michael d smith director of graduate studies, sps university of kent september 2011

Michael D. Smith

Michael D Smith Director of Graduate Studies, SPS

University of Kent

September 2011

SPS Graduate School

SEPnetResearch

FacultyGrad School

EuromastersProgramme

Michael D. Smith

How did you get here?

● It’s a long uncertain story……

● Centuries: idea of swirling, turbulent gas as the origin of

our solar system.

● Descartes, Kant, Laplace: vortices, nebular hypothesis:

importance of angular momentum.

Michael D. Smith

Books

Michael D. Smith

Where are you?

Humanities SocialSciences

Sciences

Michael D. Smith

Reminder

Computing

Pharmacy Engineering

&Digital Arts

MathematicalSciences

Biosciences

PhysicalSciences

Michael D. Smith

What are you doing here? Masters? PhD?

What will you get?……………a certificate?……………a little prestige?……………amore interesting job?……………a deeper understanding?……………a challenge?……………satisfaction of contribution to knowledge

……………a Eureka moment

What else? Training Training for what? What skills?

Michael D. Smith

The transition year begins..........

Research students :

Your success in graduate school depends on your active interaction with others in the community. The emphasis is as much on asking the right questions and engaging in enlightening discussion as it is on finding the answers.

Although a basic knowledge of physics is important, you will need to adopt approaches that are considerably different from those required to solve problem sets from a textbook.

Sceptical thinking

Michael D. Smith

The Ultimate Skills for the employer

……. .more than just numerate and literate ………

You will be able to analyse critically, and use your initiative

You will be teachable, educable

Your vices will be curable

You will be durable, have stamina

You will be supervisable: capable of following advice.

You will be endurable, especially in the face of boredom

You will be able to persist at seemingly pointless tasks

……. What you do may not be relevant, but what you can do is.

Michael D. Smith

Job prospects

• PhDs are needed :-

• Pipeline to lecturers• Sustain University

research• Build careers• Build knowledge

economy• Highly skilled HR to

attract industry

Royal Society: The Scientific Century, 2010100% = all science PhD students

Michael D. Smith

Skills Training: practical skills

Research Training

General Training

Record: Milestones, PDP

This provides details for: CV and for Reference Letters

Michael D. Smith

EBGS & Feedback

Reps: SPS and Faculty?

Feedback: Milestone reports…..

Problems encountered Illnesses ………..absences Data loss, equipment breakdown Supervision problem Time management & Demonstrating I am stuck Money

Michael D. Smith

HelpHelp

● Supervisor.Supervisor.● Research Group.Research Group.● Associate supervisor.Associate supervisor.● Director of Graduate Studies.Director of Graduate Studies.● Head of Department.Head of Department.

● Student representation on committeesStudent representation on committees

Michael D. Smith

Action

1. Read Handbook

2. Bother your Supervisor

3. Define your project: Milestone M1

4. Determine your deadlines: Skills, M3, M4

4. See your Associate Supervisor

5. ?????? Courses...teaching...skills training... seminars....research ...THESIS

Michael D. Smith

Questions?

1. When can I take holidays?2. Is my supervisor normal?3. How hard should I work?

4. How do I do research?5. How do I do a literature review? http://astro.kent.ac.uk/mds/Modules/modules.htm

Michael D. Smith

Responsibilities?

1. Milestones2. PDP3. Fast communication

4. https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences

5. /local/postgrad/index.html6.

Michael D. Smith

Responsibilities

1. Monthly Meeting Forms: Record of Supervisory Interaction

2. Students must complete a form, obtaining the supervisor's signature and submit it to Emmi in Room 205(?) Ingram on the last working day of every month. For details about the template for recording supervisory interaction, see under Annex H (supervision).

3. If you prefer, you can use the electronic form instead Record of Supervisory Interaction (electronic).

Michael D. Smith

SEPnet Grad School resources

http://astro.kent.ac.uk/SEPNET/gradschool/

Michael D. Smith

Kent

Queen Mary, London

SussexSouthampton

Solar System

RadioStars & Planets

Portsmouth

SEPnet-Astro Synergies

Oxford

Cosmology

Galaxies

25a, 37r, 45s 16a, 8r, 15s

5a, 2r, 12s

10a, 10r, 25s11a, 9r, 22s

11a, 13r, 16s

●RAL/Chilbolton

Michael D. Smith

Key People – Supervisor(s)

• Mentors and guides for your project

• Providing or facilitating access to

● necessary resources

• Providing opportunities for networking

• Giving you general support in many ways

● A professional working relationship!

Michael D. Smith

Key PG People

•

● Sarah Saunderts - The best PG Administrator!

Sophie Godfrey

+ Emmi Itaranta

Russell Weeks (PGT)

Kim Harty (PGT)

Michael D. Smith

Key PGT info

•

● Contact Programme Director

●Establish/check the Modules

●Relevant Handbooks:●https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/handbooks/index.html

●http://www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/pgt-landing.html

●Workshops, training, awards, …..