Environmental Science & Engineering / Environmental Science and Engineering, PhD / Overview of the PhD Program

ESE PhD Committee Meetings

The faculty expect PhD students to meet with their research committees at least annually following the qualifying exam.  These meetings are for the student's benefit in order to connect with and receive better advising from their committee members.

For ESE students the target date for these meetings is early April.  The process includes:

  • 1:1 meetings between the student and each member of their committee annually.

    • G3 students: Prepare a one-page synopsis of the subject and general objectives of your proposed dissertation research.  Please include a list of publications and presentations you gave this year.  Details may be modified as the dissertation progresses, but any major change in the subject and scope of the dissertation must be approved by the advisory committee.

    • G4+ students: Prepare a one-page summary of the status of your dissertation research, detailing your accomplishments for the past year, a list of publications and presentations, and goals for both the coming year and the period until completion.

  • A meeting between you and your research committee each spring, scheduled for 60 minutes (but often lasting much less time).  The target date is by the first Monday in April.  The meeting can be waived with agreement of the student and each member of the committee as indicated on the report form.
    • You are to prepare a very brief, informal presentation (15 minutes or less) on your efforts since the previous meeting (or for a first meeting, since your Qualifying Exam), including specific questions you have for the committee.  An informal discussion will follow – this is not intended to be evaluative, it is to provide advising.
    • The primary advisor must leave the room for part of the time at the end in order to allow for open discussion of interpersonal relationships, etc.
  • Committee members will sign the report form (MS-Word or PDF) to indicate the meetings occurred, providing informal comments if they so choose.  The student is to return the form to the Office of Academic Programs by August 6 each year, in-person or at gradprograms@seas.harvard.edu.

The student and advisor are encouraged to form a post-qualifying exam research committee  (using the "Research Committee" form).  If no new committee has been formed, the default is the qualifying exam committee without the Dean's Nominee.