Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 INFORMATION SESSION 16.10.2006 Project Thesis (Fundamental Research Tools)

Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006

INFORMATION SESSION

16.10.2006

Project Thesis (Fundamental

Research Tools)


Objective of Project Thesis Class

The overall objective of the class is to equip the student with all the tools and methodological know-how required for the effective planning, execution and reporting of his research.

To achieve this objective, we will arm you with fundamental research tools (both tangible and non-tangible) to assist you throughout the duration of your thesis….and beyond!

The contents of the class should assist in the preparation of your PhD research work, and the culmination of the class will be a formal presentation of your proposed research project


At the end of this class you will have• identified the novelty and originality of your research and the contribution it will make

• identified the objectives and sub-objectives of your research

• carried out a detailed literature search, created a database of this literature (Endnote) and using this database, written a literature review

• written an abstract summarising your research work

• carried out a plan of your research, identifying research tasks, resources required, identified deliverables and milestones, carried out a risk analysis and identified a contingency plan, plotted Pert and Gantt charts (MS Project)

• written an article based on your research and submitted it the Project Thesis Editorial Office

• written the claims of a patent applications, based on your research

• drafted a project proposal

• carried out a detailed patent search and drafted a patent of your research work

• prepared and video-ed a presentation of your research

• given a formal presentation of your research work to a mock DEA panel and your colleagues and supervisors

Outcomes of Project Thesis Class


Ciara O’ Sullivan

x 8740

[email protected]

Class Prof


Class layout

INTRODUCTORY SESSION

CLASS 1

Introduction, objectives,

lit. review

CLASS 2

Efficient writing and

workplanning

CLASS 3

Article Writing

CLASS 4

Proposal writing & Refereeing

CLASS 5

Patents, copyrights &

licenses

PRACTISE PRESENTATION

PRESENTATION EVALUATION

FORMAL PRESENTATION

CLASS 6

Presentation guidelines


Class layout

INTRODUCTORY SESSION 16th October, 16:00

PRACTISE PRESENTATION 22nd January 2007

PRESENTATION EVALUATION 1st February 2007

FORMAL PRESENTATION

Thursday 8th February 2007

CLASS 1

25th October

Aula 116

CLASS 2

30th October

Aula 116

CLASS 3

14th November

Aula 116

CLASS 4

27th November

Aula 116

CLASS 5

11th December

Aula 116

CLASS 6

18th December

Aula 116


Class Rules

The language of the class is ENGLISH. All homeworks and presentations must be done in English.

Students must attend at least 80% of the classes in order to pass.

Students must attend 75% of Multidisciplinary Seminars as part of the Project Thesis Class.

Homework submission dates will be provided, that will be posted on the web with the homework. Homework submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

The class will be graded on the basis of (i) class attendance and interaction (ii) homeworks and (iii) final presentation, in an equivalent manner.


Tutor Groups

Each class will be given between 16.00 and 18.00 in Aula 116.

The class is to be divided into 2 tutor groups (to be decided in information session) of six students and the tutor group will arrange a time to meet on Friday to review homeworks, discuss themes/problems/concerns etc.

The students of the tutor group can meet on an individual or group basis, as is decided between them.

Homeworks will be carried out on an individual basis but could be reviewed within a group format.


Website

There will be a Project Thesis class web page, that should be consulted frequently for messages/links/downloads etc.

The webpage will contain

OVERVIEW

CLASSES - description, ppt file, links, homework, useful downloads, book references

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - links, downloads, book references

STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

MESSAGES - homeworks etc.

SUGGESTION BOARD - PLEASE use

CLASS EVALUATION


Homeworks

Throughout the course there will be homeworks that all have one final common objective - preparation and execution of the PhD.

Although not obligatory, it is STRONGLY recommended that the theme chosen for all the homeworks will be the research theme of your PhD.

It is also HIGHLY recommended that you discuss the homeworks of the class with your supervisor and keep him/her updated of the class.


Class 1 General Introduction,

Identification of research objectives and literature review

Wednesday 25th October, 2006


Contents

Identification of research theme

Identification of objectives

Introduction to basic definitions

Philosophy, scientific methodology and ethics

Literature Review

Database searching and management

Impact factor, citation index

Live ENDNOTE tutorial

Live ISI tutorial

Identification of novelty of research theme

Identification of contribution of literature theme


Homework

Identification of research themes

Carry out literature review and using trial version of ENDNOTE, create organised database.

