Guidelines and Procedures for the

Doctorate of Philosophy
Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
This document outlines the Rules and Procedures associated with the progression toward, and
earning of, a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lehigh University. This document
is a department-specific supplement to other University and College procedures (e.g., University Code
of Student Conduct, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering Graduate Student Handbook), which outline
general expectations of students across all fields of study.

Revised 5/15/2024
Table of Contents
Section I: Benchmarks for the Ph.D. Degree ........................................................................................ 3
Section II: Specific Procedures for the Ph.D. Degree ............................................................................ 5
II.1) Registration Requirements ................................................................................................................ 5
II.1a) Required Core Courses ................................................................................................................ 6
II.1b) Other Courses .............................................................................................................................. 6
II.1c) Concentrated Learning Requirement (applies to part-time Ph.D. students only) ....................... 6
II.1d) Waiver of Core and Elective Courses for Students Entering with an MS/ME ............................. 6
II.2) Assignment of Faculty Advisor ........................................................................................................... 7
II.3) Research Activity and Progress .......................................................................................................... 7
II.4) Ph.D. Qualifying Exam ........................................................................................................................ 7
II.5) Procedure for Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy .................................................................................... 7
II.6) Post-Ph.D. Candidacy Procedure ....................................................................................................... 8
Section III: Ph.D. Qualifying Examination ........................................................................................... 10
III.1) Purpose and Background ................................................................................................................ 10
III.2) Detailed Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 10
Section IV: Ph.D. Thesis Proposal and Oral Defense…………………………………………………………………………..11
Section V: Conduct and Standing in the ChBE Ph.D. Program ............................................................. 13
V.1) Maintaining Good Standing in the Ph.D. Program .......................................................................... 13
V.2) Policy on Funding following Terminal Failure of Ph.D. Qualifying Exam ......................................... 13
V.3) Ethical Conduct in Coursework and Research ................................................................................. 13
V.4) Medical Leave of Absence ............................................................................................................... 13
V.5) Formal Requests for Deviations from Program Policies and Procedures ........................................ 13
Section VI: Miscellaneous Employment Information ......................................................................... 14

