Developed and maintained by the Pitt ChE Graduate Committee Susan Fullerton (Chair); Götz Veser; Jason E. Shoemaker; Chris Wilmer; Mohammad Masnadi
Version 4 for Academic year 2025-2026
Last Update: August 20, 2025
Edits and modifications to this edition of the handbook (Version 4, 2025-2026)
1. Pages 5-6: updated faculty and staff roles
2. Page 8: Section 2: updated PhD application deadline from January 1 to December 1 Page 12: Section 3.2: language to updated to reflect that any combination of 3990/3999 can be used to satisfy research requirements.
3. Pages 17-18, Section 3.12: step-by-step instructions have been added for the electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) process
4. Page 34: clarified language in the guide for preparing for the proposal exam (new text added in bold)
a. Two weeks prior to the proposal defense, you are required to send a copy of your proposal document to your committee for review. Exceptions to this deadline can only be made with written permissions from all of your committee members.
5. Appendix: two PhD checklist bullet points have been edited to clarify timing of the proposal and final exams. The two, reworded bullet points are as follows:
• PhD Proposal Defense (Application for Doctoral Comprehensive Examination): should be scheduled for the beginning of year 3.
• PhD Final Defense (Final Oral Examination): schedule at least two terms after the proposal defense
1. Introduction
Welcome to the graduate program in chemical engineering at Pitt! This is the department’s graduate student handbook. Its purpose is to collect rules, policies, procedures, and general information of relevance to graduate students and faculty within our department. The material contained in this handbook has been approved by graduate program leadership. The most recent changes were made on the date listed on the cover page.
Useful links: The Swanson School of Engineering also maintains extensive informational resources for chemical engineering graduate students on the web here:
https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/chemical
Additionally the university maintains informational resources specific to the SSOE graduate programs here in the graduate and professional studies catalog:
The faculty and staff in the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering department are committed to providing every resource at our disposal to support you in the completion of a graduate degree within our program. In exchange, graduate students are expected to work diligently toward degree completion and comport themselves with honesty and professionalism
Table 1 lists the faculty and staff in key administrative roles within our graduate program. If you have questions are not answered within this document, or by the links provided above, please feel free to contact the relevant administrator.
Table 1: Faculty and staff in administrative roles in service to the graduate program
Name
Prof. Steven Little Department Chair srlittle@pitt.edu
Prof. Susan Fullerton Vice Chair for Education (VCE) fullerton@pitt.edu
Rita Leccia Graduate Program Administrator
Prof. Mohammad Masnadi Graduate Admissions Chair
ril3@pitt.edu
BEH 940F
BEH 907
BEH 940G
m.masnadi@pitt.ed u BEH 926
Prof. Chris Wilmer Graduate Recruiting Chair WILMER@pitt.edu BEH 903
Prof. Jason Shoemaker Director of Academics jason.shoemaker@ pitt.edu BEH 932
412-624-9614 Oversees the department; grad issues typically brought to the Chair by the VCE
412-624-2079 Oversees the graduate program
412-624-9646 Administrates the grad program: admissions, class scheduling, graduation, exam scheduling, general questions about program, etc.
412-624-9648 Directs PhD and MS graduate admissions
847-859-9404 Directs PhD and MS graduate recruiting
412-624-3318 Oversees progress through the program, GSA advisor, orients new students; student-advisor matching, graduation certification; maintains grad handbook; addresses studentadvisor issues
Jacob Stempky Departmental Chief of Staff jas964@pitt.edu BEH 940D
Robert (Bob) Maniet Lab Facilities Manager
maniet@pitt.edu BEH 912
Adrian Starke Executive Assistant for Human Resources astarke@pitt.edu BEH 940C
412-624-6627 Oversees the staff; issues typically brought to the Chief of Staff by VCE or staff.
412-624-9643 Lab safety, lab building information including card/key access, grad office assignments
412-624-9631 Payroll, benefits, fellowship administration, appointment letters, making purchases (purchasing is a temporary job duty)
Graduate Committee:
Chaired by the VCE, this group of faculty convenes monthly to make decisions and/or recommendations about the graduate program, advise the VCE, and strategize on continuous improvement of our graduate programs (e.g., curriculum, exams, professional development, graduation requirements).
Prof. Götz Veser
Prof. Chris Wilmer
Prof. Mohammad Masnadi
Prof. Jason Shoemaker
gveser@pitt.edu BEH 806
WILMER@pitt.edu BEH 903
m.masnadi@pitt.edu BEH 926
jason.shoemaker@p itt.edu BEH 932
412-624-1042
412-624-9154
412-624-9648
412-624-3318
1.1 Overview of the Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering awards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, and research and professional Master of Science (MS) degrees. The objective of the PhD and Thesis MS programs are to develop the ability to carry out research at advanced levels while developing forward-thinking, technically trained engineers The objective of the Professional MS program is to provide advanced technical training that is directly relevant to professional advancement within the modern practice of chemical engineering.
Our graduate program offers MS and PhD students the opportunity to pursue independent research in five research focus areas where the department has developed national and international reputations:
• Biomedical Science and Biotechnology
• Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering
• Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
• Materials Design and Manufacturing
• Multi-Scale Modeling
Additional research opportunities can be found in programs that allow students to pursue interdisciplinary research, often across multiple departments A complete list of faculty affiliated with the chemical engineering program can be found on our departmental website: https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/chemical-petroleum/faculty
2. Admissions Policies
2.1 Application Dates and Deadlines
Applicants for MS and PhD programs in chemical engineering at Pitt apply online using the EngineeringCAS platform: https://engineering.pitt.edu/graduateapplications. We accept applications for students to begin their graduate studies in the fall, spring, or summer term, but the majority of our grad students begin in the fall.
For our department, application deadlines generally fall within the following time intervals:
• Fall admission: December 1 for PhD (rolling thereafter), April-June for MS
• Spring admission: October-November for PhD and MS
• Summer admission: March-April for PhD and MS
Specific deadlines for completing applications are continuously updated online here: https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/academics/graduateadmissions/admissions/admissiondeadlines/
2.2 PhD Admissions process
Applicants for fall entry into the PhD program in chemical engineering are encouraged to complete applications by the end of the preceding calendar year. Applications received prior to January 1st are guaranteed to be considered by our admissions committee before extending any admissions offers, where those received after January 1st are reviewed on a rolling basis, which means we consider applications as they arrive and only if there are additional funded research positions available Required application materials include:
• Transcripts from prior degree programs
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are qualified to assess your preparation and aptitude for graduate studies
• A personal statement describing your specific interests in graduate studies and laboratory research
• English language exam results (if applicable)
Students planning to enter in the fall are usually admitted to the department with no commitment to any specific research adviser. Thus, we evaluate applicants broadly based on academic record and research aptitude. We also consider applicants’ stated area(s) of interest against the number of funded research positions we expect to be available in that area. For example, if faculty with biomedical specialization collectively have openings for 4 new students, we target entry of at least 4 students whose research interests are in the biomedical sciences or open-ended. However, this does not imply that you will be locked into the research area specified in your application; you may choose from any of the available research positions through our student-advisor matching process (see Section 3.5) We also offer financial aid support in the form of scholarships and research/teaching fellowships for the vast majority of our incoming PhD class. Additional information on financial support for PhD students is in Section 3.1
For admissions in the spring and summer semesters, we operate on a direct admit policy, where prospective students must first identify a faculty research mentor to sponsor their application to the program. The admissions committee then reviews applications in the same way as for fall
entry, and admissions offers include direct assignment of the sponsoring faculty member as the applicant’s research mentor.
