Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) is a mentoring team that aims to help PhD students in their professional advancement and enhance the overall quality of their work. It complements the supervisor’s role, provides an independent perspective on student’s research, supports their career development, monitors their progress, helps set goals, and assists in resolving academic or personal challenges.

TAC in Biomedical Sciences Program

• Every PhD student of Biomedical Sciences program who has enrolled in studies in the spring semester 2026 or later must be supervised and mentored during their studies by the TAC.
• For students enrolled to their PhD studies before 1.2.2026 the establishment of TAC is not mandatory, however, the Doctoral Board strongly recommends it. Here are the rules that summarize the TAC mentoring program before February 2026.
• The TAC concept for the PhD students of Molecular Medicine specialization follows rules that are summarized here. 

Establishing the TAC

• Each student must establish a TAC by the end of the 1^st semester.
• The committee consists of at least three members: the supervisor and two other members:
  • none of them comes from the supervisor's research group,
  • at least one of them should be external to Masaryk University, or at least the Faculty of Medicine; a specialist from abroad as well as from the application sphere is beneficial.
  • Each TAC member must hold a doctorate.
  • Any member apart from the supervisor can be a TAC chairperson; the chair can change for each TAC meeting.
• The student (together with the supervisor) proposes the members and subsequently submits the TAC Members Proposal to the program coordinator (Markéta Burešová).
• The Doctoral Committee/Board approves the composition of the TAC.

• The TAC should be maintained throughout the whole studies; however, changes to it are possible later if needed.
  • Any necessary amendment (postponement of the TAC meeting, the addition of another TAC member, replacement of the TAC member, etc.) must be notified to the coordinator (Markéta Burešová) using the form Amendment of the TAC Settings and further approved by the Doctoral Committee/Board.

• Note: When contacting a relevant expert, the student should consider including the following in their e-mail:
  • their MU doctoral program, supervisor, and dissertation topic,
  • why they have chosen this particular expert,
  • what they expect from TAC members, meeting frequency, and its format,
  • clarification of the collaboration (no administrative duties, non-binding, and unpaid).
  • A short doctoral project description, a CV and publication links can be added.

TAC in the IS MU

• Every semester, when the TAC Meeting is planned and realized, the student needs to register for the course DSTAC TAC meeting.
  • The TAC Assessment Reports are then uploaded to the Homework Vaults of this course.
  • The course has zero ECTS value and is completed with a credit ("zápočet").
  • The student does not register for this course in the 1^st semester when establishing the TAC and preparing the TAC Members Proposal.

TAC Meetings

• The TAC should convene at least three times during the PhD candidate's career (for the students that complete their studies within the first 4 years). All scheduled meetings are mandatory and must take place in predefined periods.

• Each meeting consists of the following parts:
  • the student presents their achievements on the dissertation project, challenges, plans etc. (15–20 minutes), receiving feedback from the TAC members,
  • to freely talk about the quality of supervision and student-supervisor relationship, the TAC then continues discussion without the student and subsequently without the supervisor,
    (this part of the meeting is confidential; any important outputs should be mentioned in the Confidential Part of the TAC Assessment Report which is then submitted directly to the coordinator, Markéta Burešová);
  • the TAC chairperson finishes the meeting with a summary and recommendations.

• Note: The TAC is there to give helpful advice, and as such, the student is encouraged to use the TAC whenever he/she feels the need of an external advice.

• The PhD student is responsible to invite the TAC members, provide them with relevant documentation, if necessary, and arrange the TAC meetings.
  • If need be, the meeting may be held online (or TAC members who are unable to attend in person may join via online connection).

• The first meeting should take place within the 2^nd semester.
  • The student kindly reminds TAC members of the scheduled meeting at least 2 weeks in advance.
    • A Basic info for TAC members can be enclosed to the email with some useful details.
  • During the first meeting, the following topics can be covered:
    • Scope and the milestones of the research project,
    • Expected impact and opportunities of the project,
    • Potential risks and challenges involved in the project,
    • Internship plans (tentative date, destination),
    • Readiness for the project (methodological skills, fundamental knowledge),
    • Student-supervisor relationship (meeting frequency, communication, professional development support, independence/guidance, potential issues),
      • These topics are discussed in confidential level (when student/supervisor is not present).
  • After the meeting, the committee completes a TAC Assessment Report for the 1^st meeting, the student, chairperson and supervisor sign it, and the student submits it to the Homework Vaults of the respective course (will be updated soon).

• The second meeting should take place within the 4^th or 5^th semester, the third meeting within the 7^th semester. If the student extends their studies beyond 4 years, follow-up TAC meetings must be convened every subsequent odd semester (9^th, 11^th etc.).
  • The student kindly reminds TAC members of the scheduled meeting at least 2 weeks in advance.
  • During the meetings, the following topics can be covered:
    • Work done on the project, milestones achieved,
    • Modifications (research questions, methodological approach),
    • Outcomes (findings, results made),
    • Fulfilment of study requirements (publications, participation at conferences, internship completed, etc.),
    • Plans for the upcoming working plans and achievements or activities (incl. publications, conferences, internships),
    • Plans for the future career plans after PhD studies
    • A tentative date for defence (the 3rd meeting, or later),
    • Student-supervisor relationship (meeting frequency, communication, professional development support, independence/guidance, potential issues),
      • These topics are discussed in confidential level (when student/supervisor is not present).
  • After the meeting, the committee completes a TAC Assessment Report, the student, chairperson and supervisor sign it, and the student submits it to the Homework Vaults of the course XXX Name (will be updated soon).

What TAC Evaluates

The TAC does not focus on the amount of data. Its role is far more complex:

• Scientific Guide & Critic: Provides independent, expert counsel on research design, progress, and strategic direction, ensuring the project is rigorous and feasible.
• Professional Development: Offers broader career advice, helps the student build a professional network, and develops their independent scientific communication skills.
• Support & Oversight: Acts as a formal support mechanism for the student, providing an objective forum for discussing progress and serving as a neutral party to prevent, identify or resolve or obstacles, whether academic or personal.

What advantages TAC brings

TAC offers PhD students

• continuous and constructive feedback on the fulfilment of their ISP,
• evaluation of dissertation research with the possibility of identifying its strengths and weaknesses,
• expert guidance and support in preparing their dissertation,
• practice in presenting and introducing their research,
• a safe space to express concerns in the absence of their supervisor,
• insights from members of other institutions or from non-academic or industrial environments,
• opportunities to network with experts in the field and support related to career development and professional growth, publications, and other aspects of an academic career.

Through TAC, the doctoral board obtains

• regular information on the performance of individual students, which reduces the administrative burden on doctoral boards,
• greater transparency and objectivity in the supervision of students,
• support for interdisciplinarity and a broader professional perspective on research and the functioning of doctoral studies,
• conflict prevention and, where necessary, timely resolution,
• improved quality and effectiveness of doctoral programs.

For supervisors as well as its members, TAC can mean

• familiarization with various research methods and institutional procedures,
• opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation,
• improvement of mentoring and counselling skills,
• networking and professional contacts,
• in addition, supervisors can obtain valuable feedback on their own approach to supervising students and further develop professionally in this area.