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Section I: Benchmarks for the Ph.D. Degree
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering expects that, under normal
circumstances, a graduate student seeking the Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree will pursue graduate studies
and research with vigor so as to satisfy all requirements for the degree within ten semesters (including
intervening summers). The following benchmarks provide a means by which satisfactory progress can
be measured for completing the program in five years. Note that many of these benchmarks require
regular consultation with the student’s research advisor.
ALL YEARS
• It is expected that students will spend a minimum of 40 hours per week working on the combination
of research, teaching assistantship, and classes appropriate for the semester of study. The graduate
experience is a full-time obligation. It is expected that graduate students are present in the
department at least during regular work hours.
• Students should be aiming towards submitting their work for publication to peer-reviewed archival
journals and orally presenting the material at conferences. These are the external benchmarks by
which the student’s research productivity and quality will be measured. Students must take the
initiative and discuss this matter with their advisor, as they are the best judge of timing and quality.
• Students should keep well informed of the current literature pertinent to their research project and
field. This requires that students read the most relevant journals. Advisors can guide selection of
relevant journals, but students should be taking initiative to stay current with relevant literature.
• Students may expect two weeks of vacation (10 work days) per year excluding national holidays
recognized by the University. These times of vacation leave should be arranged through prior
consultation with their research advisor in order to avoid detrimental impact on research progress.
• Graduate students are expected to register as full-time students. Students should take courses in
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and other fields as needed for their research and for
enhancing and broadening their background. These courses should be selected in consultation with
their advisor and Doctoral Committee.
• Students are required to perform teaching assistant (TA) duties in two to three different semesters
during their Ph.D. studies as assigned by the department. TA duties include running recitation
section(s), grading homework, and holding office hours. TA’s may on occasion be asked to assist
with class lectures and proctoring of exams. The time allocated to TA responsibilities can be up to
15 hours per week, but is typically in the range of 5 – 10 hours per week.
• Students must attend Departmental seminars and should register for ChE 455 (Departmental
Seminar).
FIRST YEAR
• Complete the Appropriate core courses (see Section II.1a).
• Complete the faculty advisor selection procedure (see Section II.2a).
• Following the advisor selection, and after consultation with the assigned faculty advisor, begin
research activities while completing 1st year courses, during the semester break, and throughout the
first summer. During the first semester break and summer, the majority of student effort should be
focused on research activities.
• Prepare to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (see Section III).
• Attend Departmental seminars, even if not registered for ChE 455 due to credit hour limitations.
SECOND YEAR
• Take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (see Section III).
• Continue research activities throughout the academic year and the summer under the direction of
the assigned faculty advisor.
• Consult with faculty advisor regarding course selection to make progress toward completion of the
required elective courses (see Section II.1b).
• Register as a full-time graduate student each semester (course and/or research credits) until the
credit hours required for candidacy have been accumulated (see Section ll.1).
• Register for and attend Departmental seminars (ChE 455). Exceptions for class conflicts will be
reviewed on a case by case basis.
THIRD YEAR
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• Complete the “Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Doctorate” by the end of the 5th
semester (see Section II.5; includes completing Ph.D. Proposal defense), unless an extension has
been approved by the Graduate Committee.
• Complete the four required elective courses by the end of the 6th semester (see Section II.1b)
• Register for and successfully complete CHE 496: Safety, Ethics, Communication in the spring
semester.
• Register as a full-time graduate student each semester (course work and/or research) until the credit
hours for candidacy have been accumulated (see Section II.1) and Proposal Defense has been
successfully completed, typically by the end of the 5th semester. Extensions may be granted, but are
at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.
• Register for and attend Departmental seminars (ChE 455). Exceptions for class conflicts will be
reviewed on a case by case basis.
FOURTH YEAR
• Continue to conduct research under the faculty advisor’s guidance.
• After the credit hours for candidacy and proposal defense have been successfully completed,
students will register for one credit hour (ChE 455 – Departmental seminar or maintenance of
candidacy with ChE 455 being preferred) each subsequent semester.
• Arrange for Doctoral Committee meetings according to the advice of the faculty research advisor
(e.g., once every six months). Present research progress and plans for timely completion of the
thesis.
• Once the requisite number of credit hours required for graduation are successfully completed,
register for one credit hour (ChE 455 – Departmental seminar) each semester following Admission
to Candidacy. Note: Until all course (see Section II.1a) and Ph.D. Proposal requirements have been
completed for Admission to Candidacy (see Section II.5) the student must register as a full-time
graduate student (9 course and/or research credits).
• Register for and attend Departmental seminars (ChE 455). Exceptions for class conflicts will be
reviewed on a case by case basis.
• At the end of the fourth year, present to the Doctoral Committee plans for completing all of the
requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including a timetable for completion of research and for writing
the dissertation during the fifth year.
FIFTH YEAR
• Continue research activity according to proposed plan and in consultation with faculty advisor
• Continue to have meetings with the Doctoral Committee approximately once every six months.
• Attend Departmental seminars, even if not registered for ChE 455.
• Make plans for completing and defending the dissertation by the end of the fifth year (see Section
II.6).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
The departmental faculty, following the recommendation of the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC),
may establish alternative benchmarks. If it appears to the faculty advisor, to the Doctoral Committee,
or to both that the student is not making satisfactory progress and is not expected to complete the
Ph.D. within a timely manner, the matter may be referred to the Department Chair or the Chair’s
designee for resolution. The Department Chair or the Chair’s designee shall consider all pertinent
facts and shall advise the faculty advisor regarding appropriate actions.
Graduate students should discuss all problems related to their graduate studies with their faculty
research advisor. If a problem remains unresolved, then either the student or the faculty advisor should
refer the matter to the Department Chair or the Chair’s designee.
During the entire period of graduate studies, every student should ensure that the Chemical
Engineering Graduate Coordinator in the Chemical Engineering Department office has complete
records of the student’s progress towards the degree.

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Section II: Specific Procedures for the Ph.D. Degree
II.1) Registration Requirements
All Ph.D. students must register for 9 credits per semester until completion of the following credit
requirements based upon their degrees prior to entering the Lehigh ChBE Ph.D. program:
• 72 credit hours beyond a Bachelor’s Degree (see Table 1)
• 48 credit hours beyond a Master’s Degree awarded by another institution (see Table 2)