Deferral of admission is handled on a case-by-case basis and need to be requested, discussed with, and approved by the academic director.
2.3 MS Admissions process
The process for applying to the MS programs (research and professional masters) are the same as for fall entry to the PhD, except that Professional MS students are not required to indicate a preferred area of research. MS applicants are evaluated broadly based on academic qualifications, motivation, and evidence of aptitude for graduate studies. Note that our admissions committee generally looks favorably on professional activities outside of academics (e.g., job experience) especially for MS applicants who are returning to school after time away. While we do not offer an online degree program, we also encourage applications from those who wish to complete MS degrees concurrently with existing employment our graduate coursework is scheduled to minimally interfere with part- or full-time employment.
Deferral of admission is handled on a case-by-case basis and need to be requested, discussed with, and approved by the academic director
2.4 Guidelines for Doctoral Students Entering with an MS in Chemical Engineering
We encourage applications to the doctoral degree from students who already hold a master’s degree in chemical engineering from another institution. The application process is the same, and the admissions committee considers academic performance and research experience from undergraduate and master’s degrees together in determining admission See Section 3.3 for information about how prior MS coursework is applied toward PhD completion.
2.5 Guidelines for Applicants Without Prior Degrees in Chemical Engineering
We also encourage applications to our graduate programs from students who do not have prior degrees in chemical engineering. Applicants are reviewed individually with due consideration to how prior studies, research, and/or work experience in other areas will translate into success in our graduate programs. In most cases, non-ChE degree holders will be asked to complete bridging coursework intended to provide a broad introduction to fundamental concepts in chemical engineering. We may also require non-ChE degree holders to complete undergraduate coursework to address specific gaps. For example, applicants with degrees in chemistry often have strong backgrounds in kinetics and thermodynamics, but they benefit from additional preparative training in transport phenomena prior to enrollment in our required graduate level course in that area.
2.6
Guidelines for International Applicants
The application process for international students is identical to US Citizens and permanent residents, except for provisions for English language competency assessment and immigration.
Regarding English language competency, international students are required to provide results from one of several standardized tests full details are available on the web here: https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/academics/graduateadmissions/admissions/english-language-
proficiency-exam/. The English Language Proficiency exam requirement is waived if either of the following conditions applies:
1. The applicant is a citizen of a country where English is an official language.
2. The applicant has a prior degree from a US-based institution or any other country where English is an official language.
Students who are admitted and enter our graduate degree program and whose English proficiency scores are below a certain threshold are also required to take an additional language proficiency exam on campus prior to enrollment. In some cases, you may be required to complete additional English language coursework to supplement your graduate studies. Full details can be found here: https://www.linguistics.pitt.edu/esl-tesol/english-language-proficiency-test
For international applicants who need student visas, the process of applying for visa sponsorship from Pitt is initiated immediately upon acceptance of an admissions offer. International applicants should pay close attention to admissions deadlines, as visa applications require additional time. This process is administrated by Pitt’s Office of International Services: https://www.ois.pitt.edu/.
3. The Doctoral Degree Program
Our department offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in chemical engineering, which features a dual emphasis on coursework emphasizing the core principles of chemical engineering and advanced laboratory research. PhD students in our program generally complete degrees within 4.5-5.5 years A generic outline of activities and milestones extending over the duration of a 5-year PhD is as follows (see appendix for detailed timeline to degree):
Year 1
Fall (Sep-Dec)
Spring (Jan-Apr)
Summer (May-Aug)
• Graduate core coursework
• Adviser Placement
• Graduate core and elective coursework
• Begin Research
• Continue Research
• Take Qualifying Exam
Year 2
• Complete MS coursework requirements
• Begin Preparing Dissertation Proposal
3.1 Appointments and Financial Aid
Year 3
• Complete final elective courses (if needed).
• Complete and defend doctoral dissertation proposal
Year 4
• Focus on laboratory research
Year 5
• Complete laboratory research
• Write and defend doctoral dissertation
As a PhD student in chemical engineering, you may be formally appointed as a graduate student researcher (GSR) or a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) over the duration of your studies Additional information about graduate appointments can be found on the website of Pitt’s Office of Graduate Studies: https://www.gradstudies.pitt.edu/funding/appointments
Nearly all our students receive comprehensive financial aid support throughout the duration of their doctoral studies these financial aid packages include full tuition coverage along with a living stipend (approximately $31,300 per year as of 2022) and comprehensive health care coverage. Financial aid is provided through several mechanisms, including: federal grant funding furnished by research mentors, institutional scholarship/fellowship programs, and general department funds You are also strongly encouraged to apply for any external fellowship funding (e.g., through the NSF, DOE, DOD, NIH) for which you are eligible; consult with your faculty mentor or the academic director to learn about opportunities to enroll in elective coursework oriented around constructing fellowship applications.
3.2 Course Requirements
The PhD in chemical engineering requires a minimum of 72 credits for completion, as listed below. Degree checklists, provided in the appendix, are intended to facilitate planning and documentation of these course requirements.
The PhD in chemical engineering requires at least 36 coursework credits, including the following:
1. Core ChE course sequence
• CHE2101: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHE2201: Fundamentals of Reaction Processes (3 credits)
• CHE2301: Fundamentals of Transport Processes (4 credits)
• CHE2410: Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering (3 credits)
• CHE2982: Issues in Research and Teaching (2 credits)
2. Graduate Technical Electives
• 3 credits of CHE or PETE courses numbered 2000 or above
• 18 credits of Math, Science or Engineering elective courses numbered 2000 or above
*To find electives, check out the course offerings at both Pitt and CMU. Courses that are not formally designated as a math, science, or engineering elective may also be taken with special permission from the academic director
The PhD in chemical engineering also requires at least 36 research credits, comprising any combination of:
• CHE 3990: Advanced Graduate Project (taken before the proposal defense)
• CHE 3999: PhD Dissertation (taken after passing the proposal defense)
3.3 Transferring and Waiving Courses from a Prior MS Degree
Students who enter our PhD program with a prior MS degree are entitled to transfer credits that satisfy some requirements for completion of the doctoral degree. For students who enter with a prior MS degree, 30 credits will be block transferred toward completion of your PhD at Pitt. In the meantime, students for whom this applies are encouraged to contact the academic director or the graduate program administrative assistant to facilitate credit transfers and assistant with course planning.
