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Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation with Microsoft Word

  • Dedication, Acknowledgements, & Preface
  • Introduction
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Dedication, acknowledgements, & preface

Dedication, Acknowledgements, and Preface sections are all optional pages. But, what is the difference between these three?

Dedication — A personal tribute to someone or a group of people. Example: "To my parents."

Acknowledgements — A professional tribute to a person or people who helped you with the thesis. Example: "I wish to thank my thesis advisor for the hours of help in the lab making sure the experiments were set up properly and guiding me through the thesis process."

Preface ( sometimes confused with Foreward or Prologue ) — A very rarely included section that details why you are qualified to write about your topic of your thesis or why you became interested in the topic (for example, an anecdote about a childhood incident that led you to become interested in the topic). Do not confuse this with the literature review; this is more of a personal story.

The video below gives more examples of what can be included in these sections. Note: If your dedication is short (like "To my parents"), you may choose not to include the "Dedication" heading at the top of the page. A demonstration of how to format the dedication page this way is shown below.

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Thesis and Dissertation Guide

  • « Thesis & Dissertation Resources
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  • Introduction
  • Copyright Page
  • Dedication, Acknowledgements, Preface (optional)
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  • List of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations
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Non-Traditional Formats

Font type and size, spacing and indentation, tables, figures, and illustrations, formatting previously published work.

  • Internet Distribution
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Thesis and Dissertation Guide

II. Formatting Guidelines

All copies of a thesis or dissertation must have the following uniform margins throughout the entire document:

  • Left: 1″ (or 1 1/4" to ensure sufficient room for binding the work if desired)
  • Right: 1″
  • Bottom: 1″ (with allowances for page numbers; see section on Pagination )
  • Top: 1″

Exceptions : The first page of each chapter (including the introduction, if any) begins 2″ from the top of the page. Also, the headings on the title page, abstract, first page of the dedication/ acknowledgements/preface (if any), and first page of the table of contents begin 2″ from the top of the page.

Non-traditional theses or dissertations such as whole works comprised of digital, artistic, video, or performance materials (i.e., no written text, chapters, or articles) are acceptable if approved by your committee and graduate program. A PDF document with a title page, copyright page, and abstract at minimum are required to be submitted along with any relevant supplemental files.

Fonts must be 10, 11, or 12 points in size. Superscripts and subscripts (e.g., formulas, or footnote or endnote numbers) should be no more than 2 points smaller than the font size used for the body of the text.

Space and indent your thesis or dissertation following these guidelines:

Spacing and Indentation with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • The text must appear in a single column on each page and be double-spaced throughout the document. Do not arrange chapter text in multiple columns.
  • New paragraphs must be indicated by a consistent tab indentation throughout the entire document.
  • The document text must be left-justified, not centered or right-justified.
  • For blocked quotations, indent the entire text of the quotation consistently from the left margin.
  • Ensure headings are not left hanging alone on the bottom of a prior page. The text following should be moved up or the heading should be moved down. This is something to check near the end of formatting, as other adjustments to text and spacing may change where headings appear on the page.

Exceptions : Blocked quotations, notes, captions, legends, and long headings must be single-spaced throughout the document and double-spaced between items.

Paginate your thesis or dissertation following these guidelines:

  • Use lower case Roman numerals (ii, iii, iv, etc.) on all pages preceding the first page of chapter one. The title page counts as page i, but the number does not appear. Therefore, the first page showing a number will be the copyright page with ii at the bottom.
  • Arabic numerals (beginning with 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) start at chapter one or the introduction, if applicable. Arabic numbers must be included on all pages of the text, illustrations, notes, and any other materials that follow. Thus, the first page of chapter one will show an Arabic numeral 1, and numbering of all subsequent pages will follow in order.
  • Do not use page numbers accompanied by letters, hyphens, periods, or parentheses (e.g., 1., 1-2, -1-, (1), or 1a).
  • Center all page numbers at the bottom of the page, 1/2″ from the bottom edge.
  • Pages must not contain running headers or footers, aside from page numbers.
  • If your document contains landscape pages (pages in which the top of the page is the long side of a sheet of paper), make sure that your page numbers still appear in the same position and direction as they do on pages with standard portrait orientation for consistency. This likely means the page number will be centered on the short side of the paper and the number will be sideways relative to the landscape page text. See these additional instructions for assistance with pagination on landscape pages in Microsoft Word .

Pagination example with mesaurements described in surrounding text

Format footnotes for your thesis or dissertation following these guidelines:

Footnote spacing  with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Footnotes must be placed at the bottom of the page separated from the text by a solid line one to two inches long.
  • Begin at the left page margin, directly below the solid line.
  • Single-space footnotes that are more than one line long.
  • Include one double-spaced line between each note.
  • Most software packages automatically space footnotes at the bottom of the page depending on their length. It is acceptable if the note breaks within a sentence and carries the remainder into the footnote area of the next page. Do not indicate the continuation of a footnote.
  • Number all footnotes with Arabic numerals. You may number notes consecutively within each chapter starting over with number 1 for the first note in each chapter, or you may number notes consecutively throughout the entire document.
  • Footnote numbers must precede the note and be placed slightly above the line (superscripted). Leave no space between the number and the note.
  • While footnotes should be located at the bottom of the page, do not place footnotes in a running page footer, as they must remain within the page margins.

Endnotes are an acceptable alternative to footnotes. Format endnotes for your thesis or dissertation following these guidelines:

Endnotes with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Always begin endnotes on a separate page either immediately following the end of each chapter, or at the end of your entire document. If you place all endnotes at the end of the entire document, they must appear after the appendices and before the references.
  • Include the heading “ENDNOTES” in all capital letters, and center it 1″ below the top of the first page of your endnotes section(s).
  • Single-space endnotes that are more than one line long.
  • Number all endnotes with Arabic numerals. You may number notes consecutively within each chapter starting over with number 1 for the first note in each chapter, or you may number notes consecutively throughout the entire document.
  • Endnote numbers must precede the note and be placed slightly above the line (superscripted). Leave no space between the number and the note.

Tables, figures, and illustrations vary widely by discipline. Therefore, formatting of these components is largely at the discretion of the author.

For example, headings and captions may appear above or below each of these components.

These components may each be placed within the main text of the document or grouped together in a separate section.

Space permitting, headings and captions for the associated table, figure, or illustration must be on the same page.

The use of color is permitted as long as it is consistently applied as part of the finished component (e.g., a color-coded pie chart) and not extraneous or unprofessional (e.g., highlighting intended solely to draw a reader's attention to a key phrase). The use of color should be reserved primarily for tables, figures, illustrations, and active website or document links throughout your thesis or dissertation.

The format you choose for these components must be consistent throughout the thesis or dissertation.

Ensure each component complies with margin and pagination requirements.

Refer to the List of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations section for additional information.

If your thesis or dissertation has appendices, they must be prepared following these guidelines:

Appendices with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Appendices must appear at the end of the document (before references) and not the chapter to which they pertain.
  • When there is more than one appendix, assign each appendix a number or a letter heading (e.g., “APPENDIX 1” or “APPENDIX A”) and a descriptive title. You may number consecutively throughout the entire work (e.g., 1, 2 or A, B), or you may assign a two-part Arabic numeral with the first number designating the chapter in which it appears, separated by a period, followed by a second number or letter to indicate its consecutive placement (e.g., “APPENDIX 3.2” is the second appendix referred to in Chapter Three).
  • Include the chosen headings in all capital letters, and center them 1″ below the top of the page.
  • All appendix headings and titles must be included in the table of contents.
  • Page numbering must continue throughout your appendix or appendices. Ensure each appendix complies with margin and pagination requirements.

