readiness for research. It is distinct from a dissertation research proposal. During the later part of G2, SHBT students prepare for their Qualifying Exam. At this time, the students should have completed their coursework and electives. The students are required to submit **a request for Oral exam, no later than August 31st of G3. The QE must be taken by Oct 31st of G3.** After the request for oral examination is submitted to the Program Administrator and approved, the student begins the QE Registration Form through my.Harvard. Instructions [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d9hu9jcfam3t5oobio3q1/Qualifying-Exam-Registration-Form.pdf?rlkey=144x9m6ms705s3lu6n0nhv18s&st=iyk1gnfk&dl=0). **The Drill for your QE** **This document should be read by both the student and the advisor.** 1\. **Concentration Advisor**: At the beginning of G2 year, each student chooses an **Area of Concentration** and a **Concentration Advisor** to help him/her/them craft a coordinated set of coursework, research, and independent study in the specific research area. **Two elective course work have to be completed by the end of G2**. For previous years and incoming students, other elective courses that may benefit the student’s area of concentration should also be considered. Prior to taking the QE, the student must consult with the concentration advisor, their dissertation advisor, their academic advisor and other mentors to clarify expectations for the exam. The concentration advisor plays an important role in the design and preparation for the QE and will, in most cases, chair the exam. 2\. **Qualifying Exam Committee Composition****s** The qualifying exam is administered by an ad hoc committee of three faculty members, organized as follows: - **The chair (Concentration Advisor)** must be an SHBT faculty member familiar with program policies. - **Harvard Ladder Faculty Member:** May be either SHBT or non-SHBT. - **Third Committee Member:** May be SHBT or non-SHBT. - **Important:** If the Harvard Ladder Faculty Member (listed above) is *not* from SHBT, then this third slot *must* be filled by an SHBT faculty member. **Selection Process:** - In consultation with their dissertation advisor and other mentors, the student proposes a list of potential examiners by completing a Request for Oral Examination Form. This form is submitted to both the program administrator and the concentration advisor. - The concentration advisor and student will review the list together and finalize the composition of the examination committee. - The student’s dissertation advisor *cannot* serve on the examination committee. - The concentration advisor usually serves as chair of the committee to ensure a fair and consistent process. - The student is responsible for contacting faculty members directly and setting up the meeting date and location. - After the exam, the chair will report the outcome to the program administrator and the chair of the tracking committee, with a copy to the student and the dissertation advisor. - If an examination committee member cannot be scheduled in a timely manner, the student should consult with the concentration advisor to select an alternate examiner. 3\. **Preparation:** The Qualifying Exam assesses the student’s comprehension of the fundamental ideas and approaches related to the student's research area, and their ability to think incisively and critically about the theoretical and practical aspects of this field. **The student prepares a presentation of a research project he/she/they actively participated in. This may be preliminary results for the anticipated dissertation project, or an independent research project completed during one of the rotations**. Note that this is not a grant proposal, rather a summary and discussion of work performed by the student. During the examination, the student should be prepared to discuss the rationale for the experiments, background literature that has led to the research, expected outcomes and alternative experiments or conclusions. Detailed knowledge of experimental protocol and analysis is also expected. Additionally, the student is expected to be familiar with material taught in the core classes during the first year, particularly classes that are directly relevant to the student's area of research. This may also include material taught in elective classes taken by the student. In theory, the questions from the committee should be confined to topics directly related to the student’s research, but they can also be asked questions about fundamental concepts. As such, it is encouraged that the student revisits all course work as well as literature that is relevant to their research project. The Dissertation Advisor may help the student prepare for the exam by giving general advice and participating in practice exams but cannot directly assist the student in writing the research summary and cannot be present at the exam. 4\. **Write your paper:** *A written summary of the research project must be submitted to the committee at least one week before the exam.* This research summary should be 6-8 pages long (not counting figures and references). Remember that this is not a grant proposal, rather a summary/discussion of work performed during one of the rotations. The format of the paper should be similar to a publication (introduction, methods, results, discussion, references). The research summary should be written by the student using their own words, with no direct contribution from the Dissertation Advisor. The research summary should be written by the student using their own words, with no direct contribution from the Dissertation Advisor. The research summary paper needs to be submitted no later than one week before the exam. 5\. **Preparing for the exam:**The student prepares a ~20 min presentation of a research project that was completed during one of the rotations. This synopsis must indicate why the research question is important, describe the techniques used to address the question, present, and interpret results, and discuss how the approach advances knowledge in the research area. The combination of coursework and research must lead to the student mastering a significant accomplishment in an academic area. As the student progresses in research and masters fundamental concepts, the Qualifying Exam is designed to test knowledge in the concentration area 6\. **Taking the exam**:This consists of four people (you and three examiners) meeting in a room for approximately two hours. You should prepare an introduction and overview of your project lasting about 20 min (see details above). The examiners will interrupt with questions during the presentation, so the actual process will take longer. The oral presentation generally takes the form of a PowerPoint presentation, but any format that effectively communicates the main ideas is acceptable, including writing on a whiteboard. While the written research summary is the initial focus of the exam, the student is also expected to demonstrate substantial knowledge in their field of research and related scientific areas. 7\. **Exam Evaluation:** The chair of the examination committee is responsible for reporting the outcome of the exam using My.Harvard, instructions [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8sk5bnxqrp90tzfmfohnj/My.Harvard-Faculty-PQE-Evaluation-Form-Guide-2.pdf?rlkey=nqf9n28ss7hn2rcbsu77nnxal&st=e2l9f658&dl=0). 8\. **Exam Results: Pass/Fail**: If the first attempt is not a pass, the student may be given a second chance. Continued enrollment for any student who has not attained a clear pass after a second examination (if a second chance had been approved) will be considered and determined by the SHBT Program Director. - **Conditional Pass**, The student has to complete additional work such as coursework or a writing assignment without having to retake the exam within 3 months after the initial test day. The pass becomes final when the student demonstrates completion of the required additional work to the Examining Committee. It is the responsibility of the exam chair to follow up with the student and confirm completion of the additional work. The chair of the Examining Committee must report successful final completion to the program administrator and the director of student affairs by submitting a second Qualifying Exam report form.