In addition to the awarding of transfer credits, PhD students who enter with an MS in ChE may be able to obtain a waiver for their requirements for core graduate coursework. To be considered for this option, the student should provide to the academic director with transcripts and syllabus materials from prior MS coursework that matches the content of our core classes in Thermodynamics, Kinetics/Reaction Engineering, Transport, and/or Engineering Mathematics. These materials will be sent for review by faculty who teach the corresponding courses in our department. Course requirements may then be waived based on satisfactory completion of prior courses that are sufficiently similar to ours.
3.4
Teaching Requirements
PhD students are required to complete a teaching practicum as part of their PhD studies. This practicum constitutes three semesters spent assisting in the delivery of an undergraduate or graduate course. The requirement is reduced to two semesters if entering with a MS degree These assistantships are usually assigned between the 3rd and 10th terms of enrollment (after passing the qualifying exam) and they are intended develop our students’ ability to teach, train, and critically assess others’ work. Responsibilities associated with the teaching practicum vary considerably from, e.g., homework and exam grading, to guest lecturing or co-teaching a course. Teaching practicum assignments are made by the VCE with consideration of your preferences and the preferences of your research adviser. Students are encouraged to discuss any specific teaching goals they may have with the VCE well in advance so that, when possible, assignments can be made that align with career goals.
3.5 Research Adviser Selection
Most PhD students spend their first fall semester without being assigned to a specific research group/mentor. The semester is then spent taking courses and participating in our adviser selection
process. Although you will likely take a heavy course load during your first term, the adviser selection process is the most important thing that you will do in the fall semester after arrival.
Adviser selection is administrated by the academic director through a series of weekly or biweekly meetings with the first-year class of PhD and research MS students. Specific instructions are provided regarding (a) attending presentation sessions during which faculty who have openings for new students will pitch those opportunities to the first-year class; (b) scheduling and attending individual meetings with prospective faculty mentors; (c) attending the group meetings of the faculty they are interest in working for, (d) developing a ranked list of preferences (1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice) Near the end of October, start of November, the academic director delivers a finalized set of ranked student preferences to the faculty at large. The faculty then hold a meeting during which students are formally assigned to research groups based on their preferences and the preferences of the associated research mentors.
As noted in the Admissions Policies section, PhD students who enter in the spring or summer semesters usually do so through the direct-admit mechanism. In this case, it is incumbent on the applicant to identify a research mentor as part of the application process. Admissions offers are then conditioned on joining the sponsoring faculty member’s research laboratory.
3.6 Multiple Research Advisers
PhD students are allowed to be advised by two or more faculty during their graduate studies. Multi-faculty advisement can be structured through either of two mechanisms: co-equal mentorship or primary-secondary mentorship. In co-equal mentorship, each of two (or more) faculty members is formally designated as your research adviser. Each is required to contribute to the completion of administrative tasks, and their combined contributions are only allowed to “count” toward that of a single research adviser (e.g., co-mentors count as 1 person for purposes of forming a dissertation committee, see section 3.10). Co-mentors are also jointly responsible for providing financial support for your graduate studies, and are all listed on all formal documents associated with your degree.
Primary-secondary mentorship comprises a more informal form of multiple advisement, where a single faculty member is designated as the primary mentor and one or more additional professors provide intellectual or material support (e.g., lab space, research funding, etc.) for your doctoral research. In this case, your official status is as an advisee only of your primary mentor, and additional contributions from secondary mentors carry no official designation.
Both types of multiple mentorship listed above are common in our department, and the choice to pursue one or the other often depends on the preferences of the participating student/faculty and the nature of the collaboration between the respective labs. Interested students are encouraged to consult with prospective mentors about multiple advisement and to reach a consensus about co-equal or primary-secondary advisement prior to beginning your individual studies.
3.7 Transferring Between Labs
Our adviser selection process is designed to maximize opportunities for students and faculty to make well-informed decisions about research advisement. However, there arise instances in which it is necessary and beneficial for a student to transfer from one research group to another during the course of their PhD studies. While rare, this option is always available for any PhD
student in our program, and it is administrated on an as-needed basis. Lab transfers can also be discussed, and appropriate arrangements made, on a confidential basis if necessary. If you wish to consider a transfer to a new lab, you are welcome to consult the academic director, VCE, the department chair, or any other trusted faculty member
3.8 Maintaining Academic and Research Standing
All doctoral students in our program are expected to remain in good standing with respect to academic and research performance. Academic standing requires that PhD students maintain the following:
• A cumulative GPA greater than 3.0 (B average) in all graduate coursework
• Completion of each required “core” chemical engineering courses with a final grade of Bminus or better
Note that we also follow the university policy on repeat courses, as described on the registrar’s website: https://www.registrar.pitt.edu/faculty-staff/grades. Research standing will be assessed by your individual thesis adviser, and it is documented through the grade you receive for your graduate research coursework (ChE 3980 for PhD students). Grades of B- or better constitute good research standing
Thus, receipt of a C+ or lower in any course should be taken as a sign that performance needs to improve. Failure to maintain good academic or research standing in any semester results in placement on academic probation. Continued performance for one additional semester below the minimum required threshold (for a total of 2 consecutive semesters) is grounds for removal from the graduate program.
3.9 Qualifier Exam
The departmental qualifier exam fulfils the university requirement for a doctoral preliminary evaluation Passing the qualifier requires favorable evaluation according to three metrics:
1. Completion of graduate core coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (Core GPA > 3.0 earns one opportunity to take the qualifier, and core GPA > 3.25 earns two opportunities). (Note that a B- or better grade is required in all core classes as stated above).
2. Progress on the first steps of doctoral dissertation research (as attested to by your research mentor and/or other members of the graduate engineering faculty)
3. Passing marks on the oral qualifier exam
Requirements 1 and 2 above dictate that the exam should be administered near the end of your first year of doctoral studies. Students who were required to complete additional preparative coursework prior to entering the graduate core course sequence may have their oral qualifier date extended to enable completion of item 1 above.
Step 3 of the qualifier process is the oral exam, which takes the following format:
• One week prior to your exam date/time, you will be provided with a paper from the published research literature that has been selected for its focus on one or more of the core areas of chemical engineering associated with our core coursework (thermodynamics, kinetics, transport, and mathematics)
• The week of the exam is to be spent executing a critical analysis of the assigned paper; research and other professional activities are generally discontinued during this week to provide maximum time for study and preparation
• The exam itself includes a 25-minute oral presentation describing your critical analysis, followed by a 40-minute question-and-answer (Q&A) session directed by a committee of four faculty qualifier examiners. Although rare, your research adviser is allowed to attend the qualifier exam, but they are not allowed to participate.
