Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC)

After the QE has been passed, the student and their advisor together choose the members of the student’s Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC). The TRAC, which may or may not include some members of the QEC, will evaluate the progress of the student after the qualifying exam through completion of the dissertation. The committee consists of 4 - 6 faculty who can best judge the research. It includes the Thesis Advisor and a Chair who is not the Thesis Advisor. The Committee must have one and not more than two members who are from outside the IMP, although they can be faculty who have joint appointments with IMP.

The committee must meet at least once per year, and this is monitored by filling out a form supplied by the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences web site, which is submitted to the Dean. Normally, the meeting is held right after the student’s presentation in BBS833 for students in their 4th and 5th years. Although third year students do not usually give seminars in BBS833, the committee should still meet in the fall semester so that the meetings will be held at least once per year.