First TAC Meeting & Thesis Agreement
Six months after the start of your contract, you should have assembled your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) and scheduled your first TAC meeting, also known as the public presentation (or FÖP=Fakultätsöffentliche Präsentation). Along with this meeting, you will submit all documents required for thesis registration, including your Doctoral Thesis Agreement.
This meeting is a key milestone to shape the direction of your project and define clear goals and objectives. It is recommended to arrange a mentoring meeting with your supervisor beforehand to discuss your ideas and set personal development goals for your PhD. This preparation will help you maximize the benefits of your TAC meeting, both in terms of scientific feedback and support for your growth as a researcher.
What is the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)?
The TAC consists of your supervisor plus two scientists from your research area (in exceptional cases, three scientists may be chosen). TAC members can be recruited from the Vienna BioCenter Faculty or other institutions in Austria and abroad. However, at least one TAC member should be from an institution other than your own.
Who is Eligible for the TAC?
TAC members include your PhD supervisor and scientists who are recognized experts in your thesis topic. Members must be tenured (“habilitiert”) or independent group leaders with their own funding. The committee supports and guides your project from the initial presentation, through annual progress presentations, to the final thesis defense.
Write the Thesis proposal (exposé) using the following template:
VBC PhD_Template - Thesis proposal (exposé)_&_Development_Plan (DOC) (Degree program code: A 794 620 490 (University of Vienna) or UN 794 620 (Medical University of Vienna)
Upload it to vbc-studytrack and sent it to your supervisor and TAC members latest one week before the first TAC meeting.
- Prepare all documents necessary for thesis registration:
University of Vienna:
- DZ.V01 Doctoral thesis agreement (DOC) (page 1: do not list your TAC members as supervisors)
- SL.D11 Registration of the topic of the doctoral thesis and the supervisor (PDF) (make sure you tick "Immediate approval of the dissertation project" and "Public presentation" on page 2)
- SL.D12 Registration topic_supplementary sheet (PDF)
- BSPW1E Regulations good scientific practice (PDF)
Medical University of Vienna:
- Registration for Doctoral Thesis (PDF)
- Progress Report meeting of the doctoral thesis committee (PDF) (only the top part needs to be filled, please write “see attachment” in the field “progress report protocol" as it will be send together with the First TAC Meeting Report Form)
During the TAC meeting, the chair fills in the following TAC Report form, that needs to be signed by all TAC members and PhD student:
- Collect all signatures for the documents of thesis registration (TAC members need to sign the title page of your Thesis proposal (exposé), all other documents are signed by you and your supervisor).
If you have external TAC members (not IMP/IMBA/GMI/Max Perutz Labs), please have them sign the confidentiality agreement:
ConfidentialityAgreement (DOC) (This agreement is mandatory for IMP/IMBA PhD Student).
University of Vienna:
Upload the following documents to vbc-studytrack and notify Theresa & Valpuri:
- Thesis Proposal (Exposé) including the coversheet (signed by all TAC members)
- Doctoral Thesis Agreement
- Registration of the Topic
- Registration Topic Supplementary Sheet
- Regulations on Good Scientific Practice
- TAC Report
The Doctoral Thesis Agreement will be signed by the SPL, and a copy will be emailed to you.
Medical University of Vienna:
please send the following documents to the PhD and Doctoral Office (Dieter Breitenbaum and Vesna Domikovic):
- Registration for Doctoral Thesis (signed by the programme coordinator of your thematic programme)
- Progress Report Meeting of the Doctoral Thesis Committee
- First TAC Meeting Report Form
- Thesis Proposal