Evaluation criteria for the oral presentation and Q&A session include evidence of competency in critical thinking, analytical skills, communication, and knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals. A copy of the rubric used by the qualifier exam committee has been provided as Appendix 2 Final exam grades of pass or fail are assigned by the full chemical engineering faculty with input from the qualifier committee, the graduate committee (see Table 1), and your individual research adviser. Passing grades are sometimes conditioned on completion of additional activities intended to address deficiencies identified during the exam. Example include, but are not limited to additional TA assignments meant to fill a knowledge gap, forming a thesis committee early and meeting with them annually, writing a review article
In the event of a failing grade on the qualifier exam, students who have completed the core ChE course sequence with grades of B+ or higher (i.e., core GPA > 3.25) are allowed to remain in the PhD program and retake the exam a second time approximately 6 months later. Students with a core GPA greater than 3.0 and less than 3.25 are allowed one attempt A failing grade on the final allowed attempt requires discontinuation of doctoral studies in our department; in most cases, arrangements can be made to complete a Research MS degree within one additional semester.
The qualifier appeals process is provided in Appendix 2. Note that a faculty member must initiate the appeal within 1 week after students are notified of qual outcomes. (Note that it is not necessary for this faculty member to be the student’s advisor.). The request must detail new information that was uncovered and why this information was not available at the time of the exam. The graduate committee will decide if the appeal is approved or denied. If approved, it will move to the full faculty for a final vote.
3.10 Forming A Doctoral Dissertation Committee
Upon completion of the qualifier exam, the next milestone in completion of the doctoral degree is the formation of a doctoral thesis committee. The committee is required to have at least four members. Three of these must be members of the graduate faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, and one must be primarily appointed outside the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at Pitt This member can be from Pitt, or from a graduate program at another academic institution. Usually your dissertation research adviser is a member and chair of the committee. With approval from the VCE, you may also recruit up to 2 additional thesis committee members who are allowed to attend and contribute to all formal meetings, but whose approval is not required for receipt of the PhD.
The doctoral thesis committee has the responsibility to advise the student during the progress of the candidate’s research and has the authority to request additional high-quality research and/or the rewriting of any portion of the dissertation. It conducts the thesis proposal and final oral examinations and determines whether the dissertation meets acceptable standards. The
membership of the doctoral committee may be changed whenever it is appropriate or necessary, subject to the approval of the department chair or VCE.
3.11 Dissertation Proposal and Exam
The Chemical Engineering Department’s PhD dissertation proposal and defense is intended to be completed during the third year of graduate studies, although in some cases it is necessary to delay into the fourth year. It comprises two components. The first is a written dissertation proposal that succinctly describes work that has been completed on your dissertation research to date and specific plans for completion of your dissertation project(s). A complete guide on completion of the dissertation proposal has been included as an Appendix.
The second component of the dissertation proposal is an oral defense, which is evaluated by your dissertation committee. Starting January 2023, all proposal defenses will be held in person (students and committee) with the option to broadcast via Zoom. Any exceptions to the in-person attendance must be agreed upon by the student, advisor, and committee and confirmed with the VCE The exam is broken into two parts: first is an open session (friends, family, and lab mates are allowed to attend) during which you should deliver a 35–45 minute presentation discussing the content of your written proposal in short form. Next is an additional closed (dissertation committee only) 45 - 60 minute examination session during which your committee will discuss your prior work and future plans in greater detail to assess your preparedness for completing dissertation research. At the end of the closed session, the committee chair will ask you to leave the room at which point the committee will discuss your case. Final evaluation of a pass or fail is made by consensus among the dissertation committee members, and a pass may be conditioned on modifications to the research plan or edits to the written proposal document.
All proposal exams must be scheduled for 2 hours duration.
Our department treats the proposal exam as satisfying the University requirements for the Comprehensive Examination (Comps) and the Overview or Prospectus Meeting. Upon satisfactory completion of all required coursework and passing the proposal exam, you will be considered a Candidate for the degree of PhD in Chemical Engineering.
Note that coursework does not need to be completed before completing the proposal exam; however, all coursework and 12 credits of ChE 3999 must be completed to move into full-time dissertation hours (FTDH) Students are expected to be enrolled in FTDH in their 4th year (see timelines in the Appendix).
3.12 Dissertation Completion and Defense
Meetings with your dissertation committee must occur at least annually from the time you gain admission to Doctoral Candidacy. During these meetings, the committee should assess your progress toward degree completion and discuss objectives for the following year and a timetable for completing your research. Usually these discussions include conversations about lab work to be completed, planned journal submissions and related external dissemination, timeline for completion of the written thesis, and plans and progress toward securing employment after graduation.
Completing a final written doctoral dissertation is a multi-step process. Pitt maintains a dedicated Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) program through the University Library system, which maintains a website with comprehensive instructions on preparing, writing, and submitting your doctoral thesis: https://etd.pitt.edu/ This website is the best resource to consult regarding the written dissertation.
Upon completion of the written dissertation, it should be delivered to your thesis committee in near-final form for their review at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of your oral thesis defense. Starting January 2023, all final defenses will be held in person (students and committee) with the option to broadcast via Zoom. Any exceptions to the in-person attendance must be agreed upon by the student, advisor, and committee and confirmed with the VCE The structure of the oral defense is substantially similar to the proposal exam, except the discussion now focuses primarily on work that is already completed. The open presentation session should be 40-55 minutes in length, followed by a closed examination session that generally lasts between one and two hours. The thesis committee will deliberate briefly before making a final determination regarding a passing or failing result. Note that failing grades on a PhD dissertation defense are rare, primarily because you should have already been in regular contact with your research mentor and dissertation committee and discussed at length what will be required for satisfactory completion of the degree. It is very common, however, for the committee to set requirements for edits, additions, or revisions to your written dissertation prior to their final approval of the document for submission.
Following successful completion of the oral dissertation defense, you are required to complete final revisions and the formal submission of your written thesis via the Pitt ETD system. This process may require as little as a few days or as long as several weeks, depending on the extent of changes that your committee has requested for the written document. Accordingly, it is a good idea to schedule your oral thesis defense at least two weeks (and ideally closer to one month) prior to the ETD deadline for that semester (see next section).
The following are recommended steps:
Step 1: as soon as you have a firm graduation timeline, visit Pitt's ETD website and read through all the guidelines for preparation, writing, and submission of your thesis
Step 2: once your thesis is fully formatted for submission to your committee prior to your defense, initiate a preliminary ETD submission using the ProQuest thesis submission interface
Step 3: alongside your oral defense, solicit feedback from your thesis committee regarding changes that should be made to the written document
Step 4: make all revisions based on feedback from your committee and the preliminary review in Step 2
Step 5: complete final submission of the revised document via the same ProQuest system
Step 6: follow up with your committee members after final submission, asking them to review and approve the document as soon as they can
All of these steps, along with several other administrative actions, need to be completed before the ETD deadline, which is several weeks before the end of the term. The reason for this is that we need to afford enough time for SSOE administrators to process the paperwork, verify degree completion, and add you to the list for receipt of a diploma at the end the term.