You are required to list all the references you consulted. For specific details on formatting your references, consult and follow a style manual or professional journal that is used for formatting publications and citations in your discipline.

References with mesaurements described in surrounding text

Your reference pages must be prepared following these guidelines:

  • If you place references after each chapter, the references for the last chapter must be placed immediately following the chapter and before the appendices.
  • If you place all references at the end of the thesis or dissertation, they must appear after the appendices as the final component in the document.
  • Select an appropriate heading for this section based on the style manual you are using (e.g., “REFERENCES”, “BIBLIOGRAPHY”, or “WORKS CITED”).
  • Include the chosen heading in all capital letters, and center it 1″ below the top of the page.
  • References must be single-spaced within each entry.
  • Include one double-spaced line between each reference.
  • Page numbering must continue throughout your references section. Ensure references comply with margin and pagination requirements.

In some cases, students gain approval from their academic program to include in their thesis or dissertation previously published (or submitted, in press, or under review) journal articles or similar materials that they have authored. For more information about including previously published works in your thesis or dissertation, see the section on Use of Your Own Previously Published Materials and the section on Copyrighting.

If your academic program has approved inclusion of such materials, please note that these materials must match the formatting guidelines set forth in this Guide regardless of how the material was formatted for publication.

Some specific formatting guidelines to consider include:

Formatting previously published work with mesaurements described in surrounding text

  • Fonts, margins, chapter headings, citations, and references must all match the formatting and placement used within the rest of the thesis or dissertation.
  • If appropriate, published articles can be included as separate individual chapters within the thesis or dissertation.
  • A separate abstract to each chapter should not be included.
  • The citation for previously published work must be included as the first footnote (or endnote) on the first page of the chapter.
  • Do not include typesetting notations often used when submitting manuscripts to a publisher (i.e., insert table x here).
  • The date on the title page should be the year in which your committee approves the thesis or dissertation, regardless of the date of completion or publication of individual chapters.
  • If you would like to include additional details about the previously published work, this information can be included in the preface for the thesis or dissertation.

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Dissertation Preface – Components & Guide

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A dissertation preface allows the author to share personal reflections with the reader. It’s like an introduction to your dissertation. So, unlike other academic writing , it tends to be more conversational and informal. In this article, we’ll go over what a dissertation preface is, what to include in it, and why it’s important. So, whether you’re just starting your dissertation or you’re almost done, understanding how to write a good preface can make your work even stronger.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

  • 1 In a nutshell: Dissertation preface
  • 2 Definition: Dissertation preface
  • 3 How to write a dissertation preface
  • 4  What is included in a dissertation preface?
  • 5 Example of a dissertation preface

In a nutshell: Dissertation preface

  • Planning what to include in the dissertation preface is important before you start writing.
  • Identifying your audience ahead of time can help them better connect to the content you will be producing.
  • An effective introduction will do more than summarize the work that follows; it will also draw the reader in.

Definition: Dissertation preface

A dissertation preface is used to introduce the reader to the major body of your work. Its major purpose is to familiarize the reader with the dissertation’s subject and to provide a synopsis of the content, rationale for writing, and overall organization. Typically, a dissertation’s preface will introduce you to the author, the research methodology , and the overall objectives of the work.

The preface goals are to set the stage for the reader, establish the relevance of the issue at hand, and offer a synopsis of the relevant prior research. Moreover, this section allows the author to publicly thank and recognize anybody who had a role in facilitating the study. Generally, a dissertation preface establishes the work’s tone and introduces the reader to the work’s structure.

On the other hand, the format and arrangement of a dissertation preface may change based on the academic institution’s specifications or rules.

I. Introduction

  • Background information and research justification
  • Research goals or questions
  • Methodology
  • Study’s importance

II. Acknowledgments

  • In the acknowledgments section, you write an appreciation for all who helped or supported the dissertation project.

III. Personal statement

  • Here is where consideration of one’s background and interests in the study area.

IV. Organization of the dissertation

  • This part includes summaries of the chapters and their contents.

How to write a dissertation preface

Composing a preface could present challenges because it calls for carefully balancing your words to inform and captivate readers. So, if you are struggling with writing a dissertation preface, consider these helpful tips.

  • Introduce your topic : Start by briefly presenting the subject of your dissertation and outlining the overall scope of the subject area, justifying why you chose it. This approach will enable readers to comprehend the context and significance of your study.
  • Acknowledge the contributions of others: First, thank your supervisor and others who have helped you throughout your research journey. This section is also an excellent opportunity to explain any ethical or logistical issues you encountered during your research and how you resolved them.
  • Provide a brief overview of the structure: This will help readers understand the organization of your research and how the various chapters of your dissertation fit together.
  • Write in a clear and concise style: Your preface should be easy to read and understand, so avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to your readers. Remember that your preface reflects your dissertation, so take the time to write it well.
  • Describe how you conducted your study: Including the methods you used to gather and analyze data, in the introduction. The reader will appreciate this clarification of your work’s background.
  • End on a note of gratitude: To wrap off your introduction, express gratitude to everybody who has aided you. Similarly, you may discuss the significance of being given the chance to write a dissertation.

Following these steps will help you write a thorough preface for your dissertation preface that sets the scene and gives credit where credit is due.

 What is included in a dissertation preface?

In a dissertation preface, writers usually explain why they did the study, the things they researched, and why they wanted to do the project. The writer can thank people or places that helped with the research. Some things you might want to write at the beginning of your dissertation are:

  • The author chose the topic for its relevance to the subject or personal interest.
  • The author’s question or ideas for investigation.
  • This is how we did our research.
  • Thanking individuals or organizations who helped or supported.
  • Any restrictions on gathering or studying data during research.
  • A short description of how the dissertation is organized.

Basically, the beginning of a dissertation preface should tell readers what the writer is studying and what they hope to accomplish in the rest of the dissertation.

Example of a dissertation preface

Example 1: Dissertation preface by a single writer

The motivation for undertaking this research project initially stemmed from my longstanding desire to create a written work centered around our nation’s cultural legacy. As we move forward into the future, we must also appreciate and honor our previous experiences. My firm conviction is that the events of the past shape the present, and this document intends to demonstrate this notion.

The collaboration of our institution (named) was essential to achieve this extensive project. Their level of dedication and effort is highly praiseworthy. I am grateful to my dear family for their unwavering support during challenging moments.

Example 2: Dissertation preface by two or more writers

It’s never too late to learn about the culture we belong to. The interesting parts of my community’s way of life motivated me and my colleagues to finish this research paper. The thesis wants to tell people that even though science is important, what brings us together are things we have in common because of our culture. I wrote the beginning part, and my friend (name) wrote the rest, focusing on issues we face today.

We would like to thank our parents for always believing in us and our fellow students, who motivated us. We are fortunate to be connected to this organization. We are genuinely thankful to everyone.

What is in a dissertation preface included?

The preface ought to contain details concerning background information about the project. Financial support (if available) is a significant aspect covered in the report.

What is the typical length of a dissertation preface in a thesis?

A brief preface is sufficient, as it does not summarize the main argument. For your thesis to be evaluated by the examiners during the final examination, your supervisor must scrutinize the preface first.

What are the important factors in creating an effective dissertation preface?

An engaging preface is essential. The information provided should be captivating for the reader, but not critical for comprehending the content. Notable research methodologies are frequently incorporated in the preface.

Is it acceptable to write a dissertation preface using the first-person perspective?

