Introductory description

The tasks that are described within this Module , when completed, they will form part of the on-line Portfolio of work that will show that you have successfully completed the requirements for passing this module.

In your first two years, your focus has been on establishing your research, with the aim of finishing a good Doctoral thesis by the end of the final year. This year, as well as finishing your research, writing up and publishing papers, you will become more concerned with life after the PhD.

This module reflects this change in concerns, and so, while attention is still paid to the core skills of planning and managing your research and communicating your work to different audiences, new topics relating to the functioning of science in the wider world are included.

A significant number of assignments in this module formalises material that you should produce at this stage of your career, irrespective of working towards your certificate.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Planning

In terms of planning you are asked to produce a plan for your final period of research in which you attempt to reach a reasonably tidy end-point with sufficient material for a thesis followed, at the end of the active research period, by the production of a thesis plan.

1. Managing budgets

In Doctoral Skills 1 and 2 you have set budgets for your first two years of research, and monitored the expenditure during those years.
When expenditure on your research programme ends, probably fairly early in this final year but certainly by half-way through, you will be in a position to review expenditure through the lifetime of your project. You should do this with supporting data (which you will mostly have from years 1 and 2), indicating where money was spent wisely and where not (it happens!) and where extra money would have been of (describable) benefit.
You should note what lessons, if any, you have learnt about managing expenditure on a research project.

1. Scientific writing

As far as continuing to develop your scientific writing you will of course produce your thesis this year and so get a lot of practice in writing at that level; this will contribute towards the certificate. The other writing exercises included are for the slightly different formats of a research paper and a critical review.

1. Communication and presentation skills

You will be observed making a formal presentation at a reasonably public occasion – not just a talk to your research or year group. You will be expected to have developed your networking to the point where it is beginning to produce a flow of information and ideas of use to you and others. Also you should be able to take a more responsible role in the organisation of meetings and conferences.

1. General researcher skills

Looking ahead to life after Doctoral research you will be asked to show that you have an appreciation of intellectual property rights, ethical principles and time management, and that you are beginning to develop the ability to pass on your knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to those following the path you have taken.

1. Career development

Finally we hope that you will build on what you have learnt in your CDT or Department, and move on into a satisfying career. Knowing how to choose the next step is crucial, and you are asked to show that you have thought about the important aspects of doing this, and have produced a CV that sets out your strengths in a form that will appeal to a potential employer.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to understand, review critically and summarise the essential features of the work of others; referee material intended for publication.
• Demonstrate an ability to write clearly and concisely at a technical level.
• Demonstrate an ability to present technical material verbally, including under questioning.
• Establish fruitful relationships with a variety of other research workers and administrators.
• Demonstrate an ability to plan and manage one's research
• Manage a research budget
• Undertake limited supervision of those junior to the student. Undertake appropriate undergraduate teaching and assessment
• Understand how to manage his or her own time efficiently.
• Explain how their training will find application in academic, industrial and clinical settings. Discuss the ethical principles relating to the undertaking of research and publication of the results.
• Describe the mechanisms (patents, copyright etc) for protecting IP rights.
• Plan and run a scientific event.
• Make informed career choices; describe alternative routes to employment.

Interdisciplinary

Communicating across disciplines with module participants from different SEM departments

Subject specific skills

n/a

Transferable skills

1. Initiating research: writing research proposals; Maintaining links with other research workers;
   Planning and reviewing one’s own research and research budget; Time management. (2.5 CATS)
2. Organisation, preparation, presentation and defence of research results in posters, talks, discussion, papers and a
   sample thesis chapter; ( 1.5 CATS)
3. Critical appraisal of the research of others; review of research seminars; refereeing papers and research
   proposals; Supervision of others’ research; contribution to students’ learning; assessment of student work. (3 CATS)
4. Planning and running a scientific meeting or equivalent activity; (1 CATS)
5. Analysis of career options; appreciation of the relevance of student’s training to academic, industrial and clinical
   practice; the ethical principles underlying the undertaking of research and its application and publication; the
   importance of IP rights and their protection; applying for a job. (3 CATS)