Once final thesis submission is done, several additional forms must be completed with the departmental graduate program administrator, including registering for graduation. At the end of the term, you will be formally awarded your PhD!
3.13 Graduation Dates
Doctoral students who are making plans to complete and defend their dissertation should make note of the deadlines for dissertation submission and approval. This is especially important if you have an offer for employment that requires proof of a completed degree. For example, graduation deadlines for the 2021/2022 academic year are as follows:
Semester Deadline for Electronic Dissertation Submission (ETD)
Fall 2021
Spring 2022
Summer 2022
November 12, 2021
April 8, 2022
August 3, 2022
Graduation Date
December 18, 2021
April 30, 2022
August 13, 2022
These dates are updated every term and they are disseminated regularly by email from the Graduate Program Administrator. The thesis submission deadline is the latest date that you may submit your final written materials for graduation during the noted term. International students should take special care to comply with these dates, as the transition from student to work visa status is usually the smoothest when it is done at the end of a semester.
If necessary, the VCE can arrange for a letter that documents completion of all degree requirements except final delivery of the written doctoral thesis. This can be done at any point after you pass your dissertation defense. This type of letter is often sufficient for a prospective employer to acknowledge completion of your PhD.
3.14 Graduation Checklist
Checklists containing all requirements for completion of the doctoral degree are included in the Appendix section at the end of this handbook. The appropriate checklist will be reviewed with the academic director for each graduate student in the term they wish to graduate before add/drop date in that term. The purpose of this review is to facilitate any changes that need to be made in schedules to meet degree requirements and review the deadlines for graduation. Doctoral students who wish to review this checklist in advance of their final semester are encouraged to discuss with their adviser or make an appointment with the academic director to do so.
3.15 Policies Governing Extended Time to Degree
Our faculty and staff make it a priority to ensure that doctoral students complete their degrees in a timely fashion, with 4 to 5 years total as the preferred benchmark. However, circumstances sometimes dictate that doctoral students extend beyond a fifth year of graduate studies Beginning in the sixth year of doctoral studies (not including time spent on external internship or a leave of absence), PhD students will be required to meet each term with their full thesis committee and provide updates on progress toward degree completion.
3.16 Transfers to the MS Degree
While our PhD program does not include formal awarding of a Master’s degree, the PhD course and research requirements during the first two years align closely with the requirements of the Thesis MS program. Thus, PhD students who choose not to complete the full doctoral degree are allowed to transfer to the MS program Those PhD students who are making adequate progress toward their doctoral degree may be offered the opportunity to complete a thesis or professional MS. To complete a transfer to the MS, students should fill out the checklist for the MS degree they wish to complete and bring it to the academic director to arrange for completion of any MS degree requirements that remain. Note also that because our MS program does not offer financial aid support in the same way as the PhD program, students who transfer from the PhD to the MS may be responsible for paying tuition fees for additional credit hours directed toward MS completion.
3.17 Internships and Co-Ops
The department welcomes and encourages graduate students to participate in external co-ops and internships. You should work together with your research advisor to arrange a mutually agreed upon plan. Then contact (1) Rita Leccia to inform her of your plans, (2) the SSOE’s Graduate Engineering Professional Development Consultant who will advise you on next steps, (3) Adrian Starke to make her aware of when you stipend pay needs to start and stop, and (4) if you are an international student, OIT.
Please note that no registration is required when participating in grad co-op or internships full time, except for visa/OIS reasons, and in this case, the student covers the fee.
4. The MS Degree Programs
Our department offers two Master’s degree options: the Professional MS and the Research (Thesis) MS. The Professional MS focuses on coursework to consolidate core knowledge in the field of chemical engineering and to develop advanced analytical capabilities through specialized electives. The Thesis MS requires less elective coursework in favor of laboratory research and a written MS Thesis The MS degrees are designed to be completed in 2 years or less with continuous full-time enrollment. Professional MS degrees can also be structured as a part-time effort alongside concurrent employment.
4.1 Course Requirements
Students pursuing the Professional MS option are required to complete a total of 31 credits:
13 credits toward the Core ChE course sequence
• CHE2101: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHE2201: Fundamentals of Reaction Processes (3 credits)
• CHE2301: Fundamentals of Transport Processes (4 credits)
• CHE2410: Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering (3 credits)
18 credits of graduate technical electives
• 3 credits of CHE or PETE elective courses numbered 2000 or above
• 6 credits of engineering elective courses numbered 2000 or above
• 6 credits of math, science, or engineering elective courses numbered 2000 or above
• 3 credits of CHE210: Special Projects; this is a 1-semester independent study course organized around experimental or computational laboratory research
Students pursuing the Thesis MS option are required to complete a total of 30 credits:
15 credits toward the core ChE course sequence
• CHE2101: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHE2201: Fundamentals of Reaction Processes (3 credits)
• CHE2301: Fundamentals of Transport Processes (4 credits)
• CHE2410: Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering (3 credits)
• CHE2982: Issues in Research and Teaching (2 credits)
15 credits of graduate technical electives and research
• 3 credits of CHE or PETE elective courses numbered 2000 or above
• 6 credits of math, science, or engineering electives numbered 2000 or above’
• 6 credits of CHE2999: MS Thesis
4.2 Thesis MS Research Requirement
Thesis MS students are expected to complete a body of laboratory research as part of their MS studies. Research MS students are paired with research mentors in much the same way as with PhD students, and the same rules apply regarding multiple mentorship and lab transfers (although the latter can be challenging and will almost always extend the time to degree completion). Please consult sections 3.5–3.7 for the relevant information. Research MS students are required to complete a written thesis and to defend the thesis orally near the end of their course of study.
As noted in the prior section, the Research MS program requires a total of 6 credits toward MS Thesis research this corresponds to approximately 18-24 hours per week of effort toward laboratory research during one semester. However, satisfactory completion of a full MS Thesis usually requires considerably more time spent in the lab. Additional research can be structured via continued enrollment in CHE2999
4.3 Completing a Written MS Thesis
Completing a final, written MS thesis is a multi-step process. Pitt has a dedicated Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) program through the University Library system, which maintains a website with comprehensive instructions on preparing, writing, and submitting your thesis: https://etd.pitt.edu/. This website is by far the best resource to consult. Upon completion of the written thesis, it should be delivered to your committee in near-final form for their review at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of your oral thesis defense.
Following successful completion of the oral thesis defense, you will be required to complete final revisions and the formal submission of your written thesis via the Pitt ETD system. This process may require as little as a few days or as long as several weeks, depending on the extent of changes that your committee has requested for the written document. Accordingly, it is a good idea to schedule your oral thesis defense at least two weeks (and ideally closer to one month) prior to the ETD deadline for that semester (see next section). Once your final thesis submission is done, several additional forms need to be completed with the departmental graduate program administrator, including registering for graduation. At the end of the term, you will be formally awarded your MS degree!