The author typically writes a preface at the book’s beginning and often communicates in the first person. This outlines the reasons behind the author’s decision to write the book, their journey towards creating it, and the obstacles they encountered.

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  • What is a Dissertation Preface? | Definition & Examples

What is a Dissertation Preface? | Definition & Examples

Published on 31 August 2022 by Tegan George .

A preface is your opportunity to inform your audience about your experiences during the writing of your thesis or dissertation .

A preface is much more personal than other types of academic writing. It is written mainly in the first person and is one of the few places where using first-person is considered acceptable. Your preface is typically written upon completion of your thesis or dissertation, as a final step.

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Table of contents

What is included in a preface.

Dissertation preface example

The following items can be included in the preface:

  • Your (brief) personal background
  • Any (brief) personal experiences or circumstances that motivated you to pursue this type of academic work
  • The target group for which your thesis or dissertation was written
  • Your name, the place name, and the date at the time of writing, at the end of the preface

While it’s common practice to briefly acknowledge any individuals and/or institutions who have helped you during your writing and editing process, these should mostly be saved for your acknowledgements section .

Indeed, it is often common practice to write either a preface or an acknowledgements section, not both.

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Check out this example about how to write a preface. The trick is to write the preface in a style that is personal, yet still professional. Remember that this is one of the few occurrences where first-person is acceptable, and in fact encouraged.

Before you lies the master thesis “Digital Eavesdropper: acoustic speech characteristics as markers of exacerbations in COPD patients.” It has been written to fulfill the graduation requirements of the Language and Speech Pathology program at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I was engaged in researching and writing this thesis from February to August 2021.

I noticed during my previous studies that I avoided stepping outside my comfort zone. This year I wanted to approach the thesis differently, by choosing a subject which required skills I did not yet have. I have worked with unfamiliar computer clusters, operating systems and FTP applications such as Ponyland, Linux, and FileZilla. I have also gained more experience with programs I was already familiar with. Also, I have learned that struggling is part of the process. Therefore, this thesis has taught me valuable lessons both professionally and personally.

I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Dana Scully, for the excellent guidance and support during the process. I deliberately chose you to be my supervisor, because I knew you would provide me with challenges. This has maximised the learning opportunities, for which I am grateful. I also want to thank Dr. Fox Mulder from the pulmonary health department at the University of North Carolina Medical Center for his contribution to the data collection for this study. I would like to thank the research lab at the department for providing me with scripts to align, analyse, and transform my data.

Finally, I want to thank my family and friends for being there for me. I would also like to thank you, my reader: I hope you enjoy your reading.

Walter Skinner Chapel Hill, August 14, 2021

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Structure and Style of Theses and Dissertations

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Graduate students can find "how to" guides and support information on our Workday support page .

Each student and their supervisory committee should work together to determine the scholarly scope and most appropriate structure of the thesis, keeping in mind scholarly standards within their fields and professional objectives of the student.

As forms of scholarship continue to evolve, so do the possibilities for how a body of scholarly work can be expressed. Theses at UBC can include many forms of knowledge production and scholarly representation. Some examples are:

  • a fully unified textual volume, similar to a scholarly book
  • a series of published or publication-ready manuscripts with synthesis
  • inclusion of scholarly professional artefacts such as policy papers or curriculum plans, for example, along with description and analysis
  • a compendium of multimedia works with written description and analysis

Within this flexibility of structure, there remain several elements that must be included in each thesis or dissertation, and specifications to be followed, in order to enable consistent standards and proper archiving.

In addition to the preliminary materials described below, all theses should include an introduction to the subject, a critical analysis of the relevant prior scholarly work, a description of the scholarly methods, a presentation of the results, and a discussion and summary of the results and their implications. Knowledge dissemination products or modes can be incorporated as appropriate.

As appropriate, representation of the research results or methodologies may take a variety of forms, including scholarly publications or submissions (manuscripts), scholarly text, creative text, graphics, audio/visual products, or web pages,  Additional knowledge translation or dissemination products or descriptions of activities can be incorporated, such as policy briefs, lay or professional publications, syllabi, or outlines of workshops or exhibits.

Every thesis will have a PDF component that includes at least the following elements:

  • Committee page
  • Lay summary
  • Table of contents, and/or a List of all submitted files (if there are files in addition to the PDF)

1. Title page (required)

2. committee page (required).

The committee page:

  • is the second page of the thesis and is numbered ii
  • lists all examining committee members and supervisory committee members, along with their titles, departments, and universities or organizations
  • does not include signatures
  • is not listed in the table of contents

See Resources for Thesis Preparation and Checking for examples and templates.

Doctoral students: Please include this page in the copy for the External Examiner, with your supervisory committee entered. If you know which members of the committee will be on the Examining Committee you can include them there; otherwise, they can go under Additional Supervisory Committee Members.

Doctoral students post-defence: Please remember to update the committee page before final post-defence submission if necessary.

3. Abstract (required - maximum 350 words)

The abstract is a concise and accurate summary of the scholarly work described in the document. It states the problem, the methods of investigation, and the general conclusions, and should not contain tables, graphs, complex equations, or illustrations. There is a single scholarly abstract for the entire work, and it must not exceed 350 words in length.

4. Lay Summary (required - maximum 150 words)

The lay or public summary is a simplified version of the abstract that explains the key goals and contributions of the research/scholarly work in terms that can be understood by the general public. it does not use technical terms and discipline-specific language. It must not exceed 150 words in length.

5. Preface (required)

Sample Prefaces

The Preface includes a statement indicating the student's contribution to the following:

  • Identification of the research question(s)
  • Design of the research work
  • Performance of the research
  • Analysis of the research results

If any of the work was collaborative, the above statement must also detail the relative contributions of all collaborators, including the approximate proportion of the research, analysis, and writing/representation conducted by the student.

If any of the work has led to any publications, submissions, or other dissemination modes, all should be listed in the Preface. For publications, the title of the article, the names and order of all co-authors, and the journal details (if accepted or published) should be included, and linked to the related chapter or portion of the thesis. For further details, see “Including Published Material in a Thesis or Dissertation”.

If any of the work is intended for publication but has not yet been published, you may say whether or not it has been submitted. Do not say where it has been submitted, as if it is not accepted for publication that information will be misleading.

If the work includes other scholarly artifacts (such as film and other audio, visual, and graphic representations, and application-oriented documents such as policy briefs, curricula, business plans, computer and web tools, pages, and applications, etc.) that have been published or otherwise publicly disseminated or that have co-authors, they must be listed in the Preface (with bibliographical information, including information on co-creators, if applicable).

If ethics approval was required for the research, the Preface must list the Certificate Number(s) of the Ethics Certificate(s) applicable to the project.

In a thesis where the research was not subject to ethics review, produced no publications, and was designed, carried out, and analyzed by the student alone, the text of the Preface may be very brief. Samples are available on this website and in the University Library's online repository of accepted theses.

The content of the Preface must be verified by the student's supervisor, whose endorsement must appear on the final Thesis/Dissertation Approval form.

Acknowledgements, introductory material, and a list of publications do not belong in the Preface. Please put them respectively in the Acknowledgements section, the first section of the thesis, and the appendices.

6. Table of contents (required)

7. list of tables (required if document has tables), 8. list of figures (required if document has figures), 9. list of submitted files (required if additional files are submitted with the pdf), 10. list of illustrations (advisable if applicable).