Table 1. Entering program with Bachelor’s degree only

Registering for 9 credits per semester – Total of 72 credits needed for PhD degree
FIRST SEMESTER (9 credits) SECOND SEMESTER (9 credits)
CHE 400 Thermodynamics (3) CHE 415 Transport Process (3)
CHE 410 Reaction Engineering (3) CHE 496 Grad Professional Development (Safety,
CHE 452 Mathematical Methods in Engineering (3) Ethics, Communication) (2)
CHE 455 Seminar (1)
CHE 480 Research (3), or
CHE 460(c) Chemical Engineering Project (3) or
Elective coursework(a) (3)
THIRD SEMESTER (9 credits) FOURTH SEMESTER (9 credits)
Elective courseworka (3) CHE 499(b) Dissertation (5)
CHE 481 Research (3) Elective coursework(a) (3)
CHE 460(c) Chemical Engineering Project (2) CHE 455 Seminar (1)
CHE 455 Seminar (1)
FIFTH SEMESTER (9 credits) SIXTH SEMESTER (9 credits)
CHE 499(b) Dissertation (5) CHE 499(b) Dissertation (6)
Elective coursework(a) (3) CHE 496 Grad Professional Development (Safety,
CHE 455 Seminar (1) Ethics, Communication) (1)
CHE 455 Seminar (1)
SEVENTH SEMESTER (9 credits) EIGHTH SEMESTER (9 credits)
CHE 499(b) Dissertation (8) CHE 499(b) Dissertation (8)
CHE 455 Seminar (1) CHE 455 Seminar (1)

Table 2. Entering program with Master’s degree

Registering for 9 credits per semester – Total of 48 credits needed for PhD degree
FIRST SEMESTER (9 credits) SECOND SEMESTER (9 credits)
CHE 400(d) Thermodynamics (3) CHE 415(d) Transport Process (3)
CHE 410(d) Reaction Engineering (3) CHE 496 Grad Professional Development (Safety,
CHE 452(d) Mathematical Methods in Engineering (3) Ethics, Communication) (2)
Elective coursework(a,e) (3), or
CHE 460(c) Chemical Engineering Project (3)
CHE 455 Seminar (1)
THIRD SEMESTER (9 credits) FOURTH SEMESTER (9 credits)
Elective coursework(a,e) (3) CHE 499(b) Dissertation (5)
CHE 460(c) Chemical Engineering Project (5) Elective coursework(a,e) (3)
CHE 455 Seminar (1) CHE 455 Seminar (1)
FIFTH SEMESTER (9 credits) SIXTH SEMESTER (3 credits)
**CHE 499(b) Dissertation (5) CHE 496 Grad Professional Development (Safety,
Elective coursework(a,e) (3) Ethics, Communication) (1)
CHE 455 Seminar (1) CHE 455 Seminar (1)

(a) Four graduate electives (300- or 400-level) within or outside CHE must be taken in addition to the core CHE
courses. If more (or fewer) electives are taken in a given semester than that which is prescribed, variable credit
course registration (e.g., CHE 460, CHE 499) can be adjusted to meet the credit requirements for full-time student
status in that semester.
(b) CHE 499 Dissertation is a variable credit course (1-15 credits) used by students who have passed the qualifying

exam.
(c) CHE 460 is a variable credit course (1-6 credits), and can be taken as needed through the third semester

(d) A student can petition to waive up to two core courses based upon their prior Chemical Engineering Master’s

degree. Graduate electives (300- or 400-level) within or outside CHE or variable credit courses (e.g., CHE 460, CHE
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499) can be used to meet the credit requirements for full-time student status in a semester when one or more core
courses have been waived as well as to meet the overall requirement of 48 credits.
(e) If a student with a prior Master’s degree successfully petitions to waive 1 to 2 (max) elective courses, they are only

required to take, respectively 3 or 2 elective graduate courses at Lehigh.

Pre-candidacy registration: All students must maintain full time status by registering for 9 credit hours
(maximum 10 credit hours) per semester. Students who complete the tuition registration requirements
before being formally admitted to candidacy (see Section II.5 below regarding Candidacy) must
continue to register for three credits per semester and be “certified” as a full-time student on the
registration form.
Candidacy registration: Once the registration requirements are met and admission to candidacy has
been awarded, registration for 1 credit (ChE 455) in each academic semester until 6 months prior to
graduation is required.
International students must complete a full-time certification petition prior to the start of each
semester in which they register for less than 9 credits.

