Special Notice
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Graduate School has updated its guidelines for conducting thesis and dissertation defenses. Click here for more information.
Schedule Your Defense
One of the last steps to obtaining your doctoral degree is to defend your dissertation. Once you have finalized your dissertation, you must schedule and announce your defense.
First, arrange a mutually agreeable time with your committee. Set up the oral exam at least 30 days prior to when you wish to defend. Provide all members of your committee with a complete copy of your dissertation at least 30 days before the defense so they will have sufficient time to read and criticize your work.
Announce Your Defense
Once the date of your defense has been established, you should complete the Ph.D. Defense Announcement Submission through OneStart. The announcement e-doc must reach the University Graduate School at least 30 days before the date of your defense. The University Graduate School begins counting the 30 days from the date your e-doc is received by our office. We recommend that you submit the e-doc at least 40 days before your defense date to allow time for the e-doc to route for approval through your academic department.
The summary should be informative and contain a brief statement of the principal results and conclusions. Unlike the abstract, which is intended for specialists in the field, an attempt should be made in the summary to communicate the findings in language and style that can be understood by the University community at large. The summary should be no less than 150 and no more than 300 words in length.
Submit your announcement on One.iu »
Once announced, the time and place cannot be changed without the approval of the dean of the University Graduate School.
Ordinarily, the defense is conducted here at Indiana University, but under extraordinary circumstances other arrangements can sometimes be made. Prior approval must be obtained from your committee and the University Graduate School.
After submitting your Ph.D. Defense Announcement Submission e-doc, track your document to ensure timely approval. Retain the email confirmation containing your document ID.
Learn how to track your announcement »
At Your Defense
Have your committee sign the acceptance and abstract pages of your dissertation at the defense.
Learn more about formatting requirements »
Upcoming Announcments
This list of scheduled Ph.D. dissertation defenses is distributed so that faculty may attend or see the full announcement. If you are a faculty member and wish to see the full announcement, please call the University Graduate School Office at (812) 855-8853. If you wish to attend, please contact the committee chair in advance as a courtesy.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, GRADUATE DIVISION
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 2:30 pm
Chemistry
Huang, Kaixiang
Nanoscale Investigation of Ion and Molecule Transport across Biological Interfaces
Chemistry, CH033
Chair: Prof. Lane Baker, (812-856-1873)
Friday, September 24, 2021, 4:00 pm
Chemistry
Atehortua Bueno, Sandra
Synthesis of Multimetallic Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Applications
Chemistry, CH033
Chair: Prof. Sara Skrabalak, (812-856-1892)
Monday, September 27, 2021, 11:00 am
Genome, Cell, Developmental Biology
Ariyapala, Niththawela Kironange Ishara Surangi
RBP mediated post transcriptional gene regulatory mechanisms in Drosophila intestinal progenitor cells
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Brian Calvi / Prof. Nicolas Sokol, (812-855-5450 / 812-856-6812)
Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 12:00 pm
Spanish
Solano Escolano, Damian
Martirio y testimonio en Centroamérica durante la Guerra Fría: El Salvador, Guatemala y Nicaragua (1970-1990)
Martyrdom and Testimony in Central America during the Cold War: El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua (1970-1990)
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Kathleen Myers, (812-855-5027)
Friday, October 01, 2021, 1:30 pm
Genome, Cell, & Developmental Biology; Neuroscience
Chin, Melanie
Molecular mechanisms of nociception processing and sensation in Drosophila larvae
Simon Hall 001
Chair: Prof. Jason Tennessen / Prof. Daniel Tracey, (812-855-9803 / 812-856-2574)
Friday, October 08, 2021, 3:00 pm
Folklore & Ethnomusicology
Bryant, Emily
Collection the Pieces: The Story of Dee Birnbaum and Her Collection
Classroom Office Building, 800 E 3rd St., room 261
Chair: Prof. Pravina Shukla, (812-856-1715)
Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 9:00 am
Physics
Shen, Jiazhou
Quantum Description and Applications of Neutron Spin-echo Devices
