# G2s – PQE & Guidelines Qualification for the dissertation research project begins with the PQE at the beginning of the G2 year. Each student will select three faculty members who administer the exam–a brief oral presentation and defense of the student’s dissertation research proposal. In addition, the committee may challenge the student on course work, readings, and other required knowledge in his or her field. **Students must pass the PQE by the end of the fall semester of their G2 year in order to meet satisfactory progress requirements.** **Preliminary Qualifying (PQE) Exam Committee Selection** - Students will work with their advisor to select 3 faculty members they would be interested in serving on the PQE committee. The committee must consist of 3 MCO faculty, and the chair of the committee must be tenured MCO faculty. - Students will then submit a **PQE Information Form** in my.harvard for approval. This form can be found in under "Documents". **Please see instructions on how to do this** [**here**](/file_url/327)**.** Open all sections Close all sections ### Candidacy Exam Guidelines and Tips expand\_more Time to schedule your candidacy exam but not sure where to start? The following guidelines and helpful tips should help you out! - [**MCO PQE Guidelines (Updated July 2026)**](https://mcointranet.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7256/files/2026-07/Candidacy%20Exam%20Guide%20-%20Students-%20Updated%20July%202026.pdf) - [**Sample Cover Page for Research Proposal**](https://mcointranet.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7256/files/2025-11/Sample%20Cover%20Page%20for%20Candidacy%20Exam.docx) - [**Exam Tips from Faculty and Students**](/file_url/163) ### Sample Research Proposals expand\_more Below are some examples of G2 Preliminary Qualifying Exam (PQE) Research Proposals. The copies are confidential and may be viewed, but may not circulate. Similarly, the electronic versions below are viewable, but not printable. **Please respect the confidentiality of these proposals.** The password to open them is **LUCY** - [Vincent Pham](/file_url/155) - Spring 2017 - [Devon Stork ](/file_url/149)- Spring 2017 - [Mary Morrison](/file_url/151) - Spring 2017 - [Georgia Squyres ](/file_url/148)- Spring 2016 - [Hannah Foster](/file_url/150) – Spring 2013 - [Tessa Montague ](/file_url/154)– Spring 2013 - [Joe Piechura](/file_url/153) – Spring 2013 - [Christina Saak](/file_url/152) – Spring 2013 - [Sriram Srikant ](/file_url/146)– Spring 2013 - [Monique Brewster ](/file_url/147)– Spring 2012 ### Post-Exam Instructions expand\_more **Post PQE G2 DAC Instructions** Following your exam, you will receive a report from your committee. At that time, you should pay attention to any conditions that should be met in order to pass, and start to think about planning your first post-PQE DAC meeting, which should take place 6 months after your PQE. If you receive a conditional pass, you should focus on the timeline set forth by your committee to complete the conditions described. ### G2 DAC expand\_more - [**Dissertation Advisory Committee Meeting Guidelines**](https://mcointranet.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum7256/files/2025-09/DAC%20Meeting%20Guide%20%282025-2026%29%201.docx) **(Updated 2025)** - [**The DAC vs. The Candidacy Exam**](/files/mcointernal/files/dac_vs_candidacy_exam_-_2019_update.pdf) G2 students will ordinarily complete their first post-qualifying-exam DAC meeting by June 30 of their G2 year (~ 6 months post exam). Because the qualifying exam does not require supporting experimental results, this first DAC is critical for you to get off on the right foot as you formulate your thesis projects. A successful G2 DAC completes your advancement to Candidacy, and you are eligible to [apply for a non-terminal Master's Degree](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=f315bae21baa585c351ceb9bbc4bcb71). Students that have not advanced to candidacy are not eligible to teach additional courses or receive travel awards. **G2 (& G3) DAC Report Format** **Page 1 DAC report format** **Your Name,** Your Lab(s), Project Title **Expanded abstract** with subsections (Background, Approach, Results, Conclusion, Significance). This expanded abstract is a concise description of your project. It should summarize progress, challenges, and proposed plans so that your committee can provide useful near- and long-term advice. Following the expanded abstract present a set of bullet points (the details can be saved for the meeting). For example • achieved milestone description (Fig. 1) • achieved milestone description (Fig. 2A) • achieved milestone description (Table 1) • anticipated milestone description (Fig. 3, Table 2; 3-4 months) • anticipated milestone description (Fig. 4, 5; 4-6 months) Proposed next DAC February/March. **G2 (and G3) DAC Page 2+ report instructions** The G2 and G3 DAC report should emphasize Questions and Approaches with limited expectations for completed data figures. The format should include the following sections: Project Summary (A 300-500-word narrative that expands on the page 1 abstract) Specific Aims Specific Aim 1: Questions and background Rationale Approach and Progress, Data (if any) Future Directions and time lines (if not complete) Specific Aim 2 (etc):