Thesis & Dissertation
The M.S. program has a thesis track, which requires at least 10 credits of BCB 500 (Master’s Research and Thesis). To graduate, they must complete and defend a thesis that demonstrates a high level of scholarly achievement.
The Ph.D. program requires at least 30 credits of BCB 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation), as well as completion and defense of a Doctoral Dissertation.
A thesis or dissertation should represent the culmination of independent scientific research conducted during the degree program. They must include the three components below:
- This is the written product of research conducted during the program. We recognize that during all aspects of their research, BCB students may work closely with their major professor or other faculty members, fellow students, or postdoctoral fellows. Nonetheless, the thesis or dissertation should primarily be the intellectual product of the student.
- The thesis or dissertation is split into chapters, each of which should be equivalent to a scientific manuscript for which the student would be regarded as lead author. Students are encouraged to write their chapters with future submission to scientific journals in mind, and it is strongly recommended that students submit at least one of their chapters for publication prior to their defense.
- M.S. theses typically include one to two chapters and Ph.D. dissertations typically include at least three chapters. However, given the diversity of sub-fields and types of research undertaken by BCB students, each student’s graduate committee will determine their specific length requirements.
- Students must present their thesis or dissertation work in a public, oral presentation. This should last 35-45 minutes for M.S. students and 40-50 minutes for Ph.D. students. Any member of the audience may ask questions. The major professor, all graduate committee members, and the BCB Director (or designee) should be in attendance.
- Work with the BCB program coordinator at bcb@uidaho.edu well in advance to schedule your public defense, reserve a room, advertise the event, and ensure all necessary paperwork is filed on time.
- The public defense is followed by a closed-door oral examination with the graduate committee. This can last up to 1.5 hours for M.S. students or 2 hours for Ph.D. students. It must be attended by the major professor, all graduate committee members, and the BCB Director (or designee). Ideally, this examination occurs immediately after the public presentation, so it is highly recommended to reserve a 3-hour block of time for both the public and closed-door defenses.
- The BCB Director (or designee) will chair this examination, during which the major professor and graduate committee members will question the student. Questions may ask the student to explain or justify any aspects of their research, or they may address general knowledge in bioinformatics-related fields. The BCB Director (or designee) will ensure that questioning is rigorous and fair, living up to the interdisciplinary training ideals of the BCB program.