DC Meeting Template

1. First Doctoral Committee
Meeting: Deep Learning
Research Journey Begins
Welcome, Committee. This presentation outlines the foundation,
progress, and future trajectory of my doctoral research in advanced
Deep Learning methodologies.

2. Purpose of the Committee Meeting
Expert Guidance & Feedback
Your committee is comprised of expert
faculty outside my primary lab,
providing an objective assessment of
my research direction and
methodology.
Progress Assessment & Reality
Check
The meeting is designed to give me,
the researcher, advice, a reality check,
and assurance that the work is on track
for a successful Ph.D. completion.
Readiness for Milestones
The committee ultimately decides on
readiness for key milestones, including
the proposal defense, and eventually,
the final dissertation defense.

3. Preparing for Success: Setting the Stage
Pre-Meeting Documentation
Distribute the research summary,
background materials, and a
progress report to all committee
members at least two weeks prior
to the meeting.
Clear Presentation Outline
Prepare a concise, clear
presentation covering the research
problem, proposed methodology,
major goals, and any preliminary
results achieved so far.
Anticipate Dialogue
Be ready to discuss deep questions
regarding methodological choices,
the broader significance of the
research, and detailed next steps
for the coming year.

4. Introducing Your Research Focus: Advanced Deep
Learning
My research centers on investigating novel, cutting-edge approaches
aimed at fundamentally improving deep neural network training and
optimizing complex model architectures.
One area involves Differentiable Architecture Search (DAS):
Reformulating hyperparameters as differentiable parameters to enable
gradient-based learning of optimal architecture settings. (Referenced
from Harper, 2024)
A second key focus is Continual Learning (CL): Developing innovative
regularization or memory replay mechanisms to prevent catastrophic
forgetting when training models sequentially on new tasks. (Referenced
from Andle, 2025)
• These approaches seek to push the efficiency and adaptability
boundaries of modern AI systems.

5. Key Research Questions for Discussion
Optimization Beyond Tuning
How can we optimize deep learning
models beyond current limitations
of manual or evolutionary
hyperparameter tuning, moving
toward automated, data-driven
optimization?
Model Expressiveness &
Training
What strategies can significantly
improve a model's expressiveness while
simultaneously increasing training
efficiency and convergence speed?
Knowledge Retention
What are the most robust, scalable
approaches to continual learning and
effective knowledge retention in neural
networks across diverse and evolving
datasets?

6. Committee Roles & Expectations
The role of the Doctoral Committee is vital for the integrity and success of the research.
Constructive Critique
Committee members are
expected to provide constructive
critique, identify blind spots in
the proposed approach, and
suggest new, high-impact
experimental directions.
Identify Potential Pitfalls
Their collective experience helps
in identifying methodological or
theoretical pitfalls, ensuring the
research remains rigorous and
achievable within the PhD
timeline.
Professional
Development Support
The committee also serves to
support my professional
development, assisting in
navigating challenges with the
project or providing objective
counsel on the path to
graduation.

7. Typical Meeting Format
1 Research Presentation
A focused, 20–30 minute presentation summarizing progress, core
findings, and future plans. Focus on clarity over volume.
2 Open Discussion
An interactive session where committee members ask technical,
strategic, and theoretical questions about the work.
3 Private Deliberation
The student is excused while the committee discusses the assessment
and consensus on progress.
4 Feedback Session
Rejoining the committee to receive consolidated feedback, next steps,
and any confidential discussion if requested.

8. Leveraging Committee Expertise for Career Success
The committee members are more than evaluators; they are mentors and advocates in the field of AI.
Use this opportunity to build lasting relationships that extend
beyond the Ph.D.
Seek specific advice on publishing strategy, targeting top-tier AI
conferences and journals (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, CVPR).
Get counsel on networking opportunities and securing post-doc
positions or industry roles in Deep Learning.
• Remember: every member wants you to succeed and
contribute meaningfully to the scientific community.

9. Next Steps Immediately Following the Meeting
Synthesize Feedback
Immediately consolidate all feedback into actionable tasks and refine the research plan and experimental
design based on committee recommendations.
Schedule Follow-Ups
Establish a rhythm for regular check-ins with your advisor and schedule the next formal committee meeting
(typically semi-annually or annually).
Prepare for Milestones
Focus energies on the next major milestones: completing the proposal defense, achieving first-author
publications, and actively beginning the dissertation writing process.

10. Your Ph.D. Journey is a Collaborative
Adventure
Aligning the Vision
The committee meeting is a vital milestone
to align your research vision with expert
guidance, ensuring maximum impact.
Embrace Refinement
View every piece of feedback as a tool for
intellectual growth and refinement of your
scientific contribution.
Navigate Together
Together, you and your committee will
navigate the exciting challenges of
advancing Deep Learning research into the
future.