4.4 MS Thesis Defense
Upon discussions with your research adviser that your MS thesis research is nearing completion, you should form your MS thesis committee in consultation with your adviser. The committee must consist of your MS research adviser and at least two other faculty members from the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department. The committee may also include members from other University departments and members external to the University. The student should discuss with the adviser who would be best to be on this committee based on their expertise. The research adviser serves as the committee chair.
You should set up a time for the MS thesis exam in consultation with the committee, allowing approximately 1.5 to 2 hours total. You should give the committee copies of your written thesis at least two weeks before the defense unless the members agree to accept it closer to the time of the exam.
For the exam, you will make a presentation usually about 25-30 minutes in length if uninterrupted covering the main conclusions of your dissertation research. The organization of the presentation may vary somewhat but often includes the following:
• Introduction and Background
• Research Objectives
• Results and Discussion
• Conclusions
At the end of the presentation, audience members who are not on the committee are dismissed and the committee proceeds with a closed question-and-answer session. The committee may ask questions based on the material in the thesis and in fields related to the research. At the end of the exam, you will be temporarily dismissed from the exam room and the committee discusses the results of the exam and votes to pass or fail. If the result is a pass, you will finalize the thesis, taking into account all requests by the committee for changes, and receives the MS degree. If the result is a fail, you may repeat the exam once
4.5 Maintaining Academic and Research Standing
All MS students in our program are expected to remain in good standing with respect to academic and research performance (if applicable). Academic standing requires that MS students maintain the following:
• A cumulative GPA greater than 3.0 (B average) in graduate coursework
• Completion of each required “core” chemical engineering courses with a final grade of Bminus or better
Note that we also follow the university policy on repeat courses, as described on the registrar’s website: https://www.registrar.pitt.edu/faculty-staff/grades. Research standing will be assessed by your individual thesis adviser, and it is documented through the grade you receive for your graduate research coursework (ChE 2980 for MS students). Grades of B- or better constitute good research standing.
Thus, receipt of a C+ or lower in any course should be taken as a sign that performance needs to improve. Failure to maintain good academic or research standing in any semester results in placement on academic probation. Continued performance for one additional semester below the minimum required threshold (for a total of 2 consecutive semesters) is grounds for removal from the graduate program.
4.6 Graduation Dates
Thesis MS students who are making plans to complete and defend their thesis should make note of the deadlines for thesis submission and approval. This is especially important if you have an offer for employment that requires proof of a completed degree. For example, graduation deadlines for the 2021/2022 academic year are as follows:
Semester
Fall 2021
Spring 2022
Summer 2022
Deadline for Dissertation Submission (ETD)
November 12, 2021
April 8, 2022
August 3, 2022
Graduation Date
December 18, 2021
April 30, 2022
August 13, 2022
These dates are updated every term and they are disseminated regularly by email from the Graduate Program Administrator. The thesis submission deadline is the latest date that you may submit your final written materials for graduation during the noted term. International students should take special care to comply with these dates, as the transition from student to work visa status is usually the smoothest when it is done at the end of a semester.
If necessary, the academic director can arrange for a letter that documents completion of all degree requirements except final delivery of the written MS thesis. This can be done at any point after you pass your thesis defense. This type of letter is often sufficient for a prospective employer to acknowledge completion of your degree.
4.7 Graduation Checklists
We have developed checklists containing all requirements for completion of each MS degree. These are attached at the end of this handbook as an appendix. The appropriate checklist will be reviewed with academic director for each graduate student in the term they wish to graduate before add/drop date in that term. The purpose of this review is to facilitate any changes that need to be made in schedules to meet degree requirements, and to review the deadlines for graduation. MS students who wish to review this checklist in advance of their final semester are encouraged to discuss with their adviser or make an appointment with the academic director to do so.
4.8 Transfers to the PhD Program
MS degrees in chemical engineering at Pitt are intended to be terminal degrees. Students in the MS degree program who wish to transfer to the PhD program are required to successfully complete a Research MS degree and then apply for admission to the PhD program under the same requirements as those who apply from MS programs elsewhere. Under exceptional circumstances, generally including an immediate need to fill a fully funded PhD position, a faculty member may also sponsor admission of a student who is completing a Research MS degree into the PhD program through the direct-admit mechanism.
5. Additional Information and Guidance
5.1 Academic Calendar
Pitt is somewhat unusual in that it operates on an 8-month academic calendar. The fall semester generally extends from early September through the middle of December, the spring semester begins in January and extends through April, and the summer term extends from May through August. Core and elective coursework for the graduate programs is usually scheduled for the fall and spring semesters only. The summer term therefore features a heavy emphasis on research
5.2 University Holidays and Vacation Time
University holidays include the following: New Years Day; Martin Luther King’s Birthday; Spring Holiday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving (2 days); Christmas (2 days). During these holidays, the university generally operates in a “closed” status where publicly accessible buildings are locked, administrative facilities are not staffed, and campus safety operates at a reduced level. We encourage students performing experimental research to only perform experiments for which safety hazards are negligible during these times of reduced campus safety, to reduce the risk of injury.
Our department does not operate on a unified policy regarding holidays and vacation time for graduate students, but the following is excerpted from the appointment letters provided to graduate student researchers at Pitt:
The nature and schedule of the research that GSRs engage in varies widely across disciplines. However, except as noted below, GSRs should not be expected to engage in research 7 days a week or on University holidays on which the University is closed in order to safeguard the mental and physical health of students. In addition to University holidays on which the University is closed, GSRs with 12-month appointments must be given at least 10 additional days per calendar year as breaks from their research to provide students with time away from academic training and other expectations for their mental and physical well-being. GSRs on fractional appointments should receive the equivalent fraction of “break” days without research expectations.
Students who are actively pursuing laboratory research are strongly encouraged to consult with their research adviser regarding specific expectations regarding holiday absences and vacation time. Students who are not engaged in laboratory research generally follow the holiday and vacation structure implied by the academic calendar, which is available on the web here: https://www.provost.pitt.edu/students/academic-calendar
Students who observe religious holidays other than the University holidays mentioned above should have a discussion with their research advisors and course instructors well in advance of the holiday. The Provost has provided recommendations per a memo from September 30th, 2021: https://www.provost.pitt.edu/announcements/provost-memos/religious-observances-andstudent-well-being-during-academic-year
Students who wish to take extended vacations or holidays (e.g., international students visiting their home countries) need to discuss and have approval from their research advisors and the academic director, as appropriate
5.3 Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
The University of Pittsburgh does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status or gender identity or other factors as stated in the University’s Title IX policy. The University is committed to taking prompt action to end a hostile environment that interferes with the University’s mission. For more information about policies, procedures, and practices, visit the Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance web page.
