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The Leeds PhD Program is designed to equip students with the skills needed to design and conduct original, innovative research, and to effectively communicate their findings through writing and teaching. To support this goal, students must fulfill several key research requirements throughout their time in the program.

Research Assistant Assignments

A central component of doctoral training is hands-on experience in academic research. Most semesters, PhD students are assigned to work with faculty members as research assistants. These assignments provide practical exposure to the research process and help students build essential skills under faculty mentorship. Research assistant assignments are determined each semester in consultation with both the division faculty and doctoral students.

Leeds faculty are highly active in research and regularly collaborate with students on scholarly projects. Mentoring PhD students is a valued part of their academic work, and they take pride in fostering the next generation of researchers and scholars.

Gerald Hart Summer Doctoral Research Fellowship

PhD students are expected to work on significant research projects that result in conference presentations and publishable papers. During their first four summers in the program, students are expected to apply for and receive a Gerald Hart Summer Doctoral Research Fellowship.

This fellowship is designed to promote early engagement in scholarly research by providing additional financial support to students who collaborate with faculty on publishable projects. Students may receive the Hart Fellowship a maximum of two times.Ìý

Yearly Research Milestones

Many program areas within the Leeds PhD Program require students to complete major research papers as part of their academic progression and comprehensive exam requirements. These milestones are designed to foster independent scholarly development, deepen expertise, and lay the groundwork for dissertation research. Students should consult with their Program Director to determine which specific research milestones are required in their area.

First-Year Paper
The first-year research paper is a critical milestone aimed at developing students’ ability to craft, execute, and communicate original research. Satisfactory completion of this paper is required to remain in good standing in the program.

Second-Year Paper and Comprehensive Examination
The second-year paper represents a student’s best work at this stage of doctoral training and fulfills the written component of the comprehensive examination. It must be a wholly original research paper, suitable for submission to a top journal in the field, and should reflect standard practices in the student’s research tradition. Projects may include literature review, experimental design, data collection and analysis, or theoretical modeling. At least some data analysis may be required, and IRB approval must be secured for projects involving human subjects.

Students are encouraged to use this paper as a foundation for their dissertation or as a submission to a conference or journal publication. Faculty do not provide written feedback or edits during the evaluation process.

Third-Year Paper
The goal of the third-year paper is to help students deepen their expertise in a topic related to their emerging research identity. This paper typically takes the form of an integrative literature review, identifying key themes, gaps, and opportunities for future research. It is intended to support dissertation development by helping students organize and synthesize the relevant theoretical landscape.

Dissertation

PhD students generally begin developing their dissertation research during the third year of the program, with writing and data collection typically continuing into the fourth and fifth years. Dissertation topics may emerge from coursework, faculty-led research projects, or the student’s own intellectual interests. It is essential that the chosen topic aligns with the expertise and interests of the faculty to ensure appropriate support and guidance.

Students select a dissertation advisor from the faculty whose research interests align with their proposed topic. Most faculty are enthusiastic about mentoring students and welcome the opportunity to serve as dissertation advisors.

Under the advisor’s guidance, the student will prepare a formal Dissertation Proposal, which is reviewed during an oral presentation to a five-member faculty committee. The committee may offer feedback or request modifications to the proposal. Once the proposal is approved, it serves as a roadmap for completing the dissertation.

When the dissertation is completed and approved by the advisor, the student will defend their work in a formal Dissertation Defense presented to the committee, with faculty and students invited to attend. The committee may approve the dissertation at the defense or require revisions before granting final approval.

Publication Expectations

In addition to completing the required research milestones and dissertation, students are strongly encouraged to develop and submit research papers for publication while in the program. These papers may emerge from summer research, dissertation chapters, or other collaborative projects. Faculty often provide opportunities for co-authorship, although solo-authored work is also encouraged. Students who submit or publish papers before graduation tend to be more competitive in the academic job market.