Proposition Exams in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program
1. What is a Proposition?
A proposition is an assertion concerning some current question in biochemistry or molecular biology, i.e., a mechanism or theory which could be a biological phenomenon in molecular terms. First, it involves the identification of an important question and a proposed experimental approach to answering it. Then it requires a prediction as to what the answer will be, which the student is prepared to defend on the basis of existing evidence. Of course it is not expected that the Proposition can be proven beyond any doubt from published data - an idea for which the evidence is already so overwhelming will almost certainly have been suggested in print by someone else. The Proposition should, however, be logically based on some evidence, should not be clearly disproved by any other data, and should serve as a reasonable basis for further research in the field. The student will be expected to suggest experiments whereby the Proposition could be tested using currently feasible methods. Although these experiments are not ordinarily included in the initial one to two page submission, they are an important part of the detailed write-up which is submitted later (see Section 4 below). For further guidance, students are invited to consult the files of Propositions from previous years.
2. Preliminary Preparation:
The first step is to read extensively in the current literature on some selected area of biochemistry or molecular biology, noting various unexplained phenomena, apparently contradictory results, etc. Possible explanations for some of these puzzles will occur to the thoughtful student, and these are the basis for possible Propositions. Many will naturally be ruled out by further reading in the field, but others will be strengthened by the discovery of additional supporting evidence. (Of course, a Proposition which is later found to appear in a published paper is also ruled out, unfortunately, even if the student thought of it before he/she read the paper.)
As soon as some fairly definite ideas have been selected, the student should discuss these informally with the Propositions Coordinator of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program (Dr. Wang and Dr. Gélinas), to evaluate their potential acceptability as Propositions. The Coordinator does not have any absolute authority to block the submission of a Proposition, but on the basis of past experience in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program she can judge fairly well what is likely to be acceptable. If necessary, the Coordinator will consult other faculty members in order to provide the most reliable advice.
It is important that the student should consult the Coordinator in this informal way as early as possible to avoid the wasted effort of developing in detail a Proposition which will be unacceptable. It should be borne in mind that the criteria for acceptance of a Proposition by the Executive Committee Coordinator relates not only to the scientific merit of the Proposition itself but also to its suitability as a basis for an examination covering significant areas of current research in molecular biology.
3. Formal Submission
The Proposition which is finally selected is formally submitted for circulation to the Executive Proposition Committee Coordinator. The Proposition itself should be stated in one, or very few carefully worded sentences. It should be accompanied by a very brief (one page or so) explanation of the background and significance of the Proposition for the benefit of Executive Committee members who may not be familiar with the specific field. In addition, on the basis of consultation with faculty members, the Coordinator will suggest an Examining Committee and this list will be circulated together with the Proposition for Executive Committee approval.
The Examining Committee usually consists of three faculty members from the program, one of whom is designated Chairman. An outside examiner may be included if the topic lies outside the specific competence of our faculty.
4. The Detailed Write-up:
Within eight weeks after the Executive Committee Coordinator has approved the Proposition, the student must prepare a detailed proposition with the guidance of the Chair of the Examining Committee present to the Chairman of the Examining Committee a detailed written discussion of the Proposition. When this detailed write-up is accepted by the Chairman, the student should then arrange a date for the examination at the convenience of the individuals involved and other committee members. Following this, a copy of the detailed write-up should then be sent to each member of the Examining Committee and to the Biochemistry Office Proposition secretary (Christine Thompson), who should also be made aware of the date and time of the exam. The detailed write-up should ordinarily be roughly 6 to 8 pages of double-spaced typing. First, the background is reviewed in more detail than was provided previously, including a few key literature references, to make clear the logical basis for the Proposition and the available evidence for and against it. Second, currently feasible experimental approaches are described by which the Proposition could be tested. These should be presented in some detail, including the methods to be used. The possible outcomes of each proposed experiment should be stated, and the interpretation of each possible outcome should be discussed. This second part of the write-up will generally resemble a research grant application.
5. The examination:
The oral examination will be based on the Proposition, and the experiments proposed to test it, but it will not be restricted to these. It is also intended to evaluate the student's general knowledge and understanding of areas of biochemistry and molecular biology related to the Proposition. The possible results of the examination are as follows:
Pass: A satisfactory performance which shows that the student is ready to be promoted to candidacy for the Ph.D.
Conditional Pass: Certain limited deficiencies in the student's performance are considered too serious to permit an unqualified pass. The Examining Committee will designate particular remedies for these deficiencies, such as further study in certain areas followed by reexamination by some or all of the Committee on a specified date. Although the Committee fully expects the student to satisfactorily pass the specified conditions, no absolute guarantee of a final Pass is implied.
Fail: An unsatisfactory performance which raised serious doubts about the potential of the student for further study toward the Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The Examining Committee may recommend that the student be given an opportunity to retake the examination on the same or different Proposition, but the final decision on the student's continuation in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program will be made by the Executive Committee on the basis of a full consideration of other relevant aspects of the student's record in addition to the report of the Examining Committee.
Students are reminded that should they fail to fulfill any requirement of the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, including, but not limited to, maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better, passing the Qualifying Examination, and passing the Proposition Examination, the Executive Committee may reduce the student to Master's status. As such, in order to fulfill the requirements for a Master's degree, the student must complete all required coursework and write a Thesis which must be approved by his/her Advisor and a Thesis Advisory Committee.