If there are instances of the aforementioned issues, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, by calling 412-648-7860, or e-mailing titleixcoordinator@pitt.edu. Reports can also be filed online. You may also choose to report this to a faculty/staff member; they are required to communicate this to the University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. If you wish to maintain complete confidentiality, you may also contact the University Counseling Center (412-648-7930).
5.4 Policies on Leaves of Absence
Graduate students who are enrolled in MS or PhD programs at Pitt are allowed to take a leave of absence extending up to one year (3 consecutive terms). If you wish to take this option, please contact the academic director or ask another cognizant faculty member to do so on your behalf.
A student leave of absence is structured very simply at Pitt as a temporary discontinuation of your enrollment in courses (including research credits) at the University accordingly, tuition and activity fees will not be charged, and financial aid and any healthcare benefits you receive from the university will also be discontinued. Continuation of a leave beyond 1 year generally requires re-application to the graduate program, but arrangements can be made to streamline this process under special circumstances.
Pitt also has a formal policy governing graduate student accommodations for parental leave, which you can find here:
Those students who are on stipend support or working in a laboratory should work with the Executive Assistant for Human Resources for payroll onboarding, transitions on and off fellowship support, and inquiries about paychecks. Note, for example, that paychecks for graduate student researchers are usually provided monthly, and your first check will not arrive until the end of the first month after your payroll onboarding process is complete.
5.6 University Identification and Building Access
Upon arrival and enrollment at Pitt, you will be issued a physical identification card through Panther central, as well as digital credentials for all campus digital resources. In some cases, keys will also be issued for office and classroom space. Your card ID can be used to provide access to many buildings and laboratories across campus, and it also provides access to several
modes of public transportation across the city of Pittsburgh. For more information consult the Panther Central website: https://www.pc.pitt.edu/.
5.7 Office Space and Keys
Your University ID can be used to provide keycard access to most of the buildings on campus, as well as locked facilities inside campus buildings (e.g., laboratories, freight elevators, shared instrumentation facilities, etc.) Graduate students pursuing laboratory research are also generally given keys to access to office space assigned to your specific research group. Additional desk space in student offices may also be available to MS students on an as-needed basis. The lab facilities manager is responsible for managing key and keycard access.
5.8 Student Groups
Pitt features a vibrant set of campus organizations, including many that are geared toward social and professional development for graduate students. You are strongly encouraged to consider participating in any of the groups listed below (or many others across campus) during your graduate studies. The best information for getting involved can be found by asking around among current graduate students in our program and across the school.
• The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE)
• Pitt Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (GSA)
• Swanson School of Engineering Graduate Student Organization (EGSO)
• The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Pitt Chemical Engineering Graduate Women in Engineering (GWEN)
• Engineering Diversity Graduate Student Association (EDGSA)
• The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG)
5.9. Housing Information (as of Fall 2023)
Office of Off-Campus Living: The hub for living off-campus that includes leasing resources, safety tips, the code of conduct, etc. https://www.ocl.pitt.edu/
College Pads: Includes resources to help you find your next apartment, roommate, or sublease. Pitt login credentials are needed to utilize College Pads. https://www.ocl.pitt.edu/college-pads
Find a Roommate: https://listings.ocl.pitt.edu/roommates
Find a Sublease: https://listings.ocl.pitt.edu/subleases
Renter’s Checklist: Review this checklist of questions to consider when looking for an apartment. https://www.ocl.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/renters_checklist.png
2. The David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business is leading a collaboration with the College of Business Administration Beta Alpha Psi, the information professionals honor society. Tax help is available for domestic and international students: https://business.pitt.edu/2022-tax-assistance/
5.10 Leave of Absence
The policy for a leave of absence is outlined in the Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh - University of Pittsburgh - Acalog ACMS™ under the section titled “Statute of Limitations”. The last paragraph reads “Under special conditions, graduate students may be granted one leave of absence. A maximum leave of two years may be granted to doctoral students or one year to master’s students. The length and rationale for the leave of absence must be stated in advance, recommended to the dean by the department, and approved by the dean. If approved, the time of the leave shall not count against the total time allowed for the degree being sought by the student. Readmission following an approved leave of absence is a formality. “ This is the policy that SSOE follows. From an academic standpoint, the student is able to take a leave of absence (for medical or other reasons) provided it is approved by the department and Assoc Dean.
Realize that OIS and SSOE have different requirements in these situations. If a student is international and requires a Medical Reduced Course Load Authorization (pitt.edu) from OIS, that office may have difference requirements.
LIST OF APPENDIXES
1. Checklists for completion of PhD and MS degree requirements
2. Meaning of Research Grades
3. Guide for preparation and completion of PhD Proposal Exam
4. Rubric for PhD qualifier exam and appeal flowchart
5. PhD Timeline to Degree
6. Rubrics for evaluating PhD and MS thesis exams
University of Pittsburgh
Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Guide for Preparation and Completion of the PhD Proposal Exam
Graduate students are required to have an “Application for Admission to Candidacy for Doctoral Degree” form filled out before their proposal defense to have their commit approved. Please fill out and sign part I of the application for Admission to PhD Candidacy and email to the graduate program administrator. The program administrator will gather the rest of the signatures required and send it to your committee after your proposal defense.
At least two weeks before your proposal defense, you are required to send the details (date, time, room, major advisor, committee members, email addresses of committee, and an abstract) of your proposal defense to the Graduate Administrator, (Rita Leccia) so an announcement can be sent out and the required paperwork can be prepared for the defense.
PHD PROPOSAL EXAMINATION: CONTENT AND FORMAT GUIDELINES
The student is required to have their research mentor or the academic director sign off on the proposal to ensure it meets the department requirements prior to scheduling the proposal defense with the department graduate secretary. Ideally, this should be done at least two weeks prior to the anticipated defense date.
The research proposal should answer the questions:
1. What do you intend to do?
2. Why is the work important?
3. What has already been done?
4. How are you going to do the work?
This information should be distilled down into an efficient, written proposal which is doublespace, 12 pt font and is as short as possible while covering the requisite information. A reasonable target for the proposal is 30-40 pages, excluding references and appendix material. The proposal cannot exceed 50 pages. All tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts must be included within the page limit and should be, where possible, blended into the proposal text.
Note that there is no particular format and page distribution required. Below is just one example to give you some sense for what the committee will be looking for.
Background and Significance Why is the work important? Briefly sketch the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill (~5 pages)
Specific Aims. What do you intend to do? List the broad, long-term objectives and what the specific research proposed in this application is intended to accomplish. State any hypotheses to be tested. State concisely the importance and relevance of the research described in the proposal by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. (Recommended: ~2 - 3 pages).
