Transcript ACADEMIC ASPECTS OF WORK PLACEMENT

Making the transition:
the research survival
guide
Professor Alan Kelly
School of Food and Nutritional Sciences
[email protected]
Starting your research degree:
a new start
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A completely new form of study
One to one teaching: student-supervisor, but
You are independent
You are in control
You are responsible for your own progress
A class of your own: an exam of your own
Also broader education; courses and training
Postgraduate research is the start of a journey
At the start of a postgraduate degree you are
starting your research career – no reputation, little
experience
A postgraduate degree is the research
equivalent of an L-plate
- A training period, under supervision
Final degree is licence – then you’re on
your own to make your own way
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It is up to you to make the most of this
opportunity
What will you get from postgraduate studies?
Two general classes of benefits:
A. Specific project-related experience:
 Become specialised in certain area of your field
 Learn specific research skills etc.
B. Project-independent experience:
 Learn skills of ‘research’ (and beyond) which you
would not do at undergraduate level, to create a
skills base which is recognised as suitable or
essential for certain career opportunities
The structured development of key skills:
The Irish Universities’ PhD Skills Statement
Your key partner: your supervisor(s)?
Research is generally learned as an
apprenticeship, with learning by example, practice,
and appropriate feedback
Your
supervisor
may be your:
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Teacher
Advisor
Critic
Collaborator
Examiner
Supporter
Mentor
Colleague
Counsellor
Friend?
Students who do not get on with their
supervisors frequently fail!
Develop ground-rules; agree structures that work for
you both
Make the most of their support but do not lean too heavily
on it
Relationship will go through many phases over the years
(initial dependence, weaning, collaboration at the end)
o Responsibility ultimately ends with
But
you
It’s your thesis
o It is your time now and your eventual
future
o Take ownership and responsibility
The problem of focus and priorities
Your
project
Everything else
Your project
You
Everything else
Your Supervisor
What is research? – some initial thoughts
The bad news: Research can be o Hard work
o Slow
o Disappointing
o Frustrating
o Demanding
The good news: Research is o
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Exciting
Rewarding
Satisfying
Stimulating
Rarely boring
The best job in the world!
What is research?
“Research is the process of going up alleys to see if they are blind”
o Research adds to the store book of human knowledge
o It is a meritocracy – anyone can add knowledge
o Human knowledge is not fixed, it is constantly evolving, changing
and being added to
o Knowledge is not a collection of facts and information….. It is the
sum of the results of the efforts of many, many people over hundreds
of years
“Research means going out into the unknown with the
hope of finding something new to bring home. If you
know in advance what you are going to do, or even to find
there, then it is not research: then it is only a kind of
honourable occupation”
- Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
For the next few years, YOU will be involved in this process
……and some of you will do it for the rest of your careers
The two most important elements of research
Investigation/Experimentation plus Communication
Investigation/Experimentation means:
- Planning research and reading
- Doing your research
- Analysing the results of the research
- Ensuring the reliability of what you find
Communication means:
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Communicating locally and informally
Communicating globally and formally
Research doesn’t exist without communication
At the end of the day, you have to write and perhaps defend a thesis
Get used to talking about your research (hugely beneficial) and selling
it (e.g., at conferences)
Secret of communication: CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE
What is your research about?
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Have you a clearly defined research question(s)?
Have you read some background literature?
Have you an objective that is achievable and clear?
Why is your research important?
How can it be tackled? – make a plan
As you go through your research, constantly ask
yourself:
- why am I doing this?
- is what I am doing relevant to my objectives and
thesis?
- what does this finding mean and is it new?
- Also, examine every decision you are making as you
go about your research
– am I doing things the right and the best way?
- can I defend my decisions at a later stage?
The importance of planning
o Time will fly!
o Always be asking: What is the most efficient
route to my goals? How can I best use my
time?
o Plan ahead, make contingencies, check
assumptions, validate methods, discuss with
anyone who can make useful inputs
o Work on many fronts at once (multi-task)
o Learn basic ideas of project management
Keep good records – write
everything down!
