Welcome to Manchester

Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences The University of Manchester

Ann WebbAssociate Dean Graduate Education

A 21st Century University

• 35,000 students

• 3,500 postgraduate research students

• 5,800 overseas students from 162 countries

• 3,900 academic staff

• 1,900 research staff

• £650M capital investment

• 3rd highest research

power in UK (RAE 2008)

Great Research Achievements

• The University was founded in 1824

• 23 Nobel prize winners associated with the University including:

• J. J. Thomson

– Manchester student 1870-1876

– Discovered the electron and measured its mass

• Ernest Rutherford

– Professor of Physics 1907-1919

– Showed the atom consisted of a nucleus and orbiting electrons

– Split the atom – converting Nitrogen into Oxygen

• James Chadwick

– Manchester student 1908-1913

– Discovered the neutron

The First Stored-Programme Computer

‘The Baby’, 1948

Freddie Williams and Tom Kilburn

Reconstructed for the 50th anniversary – see it in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

• 240 inventions a year, 15% with commercial potential

Graphene

Origin of the Universe

Continuing Excellence

Direct Biofuel

The Researchers of Tomorrow…are the research students of today.

• CEAS PhD student Paul Bassan won the Distinguished Achievement Award. As a result of his work, infrared spectra of biological cells can now be analysed without distortion and can thus be interpreted in terms of the biochemistry.

• Materials PhD student James Dugan won American Chemical Society's Cellulose & Renewable Materials Division, Graduate Student Award for a paper describing his research on how Nanowhiskers can be used to influence cell behaviour.

• A team of EngD students won the 2011 Engineering competition YES (Dragon’s Den style) for their carbon cleaning system.

• Electrical Engineering PhD student Rebecca Robinson won the Women into Science, Engineering and Construction Excellence Award for her enthusiasm and commitment to encouraging girls into science and engineering.

Moving into the Future

• Manchester 2015 Agenda: a 10 year plan

• “To establish the University of Manchester among the 25 strongest research universities in the world by 2015 ”

• Postgraduate research students are vital for research excellence

• You are at the heart of the University’s ambition for the future

What is a Research Student?

• Not the same as a “taught student”

– you are supervised and advised, not “taught”

– you have one-to-one support

– your work is examined as an individual, with your own examiners

– your aim is to innovate as much as to learn

– you are responsible for your own project: take control of your own research

• You are supported and guided by a supervisory team:

– your main supervisor,

– possibly with co-supervisors, and

– your advisor

• Your supervisors provide your most important support

• Meet your supervisory team regularly

• Your supervisor will guide you and provide advice…

• …but ultimately the responsibility for your progression is yours.

You and Your Supervisor

What do Supervisors Say?• “Students need to realise that the PhD is their project. It is

their opportunity to come to grips with the specific research, to become the expert.”

• “Set deadlines in agreement with your supervisor and then do your best to meet them.”

• “Do your best to understand and interpret your results before you talk to your supervisor about them. If his or her interpretation is similar, you will gain confidence. If it is different, you will learn something.”

• “We must recognise that nothing is set in stone during a research project and that it should evolve depending on results.”

• “Your success as a postgraduate is your own responsibility, but always remember that your supervisor wants you to succeed.”

Managing your Research

• Your first plan will not be correct

• …but it will still be useful

• What do you aim to achieve? How do you aim to achieve it? How long will it take? How long have you got? What might go wrong? What will you do?

• The answers to these questions will evolve as your understanding grows

• Periodically evaluating your progress and revising your plan will ensure that the scope of your project does not grow out of control

• …and that you will finish your research on time.

Managing your Progression: eProg• The University requires you to periodically review your

progress, and your performance will be assessed annually.

• The process is managed by the University-wide system ‘eProg’ https://www.eprog.manchester.ac.uk/

• It is described in detail in the Graduate Resource Book.

Note that merely ticking all the boxes in eProg does NOT earn you a degree!

The Final Word

• This is your chance to contribute to scientific advances that excite and challenge you, and to develop the skills of a professional researcher

• You will be part of a community of international researchers - go out and meet them

• Make the most of the opportunities that your research degree provides

• Work hard, and enjoy your time in Manchester