Dalla Lana School of Public Health - Doctor of Philosophy Epidemiology (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy Epidemiology (PhD)

Supervision

Prior to admission, and with the assistance of the Division Head, the applicant will explore supervisory possibilities: a faculty member who has a “full” appointment in the SGS, and who conducts epidemiological research. In some instances, the Student and the Division Head will identify both a primary and a co-supervisor. The co-supervisor generally will be a faculty member with an “Associate” appointment in the SGS. The faculty supervisor must be confirmed prior to beginning the program.

Role and Responsibilities

The Supervisor is responsible for providing mentorship to the student through all phases of the PhD program. Thus, the Supervisor will guide the selection of courses, dissertation topic, advisory committee membership, and advisory committee meetings; will assist with applications for funding; and will provide references for the student on a timely basis. The Supervisor also will comment on the student’s plan for preparation for the comprehensive examination. The Supervisor will guide the development of the student’s research proposal, and the implementation and conduct of all aspects of the research; advise on writing the dissertation; correct drafts and approve the final dissertation; and attend the defense.

Advisory Committee

With the assistance of the Supervisor, and with the approval of the Program Leader, the student will assemble an Advisory Committee no later than the end of the second term of the first year.

Role and Responsibilities

The Advisory Committee, chaired by the Supervisor, will contribute advice regarding course selection, preparation for the comprehensive examination, selection of the dissertation topic, and implementation of the research plan. The Advisory Committee also will provide timely and constructive criticism and guidance regarding the analysis of data, writing of the dissertation, and preparation for the defense.

Composition

The Advisory Committee generally will comprise two members who hold either “Full” or “Associate” appointments in the SGS. Between these two individuals and the Supervisor, there should be expertise in all content and methodological areas relevant to the student’s research focus and dissertation proposal.

Meetings

Advisory Committee meetings will be held at least every six (6) months throughout the student’s PhD program. Under certain circumstances (e.g., during times of very rapid progress), the Student and the Advisory Committee may decide there is a need for more frequent meetings.

Reporting

At the end of every meeting of the Advisory Committee, the Student and the Committee will complete the Advisory Committee meeting report. All present must sign the report, which will be delivered to the Program Leader and filed in the student’s progress file.

The final report of the Advisory Committee will be completed at the meeting during which the Committee makes the recommendation for the Student to proceed to the Divisional defense of the dissertation. It also will be signed and delivered to the Program Leader.

Mentorship

In addition to working with the supervisor and the advisory committee, PhD students are encouraged to meet with upper-year PhD students to seek informal advice and guidance. Incoming PhD students will be given a list of upper-year students who have offered this mentoring service.

Information on mentoring can be found in the two mentoring guides (one for mentors, one for protégés) produced by the Centre for Health Leadership and Practice, a Centre of the Public Health Institute (www.cfhl.org/publications.jsp).

Progress through the PhD

The phases of the PhD program are identified by a set of accomplishments which the student generally will attain in order, and within a satisfactory time. These phases, which will be monitored by the Program Leader of the PhD program, are the identification of the Supervisor and the Advisory Committee, completion of required and elective course work, completion of the comprehensive examination, defense of the research proposal, and defense of the dissertation (both Divisional and SGS ). Full-time students are expected to complete the PhD within four (4) years. Flex-time students may take longer, but not more than eight (8) years; they must submit a revised list of milestones, for approval by the Supervisor and the Program Leader.

Timeline for completion of the Phases of the PhD Degree

Phase	Responsibility	Deadline
Identification of Supervisor	Student, Supervisor, Program Leader	Pre-Admission
Application for External Funding	Student and Supervisor	October of first year
General Literature Review and Potential Research Questions for Dissertation	Student	December of first year
Identification of Advisory Committee	Student and Supervisor	March of first year
Approval of Advisory Committee	Program Leader and Division Head	April of first year
Completion of Required Courses	Student	April of first year
Initial Draft of Dissertation Proposal	Student	April of first year
Comprehensive Examination	Student	July of first year
Proposal Presentation and Defense	Student	October of second year
Approval of Dissertation Proposal	Program Leader	October of second year
Ethics Approval for Dissertation Research	Student and Supervisor	December of second year
Completion of Elective Courses	Student	April of second year
Dissertation Research	Student and Supervisor	Continuing during second, third, and fourth years
Divisional Defense	Student	End of fourth year
Approval to Proceed to SGS Oral Defense	Program Leader and Division Head	End of fourth year
SGS Oral Defense	Student	End of fourth year

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PhD

Last Update 7/30/2010