Dissertation Proposal

LIFE Dissertation Proposal Instructions

All LIFE doctoral candidates are supported by a thesis advisory committee (TAC) throughout their thesis life cycle. TAC members are the respective supervisor(s) and at least one external scientist. The TAC meets every year, and the first meeting should take place in month 6 of the dissertation phase. 

Doctoral candidates are requested to submit a dissertation proposal to their TAC committee after five months. The dissertation proposal must clearly define a research problem, outline a theoretical framework as well as a feasible methodology, and justify the study’s significance within the academic field. The proposal should not exceed 10 pages (excluding references). 

Core components:
-    Working title
-    Introduction: Define the research issue, your motivation, aims of the project, and the specific questions or hypotheses to be tested
-    Theoretical background: Introduce the central theories, concepts, and terms on which the dissertation is based and show how these justify the research focus and the research question
-    Literature Review: Map the current state of research, identifying gaps your study will fill
-    Methodology and Design: Detail the methods, research design, data collection, and analysis technique
-    Contribution: Explain how your research advances knowledge, theory, or practical application
-    Summary of any results and conclusions to date
-    Clear timeline for your 3-year project: Provide a realistic schedule for completing stages of the project
-    References: List key sources and preliminary literature

You are invited to add a list of burning questions you want to discuss with your TAC committee in the context of the first TAC meeting.

Please think about additional 2 to 3 LIFE faculty members from abroad from whom you would like feedback. We will send them your dissertation proposal on behalf of Ulman Lindenberger and ask them for feedback. This feedback can be provided in writing or during a personal meeting at the next LIFE Academy.

If you have any questions, please contact the PhD Office in good time at phd-office@mpib-berlin.mpg.de. Please send the proposal to all TAC members and the PhD office at least one week before the first TAC meeting.