The first PhD thesis defend in the field of biology was held on 22nd September, 2015 in Siberian Federal University. The first holder was a young researcher Olesya Kolmakova. She has done her research into species composition analysis of saproplankton in the Yenissei river-basin with the help of molecular genetic methods and with experimental investigations of their biometric functions.
According to the head of the Postgraduate Study and Scientific Staff Appraisal Department of the SibFU Olga Grigorieva the degree of PhD SibFU is equivalent to the Russian degree "Candidate of Sciences”, but the requirements applied to the procedure of thesis defense are more rigorous. Thus the thesis defense is to be in English and broadcasted online, the applicant has to submit his/her publications in English-language periodicals with high impact factor, with a mandatory international external experts in a team of seven experts of the Dissertation Council.
According to the member of the Dissertation Council, Hans-Peter Grossarta, the procedure in the SibFU is very similar to that of PhD viva-voce examination in other Western universities: „I was present at about 30–40 viva voce in Germany and Europe, I have students, so I can judge about it. In Germany, the time of about 30 minutes is usually given for the presentation followed by questions and further discussion and finally the Commission makes its decision“. The expert also added that the research topic chosen by the applicant, and has the relevant scientific novelty: „Microbiologic Community has not gone so far, a large Siberian river Yenisei seems to be an extremely serious and vast subject for researchers“.
According to the member of the Dissertation Council, Hans-Peter Grossarta, the procedure in the SibFU is very similar to that of PhD viva-voce examination in other Western universities: „I was present at about 30–40 viva voce in Germany and Europe, I have students, so I can judge about it. In Germany, the time of about 30 minutes is usually given for the presentation followed by questions and further discussion and finally the Commission makes its decision“.
„I was present at about 30–40 viva voce in Germany and Europe, I have students, so I can judge about it. In Germany, the time of about 30 minutes is usually given for the presentation followed by questions and further discussion and finally the Commission makes its decision“
The expert also added that the research topic chosen by the applicant, and has the relevant scientific novelty: „Microbiologic Community has not gone so far, a large Siberian river Yenisei seems to be an extremely serious and vast subject for researchers“.
„Microbiologic Community has not gone so far, a large Siberian river Yenisei seems to be an extremely serious and vast subject for researchers“
The other Council members are:
The experts pointed out the extensive database of studies, elaboration of hypotheses and significance for the scientific community; in addition, it was urged to continue these studies.
Eugene A. Vaganov, Chairman of the Dissertation Council full member of the RAS, is convinced that well-known worldwide PhD-defense should be cultivated in Russian universities, especially in the universities claiming to be global or international competitive.
Eugene Vaganov emphasized: „Scientific research areas are developed unequal: the environment — at the University of Corvallis; construction-related areas — at Technical University of Munich; Metallurgy — at the University of Trondheim. An applicant should have the right to choose, but for our part we should welcome the mobility of thesis defenses. Master's thesis is defended at one university, academic degree — at another one. In this sense PhD, is universal and useful as there are uniform requirements. All parties understand what the process is what «product» will be obtained in the end. And the importance of your thesis is determined only by the university where you defended it. I am delighted that we have entered this «river», it was a difficult but necessary step“.
Scientific research areas are developed unequal: the environment — at the University of Corvallis; construction-related areas — at Technical University of Munich; Metallurgy — at the University of Trondheim. An applicant should have the right to choose, but for our part we should welcome the mobility of thesis defenses. Master's thesis is defended at one university, academic degree — at another one. In this sense PhD, is universal and useful as there are uniform requirements. All parties understand what the process is what «product» will be obtained in the end. And the importance of your thesis is determined only by the university where you defended it. I am delighted that we have entered this «river», it was a difficult but necessary step
Source, 25 september 2015
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Siberian Federal University 