If you remove copyrighted tables, figures, or illustrations from your thesis you must insert the following at the spot where the table, figure, or illustration previously appeared:

  • A statement that the material has been removed because of copyright restrictions
  • A description of the material and the information it contained, plus a link to an online source if one is available
  • A full citation of the original source of the material

See the UBC Library Copyright Educational Resources: Theses and Dissertations Guide “ Unable to get Permission? ”

11. Lists of symbols, abbreviations or other (advisable if applicable)

12. glossary (optional), 13. acknowledgements (optional).

This may include statements acknowledging support and contributions from various sources, including the student’s research supervisor and committee, research participants, colleagues, friends, and family members. IMPORTANT : Please ensure that everyone you mention in your Acknowledgements understands and accepts that their name will be appearing online in an open-access document.

Any funding for the research should be listed here.

14. Dedication (optional)

15-17. thesis body: introduction, research chapters, conclusion (usually required unless the thesis consists only of multimedia).

This contains the comprehensive contextualization, methods, findings, analysis and implications of the scholarly work. These components can be organized and expressed in a manner that the student and their supervisory committee deems to be most appropriate to the work, to the student and their objectives, and to the relevant disciplines.

In many cases the thesis will be organized in chapters, while for others (especially those including creative and/or other modes of expression) it may take different forms. The different elements should be divided appropriately (and indicated as such in the Table of Contents) to enable ease of review. The thesis should be presented in a manner that enables a cohesive understanding of the work and which is credible within the field. In all cases, certain elements are required:

Introductory content.  This must clearly state its theme, topics, hypotheses and/or goals and provide sufficient background information to enable a non-specialist in the subject matter to understand them. It must contextualize the topic and questions within a thorough review of relevant literature and/or other foundational scholarship

Research/Scholarship methodologies, findings, products.  The account and products of the scholarly work should be complete and sufficiently detailed to enable a reader to understand how the work was carried out and analyzed, and how to apply similar methods in another study.

Analysis and summary content.  This should include a reflective analysis of the scholarly findings and/or products, integrated into the context of the thesis subject to demonstrate how the thesis leads to new understandings and contributions. The work’s potential (or actual) impact, its limitations, and its significance should be outlined.

18. Bibliography (mandatory except for MFA and MMUS)

There must be only one Bibliography or References section for the whole thesis.

19. Appendices (Optional)

These consist of supporting material that is not integral to the understanding of the work and/or easily incorporated into the thesis body, potentially including additional methodological details or data, copies of surveys used, etc. They must be referred to in the document.

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  • Graduate Thesis Manual /

In this document, we will use the word “thesis” as pertaining to both master's and doctoral works. A thesis 1 must satisfy two sets of criteria:

  • academic and intellectual requirements assessed by the faculty of the university;
  • a document which embodies intellectual requirements and the original point of view that is proposed. This Thesis Manual is mostly concerned with the second aspect of a thesis.

“thesis (the'sis)n., pl. -ses (-sez'): 1. A proposition that is maintained by argument. 2. A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree ``dissertation (dis'ar-ta'shan) n.: A lengthy, formal treatise, especially one written by a candidate for the doctoral degree at a university; a thesis.” (Source: American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.)

Suggestions to Students

All students must carefully read the content of this Thesis Manual before writing their theses. If a student's style of manuscript does not conform to the standards of this Thesis Manual, the prior approval of the Thesis Examiner must be sought. It is imperative to be consistent in format and style throughout the thesis. A sample thesis is available at:  https://web.iit.edu/gaa/thesis

Every student must consult the Sequence of Events and deadlines for graduate students that are published each semester by the Graduate Academic Affairs, located 10 West 35th Street, 2nd Floor.

https://web.iit.edu/gaa/students/dates-and-deadlines

If the indicated deadlines are not met, the student's graduation may be delayed until the following semester. The appointments with the Thesis are set up to help students avoid unforeseen problems in preparing a thesis and to provide suggestions otherwise unavailable to students.

Throughout this Thesis Manual a preliminary draft of a thesis refers to the one prepared for discussion with the Thesis Examiner, which must include samples of starred items on page 2--under " Contents of a Thesis "--as well as samples of tables, figures and photos. The Thesis Examiner will reject no preliminary draft, when the student has made an effort to use the IIT approved format; however, the extent of corrections required for an acceptable final draft will vary with the stage of development of the preliminary draft.

Suggestions to Faculty Advisers

In order to advise students better, every faculty adviser should be familiar with the contents of this Thesis Manual. In case there are any questions, faculty advisers may contact the Thesis Examiner through the Graduate College. In the absence of specific recommendations from the adviser, the Thesis Examiner (in consultation with the leadership of Academic Affairs) shall have the final responsibility to interpret the totality of the rules in accepting or rejecting an individual thesis as suitable for binding and depositing in the IIT library.

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Peter Eisenman’s The Formal Basis of Modern Architecture: A Preface

Xuan Luo thesis project

Xuan Luo (MDes ’17)

This thesis is a retrospective reading of Peter Eisenman’s 1963 doctoral dissertation, The Formal Basis of Modern Architecture in the form of a preface. Prae-fatio , or “a saying before-hand”, as Gayatri Spivak confesses in her own preface to Jacques Derrida’s Of Grammatology , “harbors a lie” in its pretense of having been written before a text that must already exist. Also drawing on Derrida, Barbara Johnson reflects on the preface in her introduction to Dissemination by saying, “Situated both inside and outside, both before and after the ‘book’ whose ‘book-ness’ it both promotes and transgresses, the preface has always inscribed itself in a strange warp of both time and space.”

In this light, Peter Eisenman’s belatedly published dissertation (2006) can be also interpreted as a preface at multiple levels. By the early sixties, the general cultural condition in the West manifested an alienation from the crumbling modern vision of the utopian society and a sense of rupture of historical continuity. Eisenman’s dissertation arose as one of the earliest responses toward this fundamental transformation. His intellectual exercise reflected an inward turning momentum in search of an immanent formal order, one that was estranged from the classical authority of the humanist subject. This thesis aims to parse Eisenman’s text in four separate sections: 1. Formal : the origin of geometry; 2. Basis : the origin myth; 3. Modern : the end of the Classical; 4. Architecture : autonomy, thus re-reading it as an active and open-ended theoretical text.

Acknowledgement World

How to Write a Preface for a Thesis?

The preface for a thesis paper is the way an academic scholar introduces himself to the readers. A Preface is a small introduction written by the author of the thesis paper to share the basic idea and their writing experience with readers. The preface is written in the initial part of the dissertation. In your preface, start by conveying a small thanks to all those who have helped you complete your thesis.

In this blog post, you will learn how to write a Preface for your Thesis paper.

1.   Your personal information.

2.   your motivation for the work., 3.   address the target group of the dissertation., 4.   credit to other researchers., 5.   thanking the contributors., are both acknowledgment and preface added for a dissertation, 1.   never write the preface beforehand., 2.   format the preface well., 3.   communicate with your readers., 4.   never keep all the core information in the preface section., 5.   keep it concise., ●    what is a foreword:, ●    what is a preface:, ●    what is an introduction:, preface example for a single writer, preface example for two or more writers, how to write a preface for a dissertation.

After defining what is a Preface, you should know about the parts of a thesis. Before writing, you must know what are the areas you should cover in a Preface. More or less, you should cover all these areas:

Readers are also keen to know about your details along with your writing. You should write about some of your qualifications or previous writings in two to three sentences. In this way, they will feel interested in your writings. Remember, that maybe it’s the only opportunity for the readers to know you, so, include the credentials if it helps the topic.

For example, if you are writing on healthy foods then your identity as a nutritionist will increase readers’ trust. You can make it effective in the form of anecdotes.