II.1a) Required Core Courses

All full-time students must complete five required core courses during their initial year of residency
with the exception of students with spring admission, who must complete these core courses within
their first three semesters of residency (see course listing below). First year students must receive a
GPA of at least a 3.15 in the required core courses to remain in good standing and be eligible to take
the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (see section II.4 below). In addition, all full-time students are
expected to complete ChE 496 (the 1 credit option) in the Spring semester of their 3rd year.
• ChE 400 (3 credits) – Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (Fall term)
• ChE 410 (3 credits) – Chemical Reaction Engineering (Fall term)
• ChE 452 (3 credits) – Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering (Fall term)
• ChE 415 (3 credits) – Transport Processes (Spring term)
• ChE 496 (2 credits) – Grad Professional Development (Safety, Ethics, Communication) (Spring
term)

II.1b) Other Courses

Elective courses: It is required that each student take an additional four graduate courses in one
or more fields. These must be scheduled in consultation with the faculty advisor.
Departmental seminars (ChE 455): All full-time Ph.D. students are expected to register for and attend
all departmental seminars. Graduate students should register for Departmental Seminar each
semester (1 credit per semester), except as noted above re. Candidacy registration.
Additional courses: (taken in consultation with the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator)
• ChE 480 and 481 (3 credits each): Research (Courses for Master’s-level research only. Any student
who does not already hold a Master’s degree from Lehigh or another institution may register for each
course only once during their graduate studies. Students may register for both courses in the same
semester).
• ChE 496: Grad Professional Development (Safety, Ethics, Communication) is a required course for
all 1st and 3rd year ChBE Ph.D. students. Any student receiving a grade lower than ‘B’ in ChE 496
will be prohibited from performing research toward their degree completion until they successfully
retake the course.
• ChE 499: Dissertation (used by students who have passed the qualifying exam).

II.1c) Concentrated Learning Requirement (applies to part-time Ph.D. students only)

Either two semesters of full-time graduate study or 18 credits of Lehigh graduate study within a fifteen-
month period (either on or off campus) must be completed.

II.1d) Waiver of Core and Elective Courses for Students Entering with an MS/ME
Petitions to waive a subset of the core and elective course requirements submitted by Ph.D. students
entering with an MS/ME degree will be considered by the Graduate Affairs Committee per the policies

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outlined below. Granting of waiver requests does not amount to a transfer of credits, but is instead
simply a waiver of the specific course requirement. Credit requirements (Section II.1) must be
alternatively fulfilled through research, dissertation, and/or departmental seminar credits. ChE 496 is
not eligible for waiver.
Core Course Waivers:
Students entering Lehigh’s ChBE Ph.D. program with an MS/ME degree in Chemical Engineering from
another institution may be eligible to have up to two of the four core courses waived upon entry into
the PhD program. The Graduate Committee will make an effort to proactively evaluate student
transcripts, however it is recommended that students who are interested in a course waiver also
consider submitting a petition. Students entering Lehigh’s ChBE Ph.D. program with an MS/ME degree
in another discipline may petition to have no more than two of the four core courses on the basis of
graduate level courses completed during their MS/ME degrees waived. In order for course waiver
requests to be considered, they must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator (via
inchegs@lehigh.edu) by no later than 2 weeks ahead of the first day of the semester along with, at a
minimum, the detailed course syllabus and official documentation of the grade received in the course.
Requests may be made for additional material to help in the evaluation of the request; such material
may include sample exams, HW assignments, etc.
Decisions on Core Course Waiver Requests: The waiver and course material provided by the
student will be reviewed by the Graduate Committee, with input from the past 1-3 instructors of the
course on an as needed basis. Decisions regarding the waiver request will be made based, at least in
part, upon the student having earned a grade of at least an A- in the course and an assessment of the
extent of overlap with the material covered in the equivalent Lehigh course.

Elective Course Waivers:

Students entering Lehigh’s ChBE Ph.D. program with an MS/ME degree from another institution may
seek to waive no more than two of the four required elective courses on the basis of graduate level
courses completed during their MS/ME degrees. In order for course waiver requests to be considered,
they must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator (via inchegs@lehigh.edu) and
discussed with the student’s research advisor, and should include, at a minimum, the detailed course
syllabus and official documentation of the grade received in the course. Requests may be made for
additional material to help in the evaluation of the request; such material may include sample exams,
HW assignments, etc. Waiver requests made after a student has completed their first 2 years in the
program will not be considered.
Decisions on Elective Course Waiver Requests: The waiver and course material provided by the
student will be reviewed by the student’s research advisor who will make a recommendation to the
Graduate Affairs Committee regarding the number of elective courses to be waived. The Graduate
Affairs Committee will be responsible for granting final waivers. Decisions regarding elective waiver
requests will be made based, at least in part, upon the student having earned a grade of at least a B.

