Never Put Two Rivals on the Same Committee
In this brief advisory video, Steve Tippins Ph.D. warns doctoral students that focusing solely on their research while ignoring dissertation committee politics can jeopardize their defense. He explains that tenure provides faculty with political capital, and an untenured chair may be reluctant to challenge other members, leading to prolonged stress for the student. The core recommendation is to avoid placing two renowned experts who dislike each other on the same committee, as their ideological rivalry can turn the defense into a battleground, causing endless revision loops and sidelining the science. Instead, students should select committee members who actively support their specific work, can collaborate professionally, and possess the institutional standing to advocate for the student. The video ends with a call to comment "help" for a free dissertation help community link.
