Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)
At the onset of the PhD, a Thesis Advisory committee (TAC) must be appointed.
The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) is a panel of experts that advises and supports the PhD candidate throughout their thesis. It provides critical feedback on the project, methodology, results, and research outlook.
They aim to:
- Regularly monitor PhD progress
- Verify supervision quality
- Ensure effective support throughout the project
How does a TAC meeting work?
- Before the meeting, the candidate completes the *Thesis Advisory Committee registration form and submits it to the DSLS for evaluation (at least one week prior to the meeting). Also, the PhD candidate must send a brief progress report to the committee. This report should include a state-of-the-art overview of the research topic as well as an updated timeline for the project.*If the committee remains the same for all TAC meetings, the first form remains valid. If there are changes to the committee before a TAC meeting, a new form must be submitted.
- During the meeting, the candidate presents a summary of the thesis project or the progress made so far, along with the planned next steps. The TAC members then provide direct feedback, offer suggestions for improvement, and may propose ideas for the future direction of the research.
- At the end of the meeting, the candidate is asked to leave the room or virtual meeting temporarily. This allows the TAC members to openly discuss and evaluate both the candidate’s performance and the project itself. During this time, they also complete the official online TAC report form. Once this is done, the candidate is invited to return and has the opportunity to speak privately with the committee, without the supervisor being present. This moment can be used to raise any concerns or discuss supervision quality in a safe setting.
- After the meeting, the candidate is required to complete a report, summarizing the feedback received and the main outcomes of the discussion. Both the TAC report and the candidate’s report must be approved and signed by all members of the committee, then submitted to the DSLS via email at ds.biology@unine.ch.
These TAC meetings and associated forms are a central part of PhD monitoring. They are designed to ensure regular and transparent evaluation of the candidate’s progress, the quality of supervision, and to support effective follow-up throughout the doctoral journey.
The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) Registration Form is used to officially register the composition of a PhD student’s Thesis Advisory Committee. It must include at least three PhD-holding members, with at least two internal and one external to the University. The completed form should be submitted to the DSLS coordinator, Dr. Sarah Miéville.
The TAC Meeting Report Form is completed after each advisory committee meeting, this form assesses the PhD student’s progress, motivation, skills, and research feasibility. It includes a structured evaluation table and space for additional comments or recommendations. All committee members must sign the form, which must then be returned to the DSLS coordinator.
The TAC Evaluation Summary Report is a duplicate of the meeting report form, used to document the same structured assessment of the PhD candidate during TAC meetings. It ensures transparent progress tracking and agreement among committee members regarding the student’s development and project status.
The TAC must be formed at the start of the PhD, ideally within the first 4 to 6 months, before beginning fieldwork or data collection.
(Mandatory)
The TAC consists of 3 to 5 members, including mandatory:
- The PhD supervisor
- An internal expert (from the host institution, not involved in the project)
- An external expert (from another institution, also not involved in the project)
All members must hold a doctorate and be specialists in the subject.
You must complete the TAC registration form and send it to ds.biology@unine.ch for coordinator approval.
(Mandatory)
TAC meetings must be held:
- 1st meeting: within 4 to 6 months after starting the PhD (mandatory)
- Then at 18, 30, and 42 months (mandatory)
Yes, online meetings are strongly encouraged for convenience.
Optional but recommended
The organization is the responsibility of the PhD candidate and supervisor.
(Mandatory)
The candidate must send a progress report before the meeting, including:
- A state-of-the-art summary of the topic
- An updated work schedule
(Mandatory)
Two forms must be completed:
- The online evaluation form filled out by the TAC
- The report form completed by the candidate
Both forms must be signed by all TAC members and sent to ds.biology@unine.ch within the followinf 3 weeks.