Doctoral Oral Exams: UMass Amherst – June 23-27, 2025

BOSTON, June 16, 2025

The Graduate Dean has announced the schedule for upcoming doctoral candidates’ final oral examinations, offering a glimpse into the cutting-edge research being conducted.

Doctoral Candidates’ Final Exams Announced

Upcoming exams cover diverse fields, from molecular biology to animal science.

• Examinations will be held both in-person and via Zoom.
• Dissertations explore topics like lipid peroxidation, math game design, and embryonic development.
• candidates represent a range of disciplines, including history and food science.

The final oral examinations for doctoral candidates are scheduled between June 23 and june 27,covering various disciplines and research areas. These examinations represent a significant milestone for the candidates as they prepare to defend their dissertations.

Did you know?-Doctoral dissertations often contribute considerably to their respective fields, sometimes leading to new patents, policies, or further research avenues.

Exam Schedule Highlights

On Monday, June 23, at 10 a.m. via Zoom, Siu Wong will present his dissertation on “Unraveling the Role of Lipid Peroxidation Products in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Satish gattipalli will follow at 1 p.m. via Zoom, wiht a focus on “Making Cultural Signatures: A Cross-National Study of K-12 Student Math Game Design and Computational Thinking Education.” Later that day,at 2 p.m.in Herter 601, He loves us to be a nurse will discuss “The Forgotten Men: African and Colored Servicemen of the Second World War and the Anticolonial Struggle in Southern Rhodesia (Colonial zimbabwe), c.1939-1980.”

Tuesday, June 24, will feature Aaron Kim at 10 a.m. in Skinner Hall 012, whose dissertation is titled “Feeding Behavior and Lipid Regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans: A Functional and Structural Approach to Bioactive Compound Screening.” At 3 p.m., also on Tuesday, Anthony Repucci will present his work, “The Persistence of Union: East Tennessee in the Civil War and Reconstruction,” via Zoom.

Reader question:-Which of these dissertation topics sparks your curiosity the most, and why? Share your thoughts!

The week concludes with two more presentations. On Thursday,June 26,at 11 a.m. in ILC N101, Xinjian He will present, “Investigating Mechanisms Involved in Mammalian Embryonic Development During Peri-Implantation.” on Friday, June 27, at 10 a.m. in ILC N101 and via Zoom, Janelle Welton will discuss “Investigating the Sexuality Dimorphic Embryonic Lethality of CMTR1 knockouts.”

The Critical Role of Dissertation Defense

The upcoming doctoral candidate’s final oral examinations mark a pivotal moment, and observing the role these defenses play provides valuable insights into the culmination of years of research and the future of various academic fields.

As the Graduate Dean’s declaration highlights [[1]], these examinations aren’t mere formalities. They are rigorous assessments designed to evaluate a candidate’s grasp of their subject matter, their research methodology, and their ability to articulate complex ideas. These final defenses are also the final step before a candidate earns their doctoral degree, the highest academic achievement in the United States.

These defenses frequently enough involve the candidate presenting their dissertation research to a committee of faculty experts. The committee then poses questions to assess the candidate’s knowledge and understanding. These panels provide the graduate students with an prospect to showcase their expertise and intellectual potential.

What Happens During a Dissertation Defense?

The dissertation defense process typically involves several key components:

• Presentation: Candidates usually begin with a presentation summarizing their dissertation research, highlighting its key findings and importance.
• Question and Answer Session: The committee members then ask questions about the research,probing the candidate’s understanding of the topic,methodology,and conclusions.
• Evaluation: The committee evaluates the candidate’s performance based on the presentation, responses to questions, and overall understanding of the research.
• Decision: After the defense, the committee deliberates and makes a decision: pass, revise and resubmit, or fail.

Dissertation defenses are crucial for validating the originality and significance of a candidate’s research. During the examination,candidates must prove their work’s validity and contribution to their field of study.

Candidates benefit from feedback, guidance, and insights from experienced scholars. This mentorship is crucial for shaping students’ professional research and presentation skills.

Preparing for the Final Exam

as the doctoral candidates prepare for their defenses, several factors are important:

• Thorough Research: A deep understanding of the research topic is essential.
• Clarity and Conciseness: The ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner is key.
• Anticipating Questions: Candidates should anticipate potential questions from the committee and prepare thorough responses.

The Graduate School at the University of Texas at Austin recommends scheduling the dissertation defense at least two weeks in advance [[1]]. Marquette university allows for in-person, hybrid, or entirely online defenses [[2]].

Future of the Defense

The format of dissertation defenses may continue to evolve with technology. As highlighted in the announcement, many examinations are now conducted via Zoom, offering flexibility for candidates and committee members alike.Additionally, universities are constantly working to improve the procedures. For example, Georgetown University has a team of support for students with any inquiries [[3]].