There is some motivation behind all research work.  You also must have some. You should include in the preface for the thesis paper your inspiration behind the research. But don’t add much about it. Also, it’s not necessary every time to add that.

Your preface must connect with the target group. That is, you should introduce your target group in the preface section. Also, you can add shortly if anything you have noticed about the group is special.

Often for a thesis paper, there is more than one writer. That’s why your preface for the dissertation must specifically write about the division of labor of your write-up. And you should also inform your readers about what are the parts each of these writers has written.

The preface for the thesis paper should never hesitate in acknowledging all those who have assisted in completing the paper. Regardless of whether it’s an individual or an institution, you must introduce them in some lines.

However, never add too much of everything in your preface age. For any research paper, you should not write a preface that crosses more than five hundred words.

In this, you can thank both your personal and professional team who have helped with your research. Commonly family, research institutions, instructors, and typists are thanked in this section.

Sometimes, within a preface, acknowledgments are added. However, remember that acknowledgment and the preface meaning are not the same things. The main intention of an acknowledgment is to thank those who have assisted you in finishing the research. And as mentioned earlier, the preface also covers the same thing.

You can read about how you can write a acknowledgement here.

That’s why, based on the criteria of your institution, you should think of merging them or not. But mostly acknowledgments and prefaces are combined for the Ph.D. dissertation. It is so because in those dissertations you will barely have extra time to separately add both in the paper. So, it’s your and the discretion of the institution you are working to merge acknowledgment with a preface or not.

Tips to write a preface for dissertation.

Practically it’s quite hard to write about what is a preface requirement from your paper without completing the text. But on the contrary, if you choose to write the preface after completing your paper, you will find it much more convenient. There will be minimal chances for rework and you can take it as your last work with the thesis.

If you think that formatting does not impact your research paper much, then you are wrong. Also, make a query about the correct formatting from your institution, because there are varied formatting requirements of a preface.

The preface of the thesis is among the few parts of the paper where you can address your readers in an informal tone. Preface in the initial pages of the research paper gives you a chance to connect your readers towards your paper. If you write it down properly then clearly it’s a golden chance for you to attract the readers towards your long work.

Though many readers indeed read your preface page, at the same time, one can’t deny that many also skip it. So, it will be a fifty-fifty chance for your preface page. That’s why never add too much important information on that page as readers can overlook them. Or else, if it’s too necessary to add such information, repeat them in the latter part of your text.

A researcher is not expected to write anything flowery in that part. So, keep your preface for thesis short and crisp. But if you have a long interesting experience related to the paper and which can also interest readers then don’t hesitate to share. In that case, keep it for one and a half pages only and not more than that.

Overall, don’t worry too much about the preface, it’s just a single page of your long thesis work. Only make it short and clear for the readers. So, readers can connect with you through this section.

How does the forward and introduction vary from a preface?

Though for beginners all these three can appear the same if you notice the write-ups then they are completely different.

The f oreword section of the book is not written by the scholar himself or herself but by someone else. Someone else who writes the foreword tries to convince the readers why they should read the thesis. And what is new in the research work.

As shared earlier, a preface for thesis is written by the researcher himself. And the section shares the experience of the writer in completing the work. This section also works like an acknowledgment.

An introduction for any thesis paper is completely different from the above two. It introduces the readers to the main content or the subject of the paperwork.

Thus, for the writers of the paper, the preface for a thesis is a chance to converse with the readers about the aim of the book. It also thanked all those who have contributed to the work. However, researchers should not waste too much space on it and keep it concise.

Preface examples.

The desire for this research work has originally come from my long-time appetite for writing something on our country’s heritage. As the world is driving towards advancement, it is equally important to cherish our past. I have a strong belief that history creates the present and this write-up is a purpose to prove this.

Also, this lengthy work was impossible with the teamwork of our institution ( name of the institution). Their amount of hard work is truly commendable. Thanks to my family also for supporting me during the hard times.

It’s never too late to know the culture we all are a part of. The intriguing aspects of my community culture made me and my co-writers complete this thesis. The thesis aims to convince readers that even in the age of science, it’s ultimately the cultural bonds that unite us. While I’ve covered the initial part of the discretion, my friend and co-writer ( name) have constructively written the later part by addressing common problems of the twenty-first century.

Thanks to our parents for never losing hope in us and ultimately all our students who always encouraged us. At the same time, we are lucky to be associated with this institution. We are grateful to all.

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All NAU theses and dissertations are published electronically through ProQuest . The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies partners with Cline Library to make all NAU theses and dissertations accessible through our institutional repository.

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2024 Department Dissertation Awards

Department Chair Jonathan Taylor presides over the diploma ceremony in 2023

With sincere appreciation for all those involved in the nomination and review process, the Department of Statistics proudly announces the winners of the full group of doctoral dissertation awards this year. Each hard-won distinction is accompanied by a prize of $1,000, and recipients will be presented with their certificates during the department's diploma ceremony on June 16th. Congratulations to these outstanding students!

Theodore W. Anderson Theory of Statistics Dissertation Award

Isaac Gibbs – for his groundbreaking work on adaptive conformal inference, maintaining prediction coverage over time despite substantial changes in the data distribution, and his amazing contribution to conformal prediction, quantifying the uncertainty of modern black box algorithms without distributional assumptions.

Jerome H. Friedman Applied Statistics Dissertation Award

Sifan Liu – for her work on high dimensional integration, machine learning optimization strategies and pre-integration in randomized quasi-Monte Carlo, and its novel application in data science.

Ingram Olkin Interdisciplinary Research Dissertation Award

Ying Jin – for pioneering model-free selective inference methods for multi-stage decision pipelines such as job hiring and drug discovery, and for providing new methods for diagnosing replication failure.

Probability Dissertation Award

Kangjie Zhou – for discovering precise high-dimensional asymptotics for projection pursuit with random data, using techniques from spin glasses and empirical process theory.

Three Umass Amherst Doctoral Students Earn 2024 Mellon/Acls Dissertation Innovation Fellowships

Three UMass Amherst doctoral students have been awarded  2024 Mellon/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Dissertation Innovation Fellowships , which support doctoral students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences as they pursue bold and innovative approaches to dissertation research

JM Lanuza

Jose Mari Lanuza in the Department of Communication,  Mabrouka M'Barek in the Department of Sociology and  Marcus P. Smith in the W. E. B. Du Bois Department of Afro-American Studies are among 45 awardees selected nationally from a pool of more than 700 applicants. Each honoree receives an award of up to $50,000 to support external mentorship that offers new perspectives on the fellow’s project and expands their advising network. With fellows pursuing their research across the country and beyond, ACLS will also provide opportunities for virtual networking and scholarly programming throughout the award terms.

Mabrouka M'Barek

Lanuza’s research explores electoral disinformation in the Philippines by considering social factors, which have often been neglected in prior research. It examines the information-seeking and meaning-making behaviors and processes of people who engage with conspiracy theories about Philippine elections and view contemporary electoral contexts as deeply intertwined with conspiracy theories. This approach illuminates disinformation vulnerability and consumption at the community level as products of micro-level social interactions and macro-level political communication. Lanuza is also a graduate fellow in the newly launched Global Technology for Social Justice Lab and co-author of a study comparing  Brazil and Philippines elections .

M'Barek’s dissertation is a comparative historical sociological project that seeks to analyze how colonization affected North African and North American semi-nomadic communities in the long term, and how these communities are re-engaging in land-based relations while celebrating their nomadic past. Drawing on indigenous methods, her research contributes to the field of sociology by conceptualizing mobility as a web of social relationships and connections with land and natural environment — deepening the understanding of the articulation between colonialism and capital accumulation.