II.2) Assignment of Faculty Advisor

During the first semester of residency the Chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee serves as the
faculty advisor. Research presentations will be made by faculty in the early-to-mid fall semester to
highlight available research opportunities. Ph.D. students are required to attend all presentations, and
must schedule appointments to discuss available research projects with at least 5 individual faculty
members. Individual meetings with faculty advisors are a critical part of the process, allowing for better
understanding of the research opportunity and for informed decisions by both students and faculty in
the final student-advisor matching process. Before the end of the first semester of residency (by date
specified by the Chair of the Graduate Affairs Committee, typically end of September), each student
must complete the advisor selection process, whereby they submit a rank ordered list of at least 4
research groups they would like to join. Based on student preferences, individual faculty feedback and
available funding, students will be assigned a faculty advisor by the Advisor Selection Subcommittee
of the Graduate Affairs Committee. The Advisor Selection Subcommittee will make every effort to
match students with their top choice in research group, but in some instances several students may
select the same project and a first choice cannot be assigned to all of them. In those cases, the Chair
of the Graduate Affairs Committee will work with each student and with faculty to identify a good

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advisor match for each student. Typically, the faculty advisor selection process will be complete by
early November
Requests to change faculty advisors/research groups following the initial assignment are
strongly discouraged given the disruption they impose on progress in the program. Such
requests, when necessary, must be made formally in writing and submitted for consideration to the
Graduate Affairs Committee via inchegs@lehigh.edu. In the case that such a petition is granted,
identification of other funded research opportunities must be coordinated directly through the Graduate
Affairs Committee rather than through personal contact initiated by the student with individual faculty.

II.3) Research Activity and Progress

After assignment of the permanent faculty advisor, students must become involved in research.
Significant research progress, as directed by the dissertation advisor, is expected of all graduate
students. Progress in research is a critical component of the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. To be
eligible to engage in research following the Spring semester of their 1st year, PhD students must
successfully complete ChE 496, receiving a grade of ‘B’ or higher.

II.4) Ph.D. Qualifying Exam

All full-time students who have earned a GPA of at least a 3.15 in the required core courses are eligible
to take the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination. The purpose and details of this exam are provided
separately in Section III.

II.5) Procedure for Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy

Summarized below are key elements for Admission to Candidacy. Formal detailed instructions are
available from the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator.
a) Pass the ChE Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (see Section III).
b) Conduct research and write the Ph.D. Proposal in consultation with the faculty advisor (see Section
IV). The Proposal defense should be completed by the end of the 5th semester, unless an extension
has been approved by the Graduate Committee
c) Constitute the Ph.D. Doctoral Committee in consultation with the faculty advisor to include a
minimum of four members. At least three members should be faculty from the Department of
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering including the research advisor(s). At least one additional
member of the committee must be from outside the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering. In the event that the dissertation research is co-advised by 2 or more faculty, the Ph.D.
Doctoral Committee should comprise all co-advisors plus 3 independent committee members.
d) Schedule a formal oral presentation for the first Doctoral Committee Meeting.
e) Distribute a copy of the Ph.D. Proposal to each member of the Doctoral Committee at least two
weeks prior to the meeting.
f) Defend the Ph.D. Proposal before the Doctoral Committee (see Section IV).
g) Upon passing the Proposal Defense, complete and obtain signatures from all Doctoral Committee
members on the appropriate document, and return the signed form to the Graduate Coordinator.
Forms can be found at: https://engineering.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/student-resources
h) At least 12 months before the Ph.D. degree is expected, formally apply for candidacy using the
form entitled “Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Doctorate.” This form is available
electronically from the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator. Submit a completed copy to
the Dean’s Office in the College of Engineering and Applied Science as soon as it is approved by
the Committee. Additional rules are included on the form.

II.6) Post-Ph.D. Candidacy Procedure

a) Work toward goals outlined by student’s approved proposal in consultation with faculty advisor.
b) Consult the University calendar for graduation dates and deadlines. Work backwards from the
specified dates, and set the fourth (and fifth) year schedule to meet these deadlines by consulting
with the faculty advisor.