Multidisciplinary Engineering & Science Hall, south lounge
Chair: Prof. Roger Pynn / Prof. Mike Snow, (505-670-9708 / 812-855-3881)
Friday, October 15, 2021, 10:00 am
Criminal Justice
Ellsworth, Joshua
The Ecology of Urban Homelessness and its Effect on Interpersonal Violence
Sycamore Hall, Room 312
Chair: Prof. Marla Sandys / Prof. Kip Schlegel, (812-855-5892 / 812-855-0889)
Friday, October 15, 2021, 2:30 pm
Second Language Studies
Park, Yena
Interplay of working memory and planning time in integrated speaking task performance
Ballantine Hall BH 005
Chair: Prof. Sun-Young Shin, (812-855-8479)
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 1:00 pm
Chemistry
Taylor, Levin
Studies Towards the Total Synthesis of Aquilarabietic Acid A
Chemistry, CH033
Chair: Prof. David Williams, (812-855-6629)
Friday, October 29, 2021, 1:00 pm
Genome, Cell, & Developmental Biology
Loffer, Andrew
Substrate recognition and dicing activities of plant endonucleases DICER-LIKE 3 and DICER-LIKE 5
Biology Building, Room 248 (Cleland Room)
Chair: Prof. Craig Pikaard, (812-855-1874)
Friday, November 05, 2021, 4:00 pm
Chemistry
Valdez-Moreira, Juan
Three-Fold Symmetry for New Iron Metal-Ligand Multiple Bonds and Multinuclear Complexes
Chemistry, CH033
Chair: Prof. Jeremy Smith, (812-856-4119)
Tuesday, November 09, 2021, 10:00 am
Geography
Betz, Megan
Analyzing the "Community" of Community Orchards
Francis Morgan Swain Student Building, Room 159
Chair: Prof. Rebecca Lave, (812-855-6303)
Friday, December 03, 2021, 12:15 pm
Microbiology
Philip, Asha
Generation of recombinant rotaviruses as expression vectors of foreign proteins
Simon Hall, SI001
Chair: Prof. John Patton, (812-855-5211)
Monday, December 13, 2021, 9:15 am
Evolution, Ecology, & Behavior
Moger-Reischer, Roy
Laboratory evolution of designer microorganisms
Simon Hall Room 001
Chair: Prof. Jay Lennon, (812-856-0962)
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, GRADUATE DIVISION
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 11:00 am
Higher Education
Wendling, Lauren
Evaluating Engaged Research in Promotion and Tenure: Not Everything that Counts can be Counted
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Thomas Nelson Laird, (812-856-8366)
Wednesday, October 06, 2021, 12:00 pm
Counseling Psychology
Deng, Kuo
Examining the effectiveness of the Gratitude Group with the assistance of technology.
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Joel Wong, (812-856-8293)
SCHOOL OF INFORMATICS, COMPUTING, AND ENGINEERING, GRADUATE DIVISION
Thursday, October 07, 2021, 12:00 pm
Computer Science
Kockan, Can
Privacy-Preserving Algorithms for Secure Genome Analysis in Trusted Execution Environments
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. S. Cenk Sahinalp, (240-858-7117)
THE MEDIA SCHOOL, GRADUATE DIVISION
Monday, September 27, 2021, 5:00 pm
Media Arts and Sciences
Collins, Ryan
The Evangelism of Tech Evangelism: Relationship and Community Building Practices of Communication Practitioners
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Lesa Major, (812-322-7230)
SCHOOL OF MUSIC, GRADUATE DIVISION
Monday, October 18, 2021, 1:30 pm
Musicology
Doran, Molly
Women's Suffering in French Opera: Nineteenth-Century Contexts and Twenty-First-Century Performance
Simon Music Building M267
Chair: Prof. Jillian Rogers / Prof. Ayana Smith, (812-855-8278 / 812-855-7097)
Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 4:00 pm
Music Theory
Mesa, Juan
A REVISED MODEL FOR THE ANALYSIS OF J. S. BACH’S CONCERTO RITORNELLI
Simon Music Center M267
Chair: Prof. Frank Samarotto, (812-856-5740)
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, GRADUATE DIVISION
Friday, October 15, 2021, 3:30 pm
Public Affairs
Hibbard, Patrick
Alternative Approaches to Criminal Justice: Problem-Solving Courts and Incarcerated Peer Education
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Matthew Baggetta / Prof. Sean Nicholson-Crotty, (812-855-2783 / 812-856-4647)
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 1:00 pm
Human Performance
Zhang, Jingxian
Value Co-creation at Recurring Sport Events from Residents and Sport Tourists Perspectives
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Kevin Byon, (812-856-1966)
Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 9:00 am
Health Behavior
Han, Dae Hee
UNDERSTANDING RECENT NICOTINE AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE BEHAVIOR IN U.S. YOUNG ADULTS
Remote defense: Contact chair for details
Chair: Prof. Dong-Chul Seo, (812-855-9379)
Friday, November 05, 2021, 9:30 am
Health Behavior
Hamilton, Lydia
Beliefs held by Midwestern breastfeeding women about donating milk to a milk bank: A mixed-methods study
School of Public Health, Room PH 125
Chair: Prof. Susan Middlestadt, (812-856-2767)