A term used by University Professors for the process of discovering the scope of knowledge and thinking capabilities of a PhD applicant. The 4-5 professors sit in a row and throw brutal questions at the student. The first round of questions pertain to the papers and/or thesis to be discussed/defended. The second round go far beyond the scope of the topic at hand and are specifically chosen to challenge the student's ability to think and formulate quickly, adequate responses to the proposed new conditions. An example would be a defense/discussion of a paper on Adult T-helper cells and a professor subsequently demands a proposed outcome of therapy for neonatal T-helper cells. If the student can't think on the spot or has not read any literature, in the words of many a prof, they have "fallen victim to intellectual rape."