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c) Prepare the thesis outline, get the approval of the advisor, and begin writing the various sections
of the dissertation as early as possible.
d) Upon completing the first draft of the dissertation or some of its chapters, submit it to the faculty
advisor and seek his/her comments by an agreed-upon date.
e) Make needed corrections until the faculty advisor is satisfied that the dissertation is suitable for
distribution to the members of the Doctoral Committee and the Dean’s Office in the College of
Engineering and Applied Science.
f) Submit a rough draft, signed by the faculty advisor and one committee member, to the Dean’s
Office in the College of Engineering by the deadline specified on the University’s Academic
Calendar (at least six weeks prior to graduation). Distribute copies of the full dissertation draft to
the Doctoral Committee for review and revisions. The dissertation should be provided to the
Doctoral Committee at least two weeks in advance of the Dissertation defense.
g) Schedule a Dissertation Defense before the Doctoral Committee and other interested parties.
Notify the Dean’s Office in the College of Engineering and the Chemical Engineering Graduate
Coordinator in advance of the date. Secure a “Report on the Doctoral Dissertation Exam” form from
the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator. It must be signed by the Doctoral Committee at
the defense. Submit the original to the Dean’s Office in the College of Engineering and a copy to
the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator.
h) Successfully defend the dissertation. Have the Committee members sign the “Report on Doctoral
Dissertation Examination”. Submit a copy to the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator, and
file the original with the Dean’s Office in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
i) Collect all comments and proposed changes from the members of the Committee following the
defense.
j) Make the required changes and final corrections to the dissertation, and get final approval from the
Committee members. This is accomplished by having them sign a signature page stating that the
dissertation has been approved. This page is then included in the dissertation.
k) Submit the original documents to the Dean’s Office in the College of Engineering and Applied
Science. The student must pay any required fees and present a Bursar’s receipt as proof of
payment. The student’s advisor should get a hard bound copy of the Dissertation. The student must
submit a pdf version of the Dissertation to the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator.
l) Submit an online “Application for Degree” form to the Registrar’s Office before the deadline date in
the catalog. There is a late fee if the deadline is missed. Also, if the expected graduation date is
missed after filing this form, the student must reapply in the semester he/she will graduate.
Therefore, promptly notify the Chemical Engineering Graduate Coordinator, the Dean’s office, and
the Registrar of any changes in the graduation date.
m) Submit an “Interdepartmental Clearance Sheet” (available from the Chemical Engineering
Graduate Coordinator) to the Registrar at least three days prior to graduation. It must be signed by
the advisor, the Department Chair (or designee), and Facilities before the student is allowed to
receive the degree. In addition, the student must clear any outstanding debts with the Bursar prior
to graduation.

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Section III: Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
III.1) Purpose and Background
The purpose of the PhD Qualifying Examination, which is comprised of a formal written Research
Report and an Oral Presentation and Examination, is to provide a departmental judgment on whether
a graduate student has the potential to satisfactorily complete the PhD program. The ChBE Qualifying
Examination satisfies the RCEAS requirement that graduate students pass a general examination.
Consequently, this is one of the most critical examinations for the degree. All full time and part time
graduate students seeking the PhD degree are required to take the PhD Qualifying Examination at the
beginning of the third semester of residency. Exceptions to this schedule need to be approved by the
Chemical Engineering Graduate Affairs Committee through a petition. The minimum requirement to
take the qualifying exam is to earn a GPA of 3.15 or higher in the required core technical courses (ChE
400, ChE 410, ChE 415, ChE 452) taken at Lehigh University. Students with a GPA below 3.15 in the
core courses must submit a petition to the Chemical Engineering Graduate Affairs Committee to
request an exception to this grade point requirement. It should be noted, however, that petition
approval requires identification of extenuating circumstances or clear indications of exceptional factors
related to the coursework and research.
Once the GPA requirement has been met, evaluation of the student at the time of the qualifying exam
will be based on the following criteria:
a) Progress in independent research: Through his or her work under the supervision of the faculty
advisor, the graduate student must demonstrate his or her ability to learn independently about the
assigned research topic, to produce results, and to start formulating the direction of his or her
research project.
b) Demonstration of independent critical thinking and understanding of research in the
Written Report and Oral Examination: Both the written and oral components will be assessed
for the students’ comprehensive understanding, critical and independent thinking, and
demonstrated progress toward initial research goals. Specific elements that will be evaluated
include students’ ability 1) to clearly convey fundamental conceptual understanding of the physical
problem being studied and its broader implications, 2) to identify, distill, and critically evaluate
relevant research from the open literature, 3) to explain the related current state-of-the-art in their
field and how it frames the specific research they are carrying out, 4) to clearly present the results
of independent research he/she has carried out as warranted by the specific line of research, and
5) to provide critical analysis of those results framed by perceived short and long-term goals of the
work.

A graduate student meeting the minimum GPA requirement is allowed two attempts to pass the PhD
Qualifying Examination. A graduate student who has received approval of his/her petition for waiver
of the minimum GPA requirement is allowed only one attempt at passing this exam.