Preliminary Studies. What have you already done? Provide an account of your preliminary studies pertinent to the proposed research. This information should help to establish the feasibility of the proposed project and your experience and competence to pursue the proposed project. Any manuscripts/publications submitted or accepted for publication may be listed. You are welcome to submit these are part of the appendix and they do not count towards the page limitations. (Recommended: ~15 pages)
Research Design and Methods
How are you going to do the work? Describe the research design and the procedures to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Include how the data or other results will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted. Describe any new methodology and models and their advantages over existing practices. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. Provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project (e.g., a Gantt chart). (~15 pages)
The following sections should be included but are not part of the page limit:
Literature Cited. List all references cited in the proposal.
Appendix. If needed, manuscripts (submitted or accepted for publication) and/or other materials directly relevant to this project, e.g. detailed derivations or analyses not suited for the text, can be included as an appendix to the proposal.
Grading Rubric - Chemical Engineering PhD Qualifying Exam, University of Pittsburgh
Part I. Research skills: critical thinking, analytical, and communication abilities
Critical Thinking
1. Strengths and weaknesses of the paper
2. Impact of the paper
Analytical
3. Literature and methods
Not identified Incorrectly identified Identified but unclear Correct with mostly clear rationale
Not identified Incorrectly identified Identified but unclear Correct with mostly clear justification
No analysis Incorrect or partially analyzed
Correct with strong, clear rationale
Correct with strong, clear justification
Some lit or method analysis, but not both
Analysis of methods + additional literature
4. Hypothesis/goal
Communication
5. Presentation
(1) communicates well verbally (2) well organized/structured (3) high-quality slides (4) stays on time
6. Paper Q & A
Not identified Incorrectly identified Identified but unclear
Correct ID & explanation of authors' rationale
Analysis of methods + strong comparisons to literature
Correct ID & explanation beyond the authors' rationale
Struggles to understand Q
Understands Q but A is wrong or cannot be understood
Understands Q, but gives partial A (with help) Gives A with some help
Part II. Technical skills: knowledge of Chemical Engineering fundamentals
1. Math
2. Transport
Struggles to understand Q
Understands Q but A is wrong or cannot be understood
Understands Q, but gives partial A (with help)
Gives A with some help
Gives A w/out help + additional analysis
Gives A w/out help + additional analysis
Struggles to understand Q
Understands Q but A is wrong or cannot be understood
Understands Q, but gives partial A (with help)
Gives A with some help
3. Kinetics
Struggles to understand Q
Understands Q but A is wrong or cannot be understood
Understands Q, but gives partial A (with help)
Gives A with some help
Gives A w/out help + additional analysis
Gives A w/out help + additional analysis
4. Thermo
Comments
Struggles to understand Q
Understands Q but A is wrong or cannot be understood
Understands Q, but gives partial A (with help) Gives A with some help
Gives A w/out help + additional analysis
for Evaluating Ph.D. Dissertation
Rubric
Student: [Student name]
Advisor: [Advisor Name]
Dissertation Title: Title
Committee Members Department
Committee Member 1 [Department]
Committee Member 2 [Department]
Committee Member 3 [Department]
Committee Member 4 [Department]
Committee Member
Date of Defense: [Date]
Full-time student (Yes/No)
At the conclusion of the defense, the committee should discuss each of the attributes below. For each attribute that the committee feels is somewhat or very deficient, a short explanation should be provided. Each member of the committee should complete a separate evaluation instrument.
• This document should be completed, even if the committee feels that the dissertation is unacceptable.
• Time from start to accepted proposal (months) [X months]
• Time from proposal accepted to completion (months) [Y months]
• Please attach a copy of the executive summary to this evaluation form. The advisor should also include copies of any journal publications or referred conference proceedings that have already resulted from this dissertation.
• Student has accepted a position at [Organization] (if student has yet to accept a position, please leave blank until the time that student
• officially accepts an offer and then complete). Attribute
Contributions
Publications
Writing
Defense
Other
Reasons for deficiencies:
Attribute Very Deficient Somewhat Deficient Acceptable Very Good Outstanding
Quality of Dissertation
Contributions
• Barely acceptable
• Gaps in dissertation require research
• Requires committee to stretch to find contribution
• Closer to MS than PhD dissertation
• Acceptable, but disappointing
• No gaps in dissertation
• Extensions insignificant
• Extends prior knowledge to some degree
• In total is a contribution, but contains no single major contribution
• Acceptable
Publications and Potential Publications
• Nothing has been submitted
• One refereed conference proceeding
• No papers submitted
• A publication in a second tier journal
• Presented work at one or more conferences
• Demonstrates originality
• Makes some contributions
• Provides opportunities for additional, fruitful research
• Very original work
• At least one important contribution
• Recommendatio ns are extendable
• Solid basis for funded projects
• Original and creative
• Several important contributions
• Introduces new methodology or techniques to field
• At least one paper has been accepted to a recognized journal
• Should be able to publish one or two papers from dissertation
• Presented work at two or more national conferences
• At least one paper has been accepted by a recognized journal
• Three or more good publications should result
• Multiple presentations at (inter)national meetings
• At least one paper has been accepted or published in a leading journal
• More than three significant publications will result
• Multiple presentations at (inter)national meetings
Quality of Writing
• Requires a professional editor
• Sentence structure, language and style deficient
• Major revisions required
• Writing is weak
• Many typos, grammatical and spelling errors
• Technically significant changes required
• Limited number of typos (grammatical errors and spelling)
• Some changes necessary
• Very well written
• Easy to read and understand
• Very few changes or additions required
• Reads like an outstanding publication
• No typos, grammatical or spelling errors
• No revisions or changes; acceptable as is
Defense
• Very poorly organized
• Disjointed presentation
• Unable to answer questions directly pertinent to dissertation topic
• Slides and handouts of very poor quality
Comments and reasons for any deficiencies:
• Not well organized
• Rambled; dwelt too long on less important aspects
• Had difficulty with questions
• Some slides and handouts difficult to read
• Typos and other errors in slides
• Acceptable –slides and handouts clear
• Good presentation skills
• Able to answer most questions
• Well thought out slides and handouts
• Professional presentation
• Almost all questions addressed in a knowledgeable manner
• Well organized, very professional
• All questions addressed in a knowledgeable manner
• Slides and handouts outstanding
Student: [Student Name]
Advisor: [Advisor Name]
Thesis Title: [Title]
Committee Members Department
Committee Member 1 [Department]
Committee Member 2 [Department]
Rubric for Evaluating MS ChE Thesis Chair and Committee Members
Date of Defense: [Date]
Full-time student (Yes/No)
• At the conclusion of the defense, the committee should discuss each of the attributes below. For each attribute that the committee feels is somewhat or very deficient, a short explanation should be provided. Each member of the committee should complete a separate evaluation instrument.
• This document should be completed, even if the committee feels that the thesis is unacceptable.
• Please attach a copy of the executive summary to this evaluation form. The advisor should also include copies of any journal publications or referred conference proceedings that have already resulted from this thesis.
