On The Route To The Defense, Business Office I

Ladies together with gentleman, this is the showtime of the end! I am scheduled to defend my PhD thesis on

June 14th 2013 at 12:30 pm

at the Senaatszaal inward the TU Delft Aula.

During a defense strength at Delft University of Technology, the PhD Candidate gives a presentation for friends together with household unit of measurement (and non the committee), afterward which the existent defense strength starts together with this lasts just for an hour. The Beadle (lady at the correct inward the photograph) marks the showtime together with the goal of this hour. Then, the commission retreats, together with hence the commencement ceremony starts. So, you lot could tell that it's a fleck of an all-in-one experience.

Since a Dutch defense strength is super formal, it takes quite some steps earlier truly getting to the indicate of the defense. I'll weblog close this procedure (you could guide hold seen that coming), together with today I'm giving you lot an update of the steps I guide hold gone through hence far. 

My goal for writing these steps out is to give PhD candidates at Delft University of Technology a heads-up on what they tin except at the end, together with to explicate the residuum of the basis why it takes hence long from finishing the draft thesis to defending.

1. Finish draft thesis

I finished together with delivered my firstly total draft on Nov 14th of 2012. This firstly draft was a compilation of all the chapters I had written previously. As my promotor together with copromotor worked their way through the document, I started adding the listing of notations, summary, acknowledgements together with curriculum vitae - also equally endeavor to brand my drawings await a piffling amend (still something I create produce with).

2. Improve draft thesis amongst promotor together with copromotor

During the months of Dec together with January, I went through four rounds of sitting amongst my promotor together with copromotor. The firstly iii rounds were all aimed at getting their feedback on my chapters, together with the finally circular was for me to demonstrate them how I implemented their comments together with how I extended my theoretical work.

 

3. Acceptance of draft yesteryear promotor (PROM3)

That was The Big Day. We telephone phone it "getting the signature". It agency that your promotor signs the shape PROM3 - which truly clears your route to the defense. For me, this happened on Jan 29th - together with I won't forget that solar daytime easily. I had caught the flu, was roaming or hence amongst a high fever, elbow grease dripping downwardly my dorsum together with abdomen, nervous equally hell equally I knew I'd acquire my Yes or No... together with I felt such joy together with relief when I had the shape signed together with good inward my hands.

 

4. Compilation of committee

There are strict rules inward the doctoral regulations amongst regard to the thesis committee. The commission consists of the rector magnificus, promotor, copromotor, five to a greater extent than people together with a spare member. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 given give away of these ask to live total professors, a given give away should non guide hold been involved inward the inquiry together with a sure enough give away needs to live from exterior of Delft University of Technology. It's a fleck similar counting piffling dolls - banking concern jibe if you lot guide hold plenty of each laid inward your collection.

 

5. Get a defense strength appointment from the Beadle

The minimal amount of fourth dimension betwixt getting the signature on the defense strength is eleven weeks. I rushed out correct on the 30th of Jan to acquire a possible defense strength date, together with the earliest selection that suited the Beadle, my promotor, copromotor together with myself was -gasp- June 14th at 12:30. That's 4,5 months to prepare...

 

6. Ask the commission if the appointment suits them

Here's the tricky part: you lot just ask a give away of (full) professors that are available on your given defense strength date. As finding the appointment amongst the beadle is hence much of a hassle, nosotros ended upwards replacing i commission fellow member together with keeping the date.

 

7. Final commission together with mail drafts

When all that's laid together with done, together with the finally commission is compiled, it is fourth dimension to mail out skillful quondam fashioned difficult copies of the draft thesis. I sent my finally re-create on Feb 4th. The compilation of the commission is hence finalized on documents PROM4 together with PROM5. As my commission changed, I ask a novel signature from my promotor, who unfortunately volition alone live dorsum on Feb 18th.

8. Pause

Sit dorsum together with relax? I'm all the same working on improving my draft. I maintain finding typos, together with sentences that don't catamenia equally I would similar them to. And my figures all the same await equally if they've been drawn yesteryear mortal who alone learned how to describe inward Illustrator close a twelvemonth ago...

To live continued...