III.2) Detailed Procedures

a) Students are assigned to research groups in late fall of their first year, and are expected to
immediately start their research in consultation with their faculty advisor(s). Students will carry out
research during the semester break, spring semester, and summer months of their first year in the
program in the lead-up to the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.
b) Upon completion of the core courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.15 or higher (normally by the
beginning of the third semester in residence), the Graduate Affairs Committee will provide written
confirmation regarding the student’s eligibility to take the qualifying examination. If the student does
not meet the minimum GPA criterion of 3.15 in the core technical courses, the student may petition
the Graduate Affairs Committee to proceed with the PhD Qualifying Exam. If the committee
approves such a petition, the student is allowed only one attempt to pass the Qualifying
Examination.
c) The student will be required to prepare and submit a formal written Research Report on his/her
research and to prepare and deliver an Oral Presentation and Examination on the same before the
faculty. These should both convey a comprehensive understanding of the research problem, the
purpose and motivation for the research in the context of the greater literature and state-of-the-art
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 in the field, an understanding of critical fundamental concepts underpinning the research, a carefully
organized and distilled technical summary of research findings to date, and a critical analysis of
those results framed by perceived short and long-term goals of the work. Importantly, the emphasis
of the written and oral exams is on a balance between comprehensive understanding, critical and
independent thinking, and demonstrated progress toward initial research goals. While close
collaboration and consultation with one’s research advisor(s) is critical as research progresses
during the first year of PhD studies, preparation (e.g., report writing, slide preparation,
presentation practice) for the Ph.D. qualifying examination must be carried out without
specific input from the faculty advisor(s). Advisors are strictly prohibited from giving
feedback to students on either the oral or written component of the qualifier preparation.
d) On a date specified by the Graduate Affairs Committee up to one week in advance of the scheduled
date for the oral portion of the Qualifying Examination, students must submit their written Research
Report.
e) On the day of the Oral Examination, the student must give a PowerPoint (or equivalent)
presentation in front of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Faculty that covers the topics
described above and any additional factors detailed for all students in advance of the exam. The
specific oral presentation by the student may not exceed 15 minutes. An additional 20-25 minutes
will be reserved for oral examination by the faculty aimed at probing the students’ understanding of
her/his research, related literature, and fundamental chemical engineering underpinnings of the
research as well as her/his independent and critical thinking skills.
f) The faculty will consider a student’s performance on both the written and oral portions of the
qualifying examination as the basis for deciding on passage or failure of the exam. The Chair of the
Graduate Affairs Committee will promptly notify the student of the faculty decision in writing after
the faculty’s determination and Department Chair’s approval.
g) Students who pass the qualifying examination will continue their research progress toward
subsequent milestones in the PhD program, with strong encouragement for students to form their
Ph.D. committees shortly after passage of the qualifier.
h) Students who fail the qualifying exam on their first attempt who met the minimum GPA requirement
to take the exam will be given one opportunity to retake the qualifying exam. The second attempt
should be completed within 3 months of the first attempt or at the time specified by the Department.
Students who pass the second attempt at the qualifier should follow procedures specified above.
Terminal failure of the qualifier deems a student ineligible of pursuing a Ph.D. and has funding
implications (see “Policy on following Terminal Failure of Ph.D. Qualifying Exam” in Section IV),
but pursuit of an MS/ME degree may still be possible.

Section IV: Thesis Proposal and Oral Defense

The thesis proposal must be presented in writing to the Doctoral Committee (see Section II.5 above)
and must include the following:
• objectives and specific aims of the research
• thorough but concise review of the relevant literature
• significance of the proposed work and its scientific and societal impact
• preliminary work
• outline of the proposed methodology, anticipated difficulties, and methods for overcoming
these difficulties
• timetable for completion of the thesis

The proposal should be between 15 and 20 pages in length (single spaced,12 point Times New Roman
font or equivalent, 1 inch margins, including Figures and Tables). A one page abstract is also required,
as well as appropriate references (not subject to the page limit). The proposal must be defended orally
before the Doctoral Committee, whose members must receive the written proposal no later than two
weeks prior to the oral examination. The student must also circulate to faculty and graduate students
(via the Graduate Coordinator) an announcement of the time and place of the thesis proposal defense.