Using ISI, choose 5 of the articles found and make a table listing journal, impact factor, no. of citations of paper

Short summary of literature review

Identification of novelty of research to be carried out, contribution that will be made and where results could be published

Due date: 3rd November 2006


Class 2 Efficient writing and

workplanning

Monday, 30th October, 2006


Contents

Guidelines to writing efficiently

Interactive tutorial for improvement of grammar and punctuation skills

Outline of abstract and abstract elements

Class activity - draft abstract exercise

Methodology for planning of research

Task timing, deliverables, milestones

Resources

Risk analysis and contingency planning

Pert, Gantt Charts


Homework

• Abstract of research theme

• Workplan - identifying research tasks, time required to carry out tasks, identification of deliverables, milestones, their timing as well as a contingency plan.

• Identification of required resources and Pert and Gantt charts.

Due date: 10th November 2006


Class 3 Article writing

Tuesday, 14th November, 2006


Contents

Guidelines to preparation of a technical journal article

Initial barrier considerations surrounding article writing will be discussed - defining the story, choosing the journal, impact factor, citation index

Questions of execution will be discussed - what is in each section, computer tools, figures, log vs linear plots


Homework

• Students should prepare a short communication or full article based on their research work for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be asked to submit to the Project Thesis Editorial Office

• Students will be sent three manuscripts to referee and should prepare a referee report and return to the Project Thesis Editorial Office

• Students will be sent referee reports and should correct and resubmit their corrected article according to correct protocol

Due date: 24th November 2006


Class 4 Proposal writing & the refereeing

process

Monday, 27th November, 2006


Contents

Preparation of a PhD research proposal, focusing on format, use of illustration, structure, referencing and editing

Example proposal will be extrapolated in class and financial planning explained

Major sources of research funding (e.g. EU, NSF etc.) will be introduced and this style of research proposal will be outlined and the research proposal review process explained.

The submission and refereeing process


Homework

• Preparation of complete PhD project proposal, complete with Introduction, Identification of novelty and potential contributions, Identification of Overall Objective and Sub-objectives, Task descriptions, Timing, Deliverables, Milestones, Resources, Finances, Risk Analysis, Contingency Planning, Pert and Gantt Charts, Bibliography

Due date: 11th December 2006


Class 5 Patents, Copyrights & Licenses

Monday, 11th December, 2006


IPR, ownership, inventorship, patent application, patent protection, patent databases will be outlined.

An interactive patent search will be carried out using Derwent Innovation Office, European Patent Office and the US Patent Office

How to write a patent and what claims to include

Content


• Patent search related to research theme and summary of patent search

• Draft of patent and claims of PhD research themes

Due date: 22nd December 2006

Homework


Class 6 Presentation Guidelines

Monday, 18th December, 2006


Contents

Preparation and delivery of effective presentations

Body language, attitude, effective visual aids, equipment, content & timing, structure, importance of introduction, visual aids dos and donts

Guide to preparation outlined and voice exercises to highlight correct stressing will be carried out

Tips to giving presentations in English

Guidelines for preparation of European PhD

Video highlighting examples of good and poor presentations


Homework

Preparation of 10 minute presentation based on proposed PhD research theme

Due date: 22nd January, 2007


Presentation Practise

22nd January, 2007


Contents

There will be two three-hour sessions on Monday 22nd January, 2007

Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions

Each student will give a 10-minute presentation, that will be video-ed and 2 minutes will be allocated for questions

Each student should takes notes to evaluate the other students


Homework

Summary of notes to assist in evaluation of student presentation

Due date: 29th January 2007


Presentation Evaluation

Ciara O’ Sullivan

Thursday, 1st February, 2007


Contents

There will be two three-hour sessions on Thursday, 1st February

Each student should attend the entirety of at least one of these sessions (and the same one they attended on Monday 22nd January)

Each student will be shown the video of their presentation and students will discuss how the presentation could be improved


Homework

Prepare final presentation

Due date: 8th February, 2007


Formal Presentation

All supervisors, colleagues and a mock-DEA panel

Thursday 8th February, 2007


Contents

This should be treated a semi-formal process where the proposed research for the PhD is to be described in the presentation and students should dress semi-formally

Students and supervisors will be asked to attend and will contribute to the grading of the presentation and will complete a feedback form that will be given back to the student so as to assist in further improving the quality of the presentation

A mock panel will ask questions - if possible technical - but the importance is the style!


EVALUATION

The only way we can improve our class is to have feedback and evaluation.

There will be an anonymous suggestion board available on the web page - please use it

We will distribute an informal evaluation from at the end of the course – please complete it!


GOOD LUCK!

Whatever problem you have regarding the class - contact me!

Remember this class is to help you, and any homeworks etc will assist you in your research work….

Looking forward to collaborating,

Documents

Project Thesis 2006-2007 Information Class 16.10.2006 INFORMATION SESSION 16.10.2006 Project Thesis (Fundamental Research Tools)