Postgraduate Research Studies

Induction and Welcome

Professor Barry HirstDean of Postgraduate StudiesGraduate SchoolFaculty of Medical Sciences

Newcastle University – (Some) Principal Officers

ChancellorProfessor Sir Liam Donaldson

Vice-ChancellorProfessor Chris Brink

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Medical Sciences)Professor Chris Day

Postgraduate Research Student Induction

• Aim of the Graduate School• The Graduate School • Newcastle University and Faculty of Medical

Sciences • Support and progression

Aim of the Graduate School

To facilitate a productive, stimulating and enjoyable period of research

studies, which will form the foundation of your future career

Postgraduate Research Student Induction

• Aim of the Graduate School• The Graduate School • Newcastle University and Faculty of Medical

Sciences • Support and progression

Graduate School

• ~900 Students registered for Postgraduate Research or Postgraduate Taught Programmes (Masters, Diplomas and Certificates)

• ~400 Candidates registered for PhD• ~60 Candidates registered for MD• ~100 MRes candidates

Dean of Postgraduate Studies

• Professor Barry Hirst

• Professor of Cellular Physiology• Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences

• BSc Physiology – Newcastle University• PhD – Newcastle University

Graduate School Executive

• Prof Barry Hirst Dean of Postgraduate Studies • Prof John Kirby Faculty Postgraduate Tutor• Prof Dianne Ford Director of PhD Studies • Prof Rob Pickard Director of MD Studies• Prof Steve Yeaman Director of International Studies • Dr Rob Taylor PG Taught Courses/MRes• Prof Robert Lightowlers • Prof Mark Birch-Machin

• Ms Barbara Sumner Graduate School Administrator• Dr Richard Hetherington PG Development Co-ordinator

Graduate School Committee

• Graduate School Executive• Institute Postgraduate Research Student Coordinators

– Research Degrees • Postgraduate Taught Degree Programme Directors

– Taught programmes• Student Representatives (2)

Graduate School Office

• Barbara Sumner Graduate School Administrator• Sarah Golightly Deputy Administrator• Lin James PhD/MD Progress • Jo Chamberlin Skills Development Assistant• Dr Richy Hetherington Skills Development• MRes

– Kirsty Sanderson MRes Coordinator– Andrea Strong MRes

Graduate School Facilities

• Lounge area• Popular Magazines

• Nature, New Scientist, Times

• Café area• drinks, snacks machines

• Computer areas• Computer cluster• Wireless connection

• Study Rooms - 3• Booking system

• Plasma screen• Information

• Access to Graduate School Office

Where do I get information?

• Handbook • Faculty• University

• Development Programme

• Graduate School Website• Links

Postgraduate Research Student Induction

• Aim of the Graduate School• The Graduate School • Newcastle University and Faculty of Medical

Sciences • Support and progression

University mission

to be a world-class research-intensive university

to deliver teaching and facilitate learning of the highest quality

to play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England

University Structure

• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences– HASS

• Faculty of Medical Sciences– FMS

• Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering– SAgE

University Senior Management

• Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Brink• Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ella Ritchie• Pro-Vice Chancellors• Teaching & Learning Professor Suzanne Cholerton

• Research & Innovation Professor Nick Wright• Planning Professor Tony

Stevenson• Faculty PVCs• HASS Professor Charles Harvey• Medical Sciences Professor Chris Day• SAgE Professor Oliver Hinton

• Registrar Doctor John Hogan• Finance Director Mr Richard Dale• Director of Human Resources Mrs Veryan Johnson

Medical Sciences Management

• Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Chris Day

• Deans:– Clinical Medicine Professor Alastair Burt– Research & Development Professor Michael Whitaker– Postgraduate Studies Professor Barry Hirst– Undergraduate Studies Professor Jane Calvert

2009: Medical Sciences aims

• To do world class research in medical sciences

• To deliver teaching of the highest quality in all aspects of medical sciences while providing an excellent all-round student experience

