Writing my PhD thesis proposal was both an intellectually demanding and transformative experience. I truly felt that I was formally (and finally) starting my dissertation, as opposed to when I was just writing separate papers for different projects. Looking back, there are several things I am glad for having done. Here are my key reflections on the process!
What I’m Glad I Did
1. Setting logistics for my proposal meeting time early.
I started thinking about the proposal shortly after my General Exam Part 2, which I had taken (and passed) in March. Of course, the first thing I did was read the MIT CEE Doctoral Program Guide. On the very first page, the guide recommends a timeline for “Approval of Doctoral Research Proposal [by Dec. 31, AY3]”. I took advantage of extra time in the summer to set an early timeline for when/how I wanted to present my proposal to my thesis committee. My personal preference was to schedule the meeting before Thanksgiving break, so my timeline looked something like this:
- May 2024: Initiate thesis proposal conversation with advisor.
- June 2024: Invite faculty/scientists to serve on my thesis committee (informally with in-person conversations and formally by email).
- September 2024: Send out a when2meet poll for scheduling the meeting time.
- Early-November 2024: Send written proposal to committee.
- Mid-November 2024: Proposal meeting (in-person with Zoom option).
Laying out this timeline early really helped me iron out any logistical details and manage my time effectively for thinking of ideas, writing the proposal, and designing the presentation. With so many soft deadlines in research, setting these hard deadlines early on ensured I had plenty of time to prepare for a successful meeting and produce quality work.
2. Seeking feedback from those more experienced
Unlike traditional research papers, PhD proposals require a clear articulation of research objectives, proposed methodology, and expected contributions. I came into MIT with no formal experience in research and had no idea how you could write a proposal about future work. I had many questions, namely, “how do you structure a proposal?”, “how do you combine different projects into a cohesive dissertation?”, and “how do you write about expected results if you do not know if your methodology will even work?” Looking through the program guide did not provide much clarity. Although the guide provided a general format (“maximum of 15-pages of 12-point font, with single or 1.15 line spacing and 1-inch border on every page edge”) and a generic outline, I did not really know where to start. And unlike the process of writing a journal paper, where I could openly discuss iterations, my faculty advisor could only review one draft and provide feedback once.
One of the best decisions I made to address these concerns and close this knowledge gap was to seek resources and ask for help at the start of thinking about the proposal. This included having a discussion with my advisor and having conversations with graduated PhD students and other faculty. For example, during a weekly meeting with my advisor, I set aside time to talk about the next steps in my PhD (the proposal meeting). We had been casually talking about potential projects for my dissertation since I first started at MIT, but it was during this meeting that I came forward with a more explicit plan and potential project ideas to write about. We discussed how to refine my research scope and briefly outlined existing projects that I was already working on. The key was figuring out how to tie all these research projects together in a logical way. I also worked with my advisor to narrow down potential thesis committee members to invite.
Additionally, informally talking to peers that I knew on their thesis proposal process and how their ideas evolved over their PhD journey gave me more confidence in my ability to piece together a proposal. Hearing how others framed their research questions, justified future methods/uncertainties, and organized their proposals provided a much-needed blueprint for my writing process.
3. Conducting a thorough literature review
A well-researched literature review not only provides context but also justifies why the proposed study is necessary. When I first started drafting my proposal, I underestimated the true depth of background reading required. I needed to read a substantial number of papers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the state of research in the field. I began with a few recommended papers from my advisor and collected other relevant papers by reading through the literature reviews and references inof those papers. Through this process, I realized that a strong literature review not only identifies gaps in existing research but also helps in refining the research question and methodological approach.
Beyond just summarizing past studies, I had to critically analyze methodologies, evaluate competing theories, identify uncertainties in my own proposed methodologies, and identify the limitations of prior research and technologies. I also gained insight into the different ways researchers in my field communicate scientific information. This process allowed me to position my work within the broader scientific discourse, ensuring that my study built upon established findings while addressing unresolved questions. Investing time in reading and synthesizing relevant studies significantly strengthened my proposal.
Additionally, I especially felt well prepared during the presentation to my committee because I was able to defend clearly why my project was needed and outline exactly where the limitations lie with current research. Being able to confidently articulate how my research fills these gaps allowed me to convincingly demonstrate my command of the subject matter to my committee.
A very kind comment I received after the meeting was: “Michelle did an excellent job presenting her thesis proposal. She has passed with no additional action items requested by the thesis committee, other than to consider the discussions and feedback from the thesis proposal meeting.”
Final Thoughts
The PhD proposal process is not merely a hurdle but a crucial foundation for the rest of the research journey. I am especially grateful for the support of my advisor, whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping my research direction. While the process can be daunting, I hope that sharing my experiences and insights will help alleviate some initial concerns and provide useful guidance for others embarking on their own proposal writing journey. If you are an MIT student in need of more help with your own PhD proposal process, you can schedule a Comm Lab appointment. We will work through it together!
Additional resources
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