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This must be done at least two weeks prior the date of the defense. The defense will consist of an oral
presentation (20 - 30 min) by the student, followed by a question and answer session. The length of
written report or proposal presentation may deviate from these guidelines at the discretion of the PhD
advisor.
The subject matter of the oral defense will be based on, but is not limited to, the research proposal.
The Doctoral Committee will be constituted as defined in section II.5 above. In the case where a
student has at least three co-advisors, a sixth committee member is required, and at least one of the
non-advisor committee members must be a member of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular
Engineering faculty. Given the additional scheduling constraints imposed by having a sixth committee
member, the expectation that all committee members must participate in the thesis proposal defense
is relaxed such that only five committee members must participate; of those five, at least three should
be non-advisor committee members, even if this precludes all advisors from participating. A brief
resume must be included for any member who is not a Lehigh University faculty member. The
Graduate Committee must approve the Doctoral Committee at least 30 days prior to the proposal
defense date. The thesis proposal defense should be completed by the end of the fifth academic
semester at Lehigh, unless an extension has been approved by the Graduate Committee.

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Section V: Conduct and Standing in the ChBE Ph.D. Program
V.1) Maintaining Good Standing in the Ph.D. Program
Full-time funded research assistantships within the department are contingent upon satisfactory
progress toward academic and research goals and program milestones. Academically, no grade below
“C-” may be counted toward a graduate degree. No regularly admitted student who receives more
than four final course marks below a B- in courses numbered 200 or higher is allowed to continue
registration as a graduate student. The relevant research policy, established by the department faculty
and by the University Graduate and Research Committee, notes that progress requires sustained
commitment by the Ph.D. student to his/her research as demonstrated by active participation in the
associated work as well as progress toward project goals and milestones established by his/her
advisor and the associated funding agencies and reviewed by Lehigh’s Office of Research and
Sponsored Programs.

V.2) Policy on Funding following Terminal Failure of Ph.D. Qualifying Exam

Funding is no longer guaranteed for students who lose eligibility to pursue a Ph.D. upon terminal failure
of the first or second (re-take) attempt at the Ph.D. qualifying exam.

V.3) Ethical Conduct in Coursework and Research

It is the student’s responsibility to respect Lehigh University’s policies on plagiarism and academic
integrity. Evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or unethical conduct in any form can be referred to the
University Committee on Discipline. Lehigh’s ChBE program holds its Ph.D. students to the highest
ethical standards. Therefore, any formal University disciplinary action will result in placement of the
student on probation and, depending on the degree of misconduct and formal disciplinary finding, can
result in dismissal from the ChBE Ph.D. Program.

V.4) Medical Leave of Absence

In the case of unforeseen medical issues arising in the course of a Ph.D., University policies do allow
students to make a formal request for a Leave of Absence. Such requests must be made in writing
and submitted to the Graduate Affairs Committee for review. If granted, University Policy enables
return at a later date for resumption of studies. Per the College of Engineering Graduate Student
Handbook, students funded through research grants must consult with their faculty advisor about
funding limitations, recognizing that the funding may not be available if/when the student returns.

V.5) Formal Requests for Deviations from Program Policies and Procedures
Any deviation from the Program policies and procedures outlined in this document requires formal
written request/petitions to be submitted to the Graduate Affairs Committee for review and feedback.
Petitions should describe the request and provide corresponding detailed justification. Petitions should
be submitted to the Graduate Affairs Committee by e-mail to inchegs@lehigh.edu. Receipt of the
petition will be acknowledged by e-mail and an approximate timetable for formal response will be
provided. Once the petition has been reviewed by the Committee, a formal response will be sent to
the student.

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Section VI: Miscellaneous Employment Information
Employment Certification
All RA’s, TA’s, GA’s and Fellows receiving stipends from Lehigh University must complete an I-9 Form
and other Payroll documents. These documents must be submitted to the Chemical Engineering
Graduate Coordinator with any combination of the documents listed on the I-9 form.

Taxes
Students are responsible for paying all taxes associated with their compensation. Student status may
change from term to term from TA, RA, GA, Fellowship, and other forms of support, and each will have
different rules regarding applicable Federal, State, and Local taxes. Tuition paid by the Department or
another source may be subject to tax although taxes are not explicitly withheld for this mode of
compensation. Students may qualify for various postsecondary tax credits and deductions, so they
are required to read and comply with all tax regulations associated with related compensation.
International students are advised to consult the Office of International Students and Scholars
regarding applicable taxes.
The City of Bethlehem levies an Emergency Municipality Service Tax once a year on all positions
except Fellows. TA’s, GA’s, and RA’s do not pay FICA taxes in the Fall and Spring semesters. Anyone
working full-time (30 hrs. or more) during the summer will be charged FICA.

Health Insurance
All graduate students are required to carry sufficient health insurance. Lehigh University offers a health
insurance plan for graduate students, and for full-time students on a graduate assistantship or
graduate fellowship, the University offers a subsidy of 70 % to help defray the cost.

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