Marcus Smith

The research pursued by Smith employs an interdisciplinary methodology, drawing from history, ethnography and landscape studies to examine the development of grassroots museums in historically Black rural, agro-urban and coastal communities as sites of community empowerment and resistance. His project investigates and recounts the narratives of museum inception, community mobilization, resource acquisition, curatorial decision-making and establishing the museums as viable and sustainable institutions in different social, political and economic contexts.

The ACLS launched the fellowship program in 2023 with the support of the  Mellon Foundation to advance a vision for doctoral education that prioritizes openness to new methods and sources, underrepresented voices and perspectives and scholarly experimentation. The awards are designed to accelerate change in the norms of humanistic scholarship by recognizing those who take risks in the modes, methods and subjects of their research.

More information about these other fellowship programs offered by the ACLS can be found at https://www.acls.org/fellowship-grant-programs .

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Katherine Scahill Awarded 2024 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

""

Penn Music's Katherine Scahill has been named one of 22 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for 2024. administered by the Institute for Citizen's & Scholars. The award will fund her upcoming dissertation, "The gendered politics of religious authority in Thai Buddhism: Voice, embodiment, and sonic efficacy in the movement for female monastic ordination."

From the Institute for Citizens & Scholars:

The Newcombe Fellowship, funded by the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, is the largest and most prestigious award for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences addressing questions of ethical and religious values in interesting, original, or significant ways. Fellows receive a 12-month award of $31,000 to support the final year of dissertation writing.

The Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship helps promising scholars generate momentum, strengthening fields of study, and preparing new generations of citizens through their teaching and research. For more information on the Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship, please visit  citizensandscholars.org/fellowships/newcombe/ .

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UB Awards 320 Biomedical Science Degrees; 35 Earn PhDs

Commencement 2024.

Lauryn Alexandria Scott.

Lauryn Alexandria Scott, a biomedical sciences undergraduate student, is all smiles as she walks across the stage during the May 19 biomedical sciences commencement ceremony.

By Dirk Hoffman

Published May 29, 2024

Thirty-five doctoral, 76 master’s and 209 baccalaureate candidates were eligible to receive degrees in biomedical science fields during the May commencement ceremony.

2024 Commencement Video

2024 Biomedical Sciences Commencement Video

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Six graduate students and nine senior undergraduates were singled out for special honors, including four graduates who received a Chancellor’s Award, the highest State University of New York undergraduate honor.

Graduates completed work in 14 departments or programs of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences :

  • biochemistry
  • biomedical informatics
  • biomedical sciences
  • biotechnical and clinical laboratory sciences
  • genetics, genomics and bioinformatics
  • medical physics
  • microbiology and immunology
  • natural sciences interdisciplinary
  • neuroscience
  • nuclear medicine technology
  • pathology and anatomical sciences
  • pharmacology and toxicology
  • physiology and biophysics
  • structural biology

Graduates also completed the following programs offered in alliance with the  Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Graduate Division : cancer pathology and prevention, cancer sciences, immunology, and molecular pharmacology and cancer therapeutics.

Fifteen of the doctoral degrees and eight of the master’s degrees were awarded in Roswell Park’s programs.

Allison Brashar, MD, MBA.

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, congratulates the Class of 2024.

Lessons Learned From Recent Solar Eclipse

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA , UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, welcomed attendees to the May 19 event at UB’s Center for the Arts and addressed the graduates.

“It fills my heart with immense joy to see all of you gathered here today,” she said.

“In the face of the challenges that have beset us in recent times, these bright scholars and scientists have exhibited extraordinary resilience, determination and perseverance in their academic endeavors. I am confident that these qualities will serve as guiding lights as they embark upon their journeys in their respective fields.”

She noted that biomedical science is one of the broadest areas of medical science and underpins much of modern medicine.

“Biomedical scientists are at the heart of multidisciplinary teams in health care. Biomedical research looks at ways to prevent and treat disease,” Brashear said. “Your innovative approaches and unwavering dedication will continue to push the boundaries of scientific discoveries and technology, leading to a brighter and healthier future for all of us.”

In his address, UB President Satish K. Tripathi, PhD, told the graduates they could learn a lot from the recent solar eclipse that generated excitement in Western New York in early April.

“Allow me to share three tips of advice gathered from the path of totality,” he quipped.

“Reconnect with the natural world, as often as possible. Instead of taking selfies, take time for self-reflection,” he said. “When you give wide berth to the stressors of modern life, you allow yourself space to find both your place in the world and your responsibility to it.”

“Do not regret circumstances beyond your control,” Tripathi added, noting the sunny days leading up to the eclipse, but the extreme cloudiness that persisted over much of WNY on April 8, the day of the event. “Notwithstanding the uncooperative weather, we all experienced a breathtaking moment. Magnify your disappointments and you miss occasions for learning, enrichment and wonder.”

“Lastly, use your expertise for the greater good. When you apply what you have learned for others’ benefit, you put your UB education to its highest purpose,” he said.

Mark O’Brian, Haley Hobble and John Panepinto.

Doctoral graduate Haley Victoria Hobble won two separate graduate awards for her research and dissertation. She is flanked by Mark R. O’Brian, PhD, left, and John C. Panepinto, PhD.

Outstanding Graduates Recognized

Biochemistry graduate student research achievement award.

Doctoral graduate Haley Victoria Hobble was honored for research that received national or international recognition and for being selected to give an oral presentation at a major national or international meeting.

Dissertation: “Intrafamily Heterooligomerization of the N-Terminal Methyltransferase METTL11A”

Mentor: Christine E. Schaner-Tooley, PhD , associate professor of biochemistry

Roswell Park Graduate Division Award for Excellence in Research

Doctoral graduate Abigail Cornwell was the recipient of this award for outstanding research for her dissertation titled “Impact of Benzodiazepines on the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Microenvironment”

Mentor: Michael Feigin, PhD, associate professor of oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research

Doctoral graduate Haley Victoria Hobble was the winner of this award that recognizes demonstrated excellence in research.

She was honored for her dissertation: “Intrafamily Heterooligomerization of the N-Terminal Methyltransferase METTL11A”

Mentor:  Christine E. Schaner-Tooley, PhD , associate professor of  biochemistry

The Microbiology and Immunology Award for Excellence in Dissertation Research in Memory of Dr. Murray W. Stinson

Doctoral graduate Katherine Shannon Wackowski was honored for her dissertation “Cooperation of RESC Proteins in Trypanosome RNA Editing and Holoenzyme Dynamics”

Mentor: Laurie K. Read, PhD , professor of microbiology and immunology

Dennis Higgins Award for PhD Dissertation Research in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Doctoral graduate Shirley Xu was honored for her dissertation “Troponin-Mediated Autoimmune Mechanisms of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Myocarditis”

Mentor: Umesh Sharma, MD, PhD , associate professor of medicine

Bishop Neuroscience Thesis Award

Doctoral graduate Richard Adam Seidman was honored for his dissertation “Oscillatory Calcium Mediated Regulation of Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells”

Mentor: Fraser J. Sim, PhD , professor of pharmacology and toxicology

The Structural Biology Award for Excellence in Dissertation Research in Memory of Dr. Robert H. Blessing

Doctoral graduate Nicholas David Clark was honored for his dissertation “Structure/Function Studies of Virulence Factors from Periodontal Pathogens and Membrane Sphingolipid Hydroxylases”

Mentor: Michael G. Malkowski, PhD , professor and chair of structural biology

Four SUNY Chancellor’s Award winners with Jennifer Surtees, PhD.

