Institute for Molecular Bioscience Progress Review Guidelines

Before reading the guidelines outlined on this page, ensure you have reviewed all the information about Progress Reviews, including the criteria for each review, and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Progression Procedure.

How to organise a Progress Review

The following guidelines outline the management and conduct of HDR Progress Reviews in the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. These guidelines should be used in combination with the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Policy and the Higher Degree by Research Candidature Procedure. Further instructions to help you to arrange your upcoming review are available here.

Progress Reviews Snapshot

Progress review requirements
	Confirmation of Candidature (R1)	Review 2 (R2)	Review 3 (R3)
Candidature Documents	Candidate statement	Candidate statement	Candidate statement
Project Documents	Written report of 30-50 pages (PhD) or 20-25 pages (MPhil) that contains a literature review, aims, summary of work to date, future directions, information on activities relating to student development, and other information detailed below. iThenticate report	Written report of 10-20 pages that contains a brief summary of work to date, future plans, and information on activities relating to student development, as well as a draft thesis chapter, manuscript or paper, and other information detailed below. iThenticate report	Written report of 10-15 pages that contains a thesis Table of Contents, summary of findings, list of required experiments/analyses, and information on activities relating to student development, as well as a draft thesis chapter(s) or manuscripts, and other information detailed below. iThenticate report
Review Meeting	60 minutes	60 minutes	60 minutes
Oral Presentation	Open 30 minutes, including questions	Open 30 minutes, including questions	Open 30 minutes, including questions

Note: Documents should be submitted by the census date of the research quarter in which your review is due.

Panel Composition

Your Progress Review Panel (PRP) in the Institute for Molecular Bioscience will consist of a chair from IMB who will also act as a reviewer, as well as one additional reviewer who may be based at IMB or elsewhere at UQ. If additional expertise is required, a third reviewer (UQ or external) can be added. Panel members should not be from the same group as the Principal Advisor, except under exceptional circumstances (approved by Director HDR IMB).

Confirmation of Candidature Review (R1)

Your confirmation of candidature review will include the submission of your candidature and project documents, a 60 minute meeting with the review panel, and an open 30 minute oral presentation (including questions). Oral presentations may be scheduled into internal seminar series, as appropriate. Meetings with your panel normally follow straight after oral presentations, but may be scheduled separately if necessary.

The R1 document should be submitted at least one week prior to the PRP meeting. It should contain:

Title page
Abstract/Summary (no longer than 1 page)
Literature review
Hypotheses and aims
Summary of work to date
Future directions
Timelines
List of publications and/or conference presentations
List of seminars attended
List of professional development activities undertaken and/or planned
Bibliography
Appendices may be included, if desired (e.g. methods, publications).

R1 documents are normally 30-50 pages (PhD) or 20-25 pages (MPhil) in length, excluding bibliography and appendices (12 pt. font and 1.5 line spacing suggested). Further details on the R1 document and the Confirmation of Candidature Review are available to current IMB HDR students via the HDR site on the IMB intranet.

Written feedback will be provided by your reviewer(s) after the review meeting. Your chair will also prepare a written report detailing the recommendations of the Progress Review Panel to the Dean, UQ Graduate School.

Progress Review 2 (R2)

Your second progress review will include the submission of your candidature and project documents, a 60 minute meeting with the review panel, and an open 30 minute oral presentation (including questions). Oral presentations may be scheduled into internal seminar series, as appropriate. Meetings with your panel normally follow straight after oral presentations, but may be scheduled separately if necessary.

The R2 document should be submitted at least one week prior to the PRP meeting. It should contain:

Title page
Abstract (no longer than 1 page)
Summary of work to date
Future plans
Timelines
List of publications and/or conference presentations
List of seminars attended
List of professional development activities undertaken and/or planned
Bibliography
Appendices (should include a draft of a thesis chapter, manuscript in preparation or publication).

R2 documents are normally 10-20 pages in length (PhD or MPhil), excluding bibliography and appendices (12 pt. font and 1.5 line spacing suggested). Further details on the R2 document and the Progress Review 2 are available to current IMB HDR students via the HDR site on the IMB intranet.

Progress Review 3 (R3)

Your third progress review will include the submission of your candidature and project documents, a 60 minute meeting with the review panel, and an open 30 minute oral presentation (including questions). Oral presentations may be scheduled into internal seminar series, as appropriate. Meetings with your panel normally follow straight after oral presentations, but may be scheduled separately if necessary.

The R3 document should be submitted at least one week prior to the PRP meeting. It should contain:

Title page
Table of contents for the thesis
Summary of thesis findings (2-3 pages)
List of required experiments or activities for thesis completion
Timeline to thesis submission
List of publications and/or conference presentations
List of seminars attended
List of professional development activities undertaken and/or planned
Bibliography
Appendices (should include a draft of 1-2 thesis chapters, a manuscript in preparation or publication).

R3 documents are normally 10-15 pages in length (PhD or MPhil), excluding bibliography and appendices (12 pt. font and 1.5 line spacing suggested). Further details on the R3 document and the Progress Review 3 are available to current IMB HDR students via the HDR site on the IMB intranet.