A Doctoral Symposium was held at the Annual conference of the PHM Society 2009. PhD candidates who conduct relevant research in PHM were selected in a competitive process. During the symposium, doctoral candidates presented their research interests and questions to a panel of distinguished experts. The panel assessed the technical soundness of the approach; how well the work addressed a potential future need in PHM; and whether the work advanced the state of the art in PHM. The panel also gave suggestions on how to adjust the research trajectory to overcome some of the shortcomings and what related topics might be of interest (both within the scope of the current doctoral research, as well as beyond). Panel members were available for less formal interaction with students after the symposium.