• To develop the Faculty’s commercial and collaborative opportunities in the context of translational bioscience and medicine in order to augment the societal outcomes of the faculty’s research and teaching

Faculty of Medical SciencesResearch Institutes

• Institute for Ageing & Health• Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences• Institute of Cellular Medicine• Institute of Health & Society • Institute of Human Genetics • Institute of Neurosciences• Northern Institute of Cancer Research

Faculty of Medical SciencesSchools

• Biomedical Sciences– BSc programmes

• Dental Sciences– BDS, MSc, research linked to Institutes

• Medical Sciences Education Development– MBBS, MClinEd

• Psychology– BSc, Doctorate Clin Psych, Psychological

Therapies training

Research Culture

• International standing in research focussed on three of the world’s biggest health challenges – ageing; age-related chronic diseases; cancer

• Strong basic research in biosciences, genetics, mitochondrial biology, bacterial & stem cell biology.

• Translating basic biomedical and clinical research for the benefit of patients

• Research income 2010/11 > £56m• Biomedical Research Centre awarded £21m

Research Assessment Exercise 2008

• RAE 2008 (Research Power) – combined "medical" UoAs were 8th and in top 5 for

hospital and lab-based medicine• UoA4 (hospital- based clinical medicine) 5th

• UoA5 (lab based clinical medicine) 4th

• UoA2 (Cancer) 10th

• UoA6 (Epidemiology and Public Health) 17th

• UoA 7 (Health Services Research) 12th

• UoA 9 (Neuroscience) 7th

• UoA 10 (Dentistry) 6th

• UoA14 (Biological Sciences) 21st

• UoA44 (Psychology) 35th

Postgraduate Research Student Induction

• Aim of the Graduate School• The Graduate School • Newcastle University and Faculty of Medical

Sciences • Support and progression

Graduate School Ethos

• Provide optimal environment• Ensure quality of supervision• Support postgraduate student networking• Part of thriving research environment• Support student welfare and progress

Research Student Training Programme

• Tailored for Research students in the Faculty of Medical Sciences

• Enable students to meet their potential• Maps directly to the skills expected of

research students• ‘Roberts training’• Research Councils UK

Research Training Portfolio

• ePortfolio– A record of your personal development at the

University of Newcastle– Maps to the skills expected of a research

student– Feeds into progression

• eProgression– Integration of progression processes

Supervision

• Fellows of Graduate School• Experienced supervisors

• Supervisory Teams• All teams include an Academic Supervisor

(University staff)• Lead supervisor

• University or NHS (Honorary Fellow)

Learning Agreement & Project Approval

• Learning Agreement• Standards of leaning and support• Signed by student and supervisory team

• Project Approval• Project outline and timeline• Ethics• Defines supervisory team• Within 3 months maximum of registration

Progression

• Each year assessment by two independent members of academic staff

• Ensure research programme/studies on target• eProgression system

• Student input• Supervisory team input• Progress Panel• Institute input• Dean approval

Timescale

• PhD– Three years research– One year ‘Pending submission’ – MAXIMUM– Submission of thesis within 4 years of first registration

• MRes/PhD integrated programmes– Year 1 MRes– Years 2 - 4 PhD research and submission– Submission of thesis within 4 years of first registration

• ‘Extended submission’ – after normal 4 year period– Very good reasons– Fees payable at 50% of full fee!

Student Support

Studen

t Supervisory

Team

Institute Postgraduate Research Student

Coordinator

FacultyPostgraduate Tutor

Dean of Postgraduate Studies

Graduate School

YOU

Your Supervisory Team

Your Institute Postgraduate Research Student Coordinator

Professor John Kirby

Professor Barry Hirst

Graduate School

• Welcome interaction and feedback

• Student involvement• Institute Postgraduate Committee • Faculty Student Representative Committee• Student representation on Graduate

School Committee

Thank you and best wishes for successful studies