Welcome to Postgraduate Induction 2014

Making the transition: the research survival

guide

Professor Alan Kelly

School of Food and Nutritional Sciencesa.kelly@ucc.ie

Starting your research degree: a new start

o A completely new form of studyo One to one teaching: student-supervisor, buto You are independento You are in controlo You are responsible for your own progresso A class of your own: an exam of your owno Also broader education; courses and trainingo The start of a journey that could end up in

many different places

What will you get from postgraduate studies?

Two general classes of benefits:

A. Specific project-related experience: Become specialised in certain area of your field Learn specific research skills etc.

B. Project-independent experience: Learn skills of ‘research’ (and beyond) which you

would not do at undergraduate level, to create a skills base which is recognised as suitable or essential for certain career opportunities

Your key partner: your supervisor(s)?

Research is generally learned as an apprenticeship, with learning by example, practice, and appropriate feedback

1. What makes a good research supervisor?

2. What makes a good research student?

3. What are your expectations of your research supervisor?

4. What are the responsibilities of a research student?

Defining the relationship between you and your supervisor(s)

Your key partner: your supervisor(s)?

Research is generally learned as an apprenticeship, with learning by example, practice, and appropriate feedback

Your supervisor may be your:

o Teachero Advisoro Critico Collaboratoro Examinero Supportero Mentoro Colleagueo Counselloro Friend?

The problem of focus and priorities

You

Your project

Everything else

Your Supervisor

Your project

Everything else

ButIt’s your thesis

o Responsibility ultimately ends with youo It is your time now and your eventual

futureo Take ownership and responsibility

Students who do not get on with their supervisors frequently have problems!

Develop ground-rules; agree structures that work for you both

Make the most of their support but do not lean too heavily on it

Relationship will go through many phases over the years (initial dependence, weaning, collaboration at the end)

What is research?

o Research adds to the store book of human knowledgeo Human knowledge is not fixed, it is constantly evolving,

changing and being added too Knowledge is not a collection of facts and information…..

It is the sum of the results of the efforts of many, many people over hundreds of years

For the next few years, YOU will be involved in this process

……and some of you will do it for the rest of your careers

“Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind”

The two most important elements of research

Investigation/Experimentation plus Communication

Investigation/Experimentation means:- Planning research and reading- Doing your research- Analysing the results of the research- Ensuring the reliability of what you find

Communication means:- Communicating locally and informally, globally and formally- Research doesn’t exist without communication- Many different audiences, styles and purposes- At the end of the day, you have to write and perhaps defend a thesis- Academic publications a key outcome for your future- Get used to talking about your research (hugely beneficial) and selling

it (e.g., at conferences)- Writing skills perhaps the most important skill- Write early and often and learn from feedback- Secret of communication: CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

The importance of a good start

o What are three things you could do in the first three months to get your research off to the best possible start?

Key starting pointso Have you a clearly defined research question(s)?o Have you read some background literature?o Have you an objective that is achievable and

clear?o Why is your research important?o How can it be tackled? – make a plan, learn about

how to manage time, people and taskso Develop good practices around information

collection and management, notes, data, references, electronic media

o Examine every decision you are making as you go about your research – am I doing things the right and the best way?- can I defend my decisions at a later stage?

Find out about UCC’s ethics policies

Learn about plagiarism!

What is ahead of you?

• Hard work• Long hours• Wonderful highs and awful lows• Personal development• Managing a project• Becoming (the) expert in your field• Writing a thesis and lots besides• Defending your thesis• Becoming a professional researcher

Start

Graduation

What your supervisor does

What other supports are available? The research student network

• You are not alone!• Structured PhD offers

lots of supports• Training modules• Workshops • Social events• Postgrad society/SU• Lots more besides

Two things to do

1. Get off to a good start

2. Keep on track

1. Getting off to a good start

• Clarify expectations• Define some initial goals and questions

(Learning Plan)• Identify your skills needs and how to meet• Build a network• Keep in touch and involved

2. Keeping on track

• Expect reviews of your progress• Demand reviews of your progress• Manage your time and research materials• Seek advice and don’t hide problems• Solve problems when they arise and know your

rights

What do you have to do to finish your degree?

o Submit a thesis (Masters and PhD) and do an oral examination (PhD)

o Know from the start what is expected at the end

o Find out about publication requirementso Read theses in your area!o Talk to those who have been through the

process!

Is there life afterwards?

o Yes – whole world of possibilitieso Maximise benefits of your study for your future

careero Networking, contacts and marketing all very

importanto Forget limitations – broaden your horizonso A postgraduate degree is the start of your

career, not the end of ito Careers service here to help and advise

PhD Students-Approved for a minimum of three/four years full-time, depending on the programme

-Students must re-register each year and pay fees each year until submission

Masters Students - Approved for a minimum of 1-2 years full-time.

Students must re-register each year and pay fees each year until submission

Registration Requirements

All changes to registration require approval by your Supervisor, Head of Dept/School and College

Such changes include

• Changing from a Masters or PhD track to PhD • Changing the length of approval• Extensions • Leave of absence• Changing Supervisor or addition of supervisor• Changing thesis topic• Changing from part-time to full-time or vice-versa

Changes in registration forms are available on the Graduate Studies website

Changes in Registration

The EndThank you!