Academic Essentials for Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Division Dr Sarah Norman Gray Institute

Academic Essentials for Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Division

Dr Sarah NormanGray Institute

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Introductory session for graduate research students of the Maths, Physical and Life Sciences & Medical Sciences Divisions of the University

University structure and nomenclature

The administrative framework of a graduate degree

Some of the potential opportunities

Some of the potential problems of a graduate course in Oxford

Sources of advice and support available for graduate students

Welcome


Where are you studying?


Michaelmas Term: October – December Hilary Term: January – April Trinity Term: May – September

Weeks: Fresher’s week (0th week), Term weeks 1 – 8 (possible 9/10)

When are you studying?

1st year

3rd year

2nd year

4th year


What do you need to do now and later?

Becoming a registered student with the University: Complete a self-service online registration form Attend a matriculation ceremony

How long are you on the register as a graduate student: Initially on the register as a PRS (Probationary Research Student) Transfer to DPhil status (in 4th – 6th term) 12 terms total Transfers to MSc (by Research - MRes) status (in 3rd to 6th term) 6 terms total

4 year programmes in the Doctoral Training Centre : Seven terms as PRS before transfer, 12 terms total

The University residence requirement; minimum amount of time to complete a DPhil/MRes; and fee liability:

DPhil is minimum six terms (for MRes three)


We like forms:

GSO forms

ttp://www.ox.ac.uk/students/

course_guidance_supervision/

graduates/forms/


Department: Supervisor / University Lecturer / Principal Investigator / Group Leader Co-supervisor? Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)

College: Advisor – more pastoral care Tutor for Graduates

Division: Graduate Studies Assistants Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC)

Administrative changes to your: course / supervisor / thesis title / status (transfer/suspension/confirmation) /

appointment of examiners

Who’s who in the Department/College?


Study?

Gain professional and transferrable skills

Things to avoid......

What to do when you are here?


Undergraduate vs Graduate Study

Undergraduate study is often externally driven & highly structured 9 – 5 timetable Different courses Examinations and assignments

Graduate study is self driven and often unstructured Work the hours required No defined start and end points to experiments No set short-term deadlines Easy to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead

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Establish the main framework for your work as soon as possible during the first term

Have meetings to discuss progress Review work plans and establish how much time & help you

should expect from your supervisor Establish who else will be involved in your supervision (post-doc,

co-supervisor, external supervisor) and what their role is

Supervisors should: plan your research and set your milestones discuss your training needs report on your progress via GSS

Interaction with your supervisor


training in scientific methods undertake novel research create a thesis containing an original contribution to the

literature

take part in the life of the department present your research

publish

Graduate student’s role


working full-time take holidays, the MSD policy is up to 38 days of holiday leave per

annum sufficient free time to benefit from the wider University and College

resources ten days per annum for transferable skills training

What to expect day-to-day


Graduate Skills Training

As a research student, you may well be pursuing your studies as an essential step towards realising your career goals

‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a responsible member of the University’s academic community’

‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and learning facilities available within the University’

The Research Councils issued a Joint Statement on what skills a graduate research student should acquire

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University & Divisional Skills Training Programme

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Free to all Graduate Research Students and Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Assistants

more effective in your work to develop and move towards your future aspirations

There are two sources of training available to you Divisional Courses (face-to-face) University of Oxford (online)

Professional development, training and skills Communication/Presentation Skills Writing Skills Plagiarism Ethics


University Online CoursesEach online course takes between 60 and 90 mins to complete

Publishing in Arts Publishing in Sciences Project Management in the Research Context Good Practice in Citation and the Avoidance of Plagiarism Intellectual Property in the Research Context Ethics 1 - Good Research Practice Ethics 2 - Working with Human Subjects Career Planning in the Sciences Career Planning in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Managing Your Research Supervisor / Principal Investigator Selecting a Conference, Presenting & Networking Entrepreneurship 1: Are you an Entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship 2: Opportunity Recognition, Creation and Evaluation Entrepreneurship 3: Resources (People, Teams, Finance)

• Searchable database of skills training opportunities

• Articles on subjects such as project management, teaching and career planning

• News of national events and competitions

• Careers Case Studies – see what other researchers have gone on to do

www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk


Online personal development planning tool

• Specific version for researchers• Tools for skills analysis, planning and recording

progress• Reports – help compile your CV• Links to development resources• www.aspire.ox.ac.uk


Plagiarism Understand what this means to your study Take the online course http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/

Procrastination Facebook

Leaving things to the last minute Stress, panic and late nights in the lab

Isolation Please talk to your lab mates and others

Defeat Research is a long slog, it can be repetitive and unrewarding for long periods The successes make up for all of the pain

Things to avoid........


Funding issues College Hardship Funding http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/graduates/sources/

Scientific problems Supervisors, DGS, departmental graduate studies committee University Occupational Health Service

Personal issues Childcare Services, Counselling Service, Disability Advisory Service, Equality

and Diversity, Harassment, Health and Welfare, OUSU Student Advice Service, Nightline

http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/welfaresupport/

Careers guidance http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/

Many Sources of Support

Enjoy your time in Oxford

Make the most of the opportunities it can provide

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http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/skillstraining

Recommended Courses: for 1st years for 2nd years for 3rd years for Graduate and Postdoctoral research assistants

Courses for First Year Courses relevant to first year DPhil students: Communication/Presentation Skills Writing Skills Ethics

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University regulations state: ‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a

responsible member of the University’s academic community’ ‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and

learning facilities available within the University’

take up the teaching opportunities available http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining/wanttoteach2/

take up the skills training opportunities available http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining

practise your English (if your spoken or written English is poor) http://www.lang.ox.ac.uk

Transferrable skills

Documents

Academic Essentials for Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Division Dr Sarah Norman Gray Institute