The four undergraduate SUNY Chancellor’s Award winners, from left, Bryan R. Renzoni, Lea Kyle, Rachel Esther Sanyu and Sarah Bukhari, along with Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD.

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Sarah Bukhari, Lea Kyle, Bryan R. Renzoni and Rachel Esther Sanyu were recognized with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award. It recognizes students for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives that may include leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship or career achievement.

Bukhari graduates with a bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry. She is an undergraduate researcher in the lab of  Jennifer A. Surtees, PhD , professor of  biochemistry . Bukhari secured funding from the Experiential Learning Network and a Mentored Research micro-credential.

Beyond academics, the Grand Island, New York, native is deeply involved in community engagement, serving as both the volunteer coordinator and vice president of the largest student-run pre-health organization, the Association of Pre-Medical Students, and was awarded a Community Engagement micro-credential and gathering 500+ volunteer hours.

With dual roles as dance coach and social media coordinator for the Pakistani Student Association, she fosters a network of communities to embrace diversity and celebrate traditions.

A native of Martville, New York, Kyle is a University Honors College Scholar who graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry with minors in both physics and public health.

She has been a Student Association, Recreation Department, Student Engagement and TASS Center employee. She also is the current president of UB Rotaract, a volunteering club on campus.

Kyle is also a student researcher in the  Department of Microbiology and Immunology ,  Elizabeth A. Wohlfert, PhD , associate professor of microbiology and immunology, focusing on the effects of chronic inflammation on muscle function due to chronic infection..

Renzoni, of East Amherst, New York, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. He is a University Honors College Presidential Scholar and Honors College Ambassador.

A BioXFEL Scholar, he has received multiple research internship positions and worked in two different laboratories, contributing to work on the development of novel organic and organometallic compounds with applications as cancer therapies.

Renzoni has also served as a co-chair of the G14 Leadership Summit, president and executive adviser of UB ChemClub, and both assistant music director and music director of The Enchords, UB’s all-gender a cappella group.

Sanyu, an international student from Uganda, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology and toxicology.

She is an Honors College Scholar who conducted oncology research within the lab of Wendy Huss, PhD, at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and at Johnson & Johnson, where she earned the 2023 Inspire Spotlight Award.

Sanyu has also worked as a student assistant in the Office of Interprofessional Education and an honors peer mentor. 

She is a founder of a health care app and is involved with the community through her work with Suubi Cancer Relief and Hillside Family of Agencies.

Sanyu also loves to dance and was a member of the UBMystique and 8-Count dance teams.

Undergraduate Outstanding Senior Awards

The following awards honor high academic performance and involvement in the campus community and external organizations:

Biochemistry Sarah Bukhari

Biomedical Sciences Alexis Krayevsky

Biotechnology Tanvi Dixit

Medical Technology Eva Wisniewski

Neuroscience Leah Heiler

Nuclear Medicine Technology Kelly Mahan

Pharmacology and Toxicology Rachel Esther Sanyu

Styliani-Anna E. Tsirka, PhD.

Commencement speaker Styliani-Anna (Stella) E. Tsirka, PhD, tells the graduates to never lose sight of the wonder and awe that first drew them to the biomedical sciences.

Keynote Theme One of Compassion, Resilience

Commencement speaker Styliani-Anna (Stella) E. Tsirka, PhD, the Miriam and David Donoho Distinguished Professor of pharmacological sciences and vice dean for faculty affairs at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, spoke about empathy and persistence.

“Beyond the technical skills and academic achievements that you have earned and will continue to earn, what will set you apart is your capacity for empathy, for compassion, your ethical responsibility,” she said.

“In the pursuit of scientific advancement, try not to lose sight of the human element and the living organisms whose lives may be impacted by our work.”

Tsirka noted that biomedical scientists have a serious duty to use their expertise to make society better, alleviate suffering and to promote the health and well-being of all people, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.

“If you decide to further pursue scientific inquiry, do remember that you will need persistence and resilience,” she said. “Experimental science is not for the faint of heart.”

She remarked that her lab members often talk about the fact that it is called “research” instead of just “search.”

“The majority of our experiments will not be successful, but the ones that provide that ‘eureka moment’ will last a lifetime,” Tsirka assured the graduates. “Remember that setbacks are valuable lessons that shape the way for future success.”

Tsirka encouraged the graduates to embrace the idea of lifelong learning.

“To remain at the forefront of your field, you must remain curious and receptive of new ideas,” she said.

“Importantly, science is also delicate. Continue to approach it with integrity and rigor.”

Undergraduates in the News

  • 5/29/24 UB Awards 320 Biomedical Science Degrees; 35 Earn PhDs
  • 5/8/24 Jacobs School Students Feted for Academic Excellence
  • 2/26/24 Determined to Improve Cancer Care in Uganda
  • 11/29/23 Surtees Named Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and STEM Outreach
  • 8/31/23 Jacobs School Welcomes Undergraduates to Campus

Biomedical Undergraduate Education

South Campus 40 Biomedical Education Building 3435 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14214

What does it take to get an MFA from RISD? These thesis projects will give you some idea

The 2024 RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition opened to the public at the Rhode Island Convention Center last Wednesday and will remain open through June 1, which is RISD graduation day, and also online at risdgrad.show . Wednesday evening's reception gave a first look at the thesis work of more than 200 MFA grads in sculpture, painting, architecture, industrial design, jewelry, ceramics, graphic arts, furniture design and more.

IMAGES

  1. Preface

    preface doctoral thesis

  2. Dissertation and Thesis Format Guide (PDF)

    preface doctoral thesis

  3. (PDF) Doctoral thesis summary

    preface doctoral thesis

  4. How to Write Preface for Thesis Paper?

    preface doctoral thesis

  5. (PDF) Dissertation Preface

    preface doctoral thesis

  6. Preface This thesis was p

    preface doctoral thesis

VIDEO

  1. My Doctoral Thesis defense 2024

  2. Doctoral Thesis Defense by Tiina Merkuljeva

  3. Preface: A Data-driven Volumetric Priorfor Few-shot Ultra High-resolution Face Synthesis

  4. كيفية كتابة رسائل الماجستير واطاريح الدكتوراه How to write Master thesis and Doctoral dissertation

  5. How to Prepare for Your Doctoral Dissertation

  6. Doctoral Thesis Defense by Kristiina Urb

COMMENTS

  1. What is a Dissertation Preface?

    Revised on July 18, 2023. A preface is your opportunity to inform your audience about your experiences during the writing of your thesis or dissertation. A preface is much more personal than other types of academic writing. It is written mainly in the first person and is one of the few places where using first-person is considered acceptable.

  2. Order and Components

    The title page of a thesis or dissertation must include the following information: The title of the thesis or dissertation in all capital letters and centered 2″ below the top of the page. Your name, centered 1″ below the title. Do not include titles, degrees, or identifiers. The name you use here does not need to exactly match the name on ...

  3. PDF Sample Prefaces

    Every thesis or dissertation must include a preface describing the student's role in the work as presented. The three extended samples below illustrate good practice; they are taken verbatim from real UBC theses. In simpler situations, a preface could consist of just one or two sentences. We begin with two synthetic examples

  4. Dedication, Acknowledgements, & Preface

    Dedication, Acknowledgements, and Preface sections are all optional pages. But, what is the difference between these three? Dedication — A personal tribute to someone or a group of people. Example: "To my parents." Acknowledgements — A professional tribute to a person or people who helped you with the thesis. Example: "I wish to thank my thesis advisor for the hours of help in the lab ...