“Chance favours the prepared mind” – Louis Pasteur
How do I manage my time and other people?
o At the end of every day, ask yourself:
- what did I learn today
- what did I add to my thesis today?
o How much time do you waste and how?
o Have you a good work:life balance?
o Be generous with your time – help others and they will
help you
o Set goals, milestones and deadlines with your supervisor
o Keep ‘to do’ lists or a diary
o Use computer facilities carefully and responsibly
o Keep back-up records and back-ups of your back-ups
o Don’t get isolated – build a support network
o Collaboration is the secret to success!
o Human relationships and personalities matter a lot!
Can things go wrong?
“If we do not succeed, we run the risk of failure” - G.W. Bush
o Things go wrong all the time in research
o You can really learn from mistakes – vital part of the process
o There has to be uncertainty as to outcomes and risk in research –
otherwise it wouldn’t be research
o Requirement for originality implies element of risk
o The greatest rewards can involve the greatest risks
o Be critical at all times
Criticism beats at the very heart of research:
Nothing is ever acceptable at face value
- You criticise your assumptions
- You criticise what you hear and read
- You criticise what you find
- Others will criticise your findings and conclusions
Learn to be your own worst critic
Criticism must be positive and constructive, but not personal
What can go wrong?
o Absolutely everything!
o Must ask what do you mean by
‘going wrong’ (e.g., did
something break? Did I have
preconceptions or bias?)
o Sometimes things go wrong for a
reason
o Many things (e.g., penicillin) were
found be people who weren’t
looking for them at the time
Why and how do I write?
o Writing transfers your knowledge to the permanent
record
o Write for your degree (thesis) and write to broadcast
your findings to a wider audience
o A research/academic career stands on the number
and quality of your publications
o Publications make getting your degree easier
o Publications validate your work by peer-review
o Write early, often and well (probably means
practice)
o Get feedback and work to learn
o Key targets are clarity and originality
o Be aware and beware of plagiarism
Find out about UCC’s
ethics policies
Where do you need to get to?
What is ahead of you?
Start
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Hard work
Long hours
Wonderful highs and awful lows
Personal development
Managing a project
Becoming (the) expert in your field
Writing a thesis and lots besides
Defending your thesis
Becoming a professional researcher
Graduation
What your supervisor does
What other supports are
available? The research
student network
• You are not alone!
• Structured PhD offers lots
of supports
• Training modules
• Workshops
• Christmas and other
social events
• Lots more besides
Get involved!
Two things to do
1. Get off to a
good start
2. Keep on track
1. Getting off to
a good start
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Clarify expectations
Define some initial goals and questions
Identify your skills needs and how to meet
Build a network
Keep in touch and involved
2. Keeping
on track
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Expect reviews of your progress
Demand reviews of your progress
Manage your time and research materials
Seek advice and don’t hide problems
Solve problems when they arise and know your
rights
What do you have to do to finish
your degree?
o Submit a thesis (Masters and PhD) and do an oral
examination (PhD)
o Know from the start what is expected at the end
o Find out about publication requirements
o Read theses in your area!
o Talk to those who have been through the process!
Is there life afterwards?
o Yes – whole world of possibilities
o Maximise benefits of your study for your future
career
o Networking, contacts and marketing all very
important
o Forget limitations – broaden your horizons
o A postgraduate degree is the start of your
career, not the end of it
o Careers service here to help and advise
Conclusions
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Research is a complex but highly rewarding activity
For some people, research is the best job in the world!
Can involve rewards and satisfaction like no other activity
Things don’t always go as planned, with good or bad
results
Postgraduate studentship is the first step in a research
career – make the most of it
Build networks and support and promote yourself
Plan ahead and manage your time
Never forget the importance of communication
Build a good working relationship with your supervisor
Learn to write and do it early and often
Think about training and modules you could take
Have fun!
Thank you!