  5. How To Write A Preface For A Thesis

    When writing a preface for a thesis, one should keep in mind the following guidelines: Keep it brief: A preface should be concise and to the point. It should not exceed more than two pages. State the purpose of the thesis: In the preface, the author should explain the purpose of the thesis and why it is important.

  6. Formatting Guidelines

    The date on the title page should be the year in which your committee approves the thesis or dissertation, regardless of the date of completion or publication of individual chapters. If you would like to include additional details about the previously published work, this information can be included in the preface for the thesis or dissertation.

  7. Dissertation Preface ~ Components & Guide

    A dissertation preface is used to introduce the reader to the major body of your work. Its major purpose is to familiarize the reader with the dissertation's subject and to provide a synopsis of the content, rationale for writing, and overall organization. Typically, a dissertation's preface will introduce you to the author, the research ...

  8. Dissertation & Thesis Outline

    Dissertation & Thesis Outline | Example & Free Templates. Published on June 7, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on November 21, 2023. A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process.It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to ...

  9. PDF A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing

    Originality is a key issue in both dissertation and thesis development and writing (Bailey, 2014; Ferguson, 2009). The ideas, the subject and the method of approaching a piece of research cannot be identical to another piece of research (especially published research) if it is to be acceptable to a committee of examiners.

  10. What is a Dissertation Preface?

    Any (brief) personal experiences or circumstances that motivated you to pursue this type of academic work. The target group for which your thesis or dissertation was written. Your name, the place name, and the date at the time of writing, at the end of the preface. While it's common practice to briefly acknowledge any individuals and/or ...

  11. Preface

    Summary. Preface. Before writing this book, I looked into a couple of thousand theses based on published (and ready-for-publication) papers. Most of them I viewed on the Internet, but several I surveyed while on location in various university libraries. Merely seeing an image of a thesis on the Internet is not the same as having a paper version ...

  12. PDF Thesis Sample Prefaces

    All theses at the University of Alberta must contain a preface when the thesis contains journal articles authored or co-authored by the student (including an accepted paper that is forthcoming at the time of thesis submission) and/or when the research conducted for the thesis required ethics approval. A preface need

  13. Structure and Style of Theses and Dissertations

    Doctoral students post-defence: Please remember to update the committee page before final post-defence submission ... Samples are available on this website and in the University Library's online repository of accepted theses. The content of the Preface must be verified by the student's supervisor, whose endorsement must appear on the final ...

  14. What Is a Thesis?

    Revised on April 16, 2024. A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master's program or a capstone to a bachelor's degree. Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation, it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete.

  15. 10.2 Writing the Preface and Choosing the Title of Your PhD Thesis

    PHD Help - Writing the Preface and Choosing the Title - One of the last tasks you will perform when you are completing your thesis is to choose a title a title for it and to compile a preface. ... You have left the selection of a definitive title for your doctorate until the end of your thesis because you need it to be a true reflection of your ...

  16. Preface < Illinois Institute of Technology

    Preface. Preface. In this document, we will use the word "thesis" as pertaining to both master's and doctoral works. A thesis 1 must satisfy two sets of criteria: academic and intellectual requirements assessed by the faculty of the university; a document which embodies intellectual requirements and the original point of view that is proposed.

  17. phd

    The following 2004 Ph.D. dissertation at Utrecht University has a preface on pp. xi-xviii, so the answer is YES. Ideas and Explorations : Brouwer's Road to Intuitionism. However, the question you possibly want answered is whether a Ph.D. dissertation at YOUR university can have a preface.

  18. PDF A Sample Research Paper/Thesis/Dissertation on Aspects of Elementary

    Theorem 1.2.1. A homogenous system of linear equations with more unknowns than equations always has infinitely many solutions. The definition of matrix multiplication requires that the number of columns of the first factor A be the same as the number of rows of the second factor B in order to form the product AB.

  19. Peter Eisenman's The Formal Basis of Modern Architecture: A Preface

    Xuan Luo (MDes '17) This thesis is a retrospective reading of Peter Eisenman's 1963 doctoral dissertation, The Formal Basis of Modern Architecture in the form of a preface.Prae-fatio, or "a saying before-hand", as Gayatri Spivak confesses in her own preface to Jacques Derrida's Of Grammatology, "harbors a lie" in its pretense of having been written before a text that must already ...

  20. How to Write a Preface for a Thesis?

    Also, it's not necessary every time to add that. 3. Address the target group of the dissertation. Your preface must connect with the target group. That is, you should introduce your target group in the preface section. Also, you can add shortly if anything you have noticed about the group is special. 4.

  21. PDF PhD Comprehensive Examination and Dissertation Handbook

    Dissertation must make reference to the IRB approval including type, date, and IRB control number. Dissertation and its Oral Defense Dissertation The Dissertation is developed in PHS 810: Dissertation Progress and defended in PHS 811: Final Dissertation Defense under the guidance of the Dissertation committee. The Dissertation contains the

  22. preface doctoral thesis

    Every dissertation or thesis should include a preface that describes the role of a student in the work that is presented. The preface is the section where you... 10.2 Writing the Preface and Choosing the Title of Your PhD Thesis · Give a few sentences in general introduction to why you have undertaken the research that...

  23. Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples

    Prize-Winning Thesis and Dissertation Examples. Published on September 9, 2022 by Tegan George.Revised on July 18, 2023. It can be difficult to know where to start when writing your thesis or dissertation.One way to come up with some ideas or maybe even combat writer's block is to check out previous work done by other students on a similar thesis or dissertation topic to yours.

  24. Graduate Thesis and Dissertation

    Building 11. Ashurst Hall. 624 S Knoles Drive. Flagstaff, AZ 86011. Mailing Address. P.O. Box 4125. Flagstaff, AZ 86011. Thesis and dissertation resources and guidelines. All theses and dissertations are published electronically through a thesis and dissertation database.

  25. 2024 Department Dissertation Awards

    2024 Department Dissertation Awards. May 30, 2024. Diploma Ceremony HQ. With sincere appreciation for all those involved in the nomination and review process, the Department of Statistics proudly announces the winners of the full group of doctoral dissertation awards this year. Each hard-won distinction is accompanied by a prize of $1,000, and ...

  26. Three Umass Amherst Doctoral Students Earn 2024 Mellon/Acls

    Three Umass Amherst Doctoral Students Earn 2024 Mellon/Acls Dissertation Innovation Fellowships. May 28, 2024 News. ... M'Barek's dissertation is a comparative historical sociological project that seeks to analyze how colonization affected North African and North American semi-nomadic communities in the long term, and how these communities ...

  27. How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal

    When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic. The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development ...

  28. Katherine Scahill Awarded 2024 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral

    Penn Music's Katherine Scahill has been named one of 22 Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellows for 2024. administered by the Institute for Citizen's & Scholars. The award will fund her upcoming dissertation, "The gendered politics of religious authority in Thai Buddhism: Voice, embodiment, and sonic efficacy in the movement for ...

  29. UB Awards 320 Biomedical Science Degrees; 35 Earn PhDs

    Doctoral graduate Haley Victoria Hobble was the winner of this award that recognizes demonstrated excellence in research. She was honored for her dissertation: "Intrafamily Heterooligomerization of the N-Terminal Methyltransferase METTL11A" Mentor: Christine E. Schaner-Tooley, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry

  30. 2024 RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition covers a broad spectrum of talent

    1:47. The 2024 RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition opened to the public at the Rhode Island Convention Center last Wednesday and will remain open through June 1, which is RISD graduation day, and also ...